Keswick Cottages with Hot Tubs

Get More From Your Keswick Hot Tub Cottage Break

Sightseeing

Keswick packs incredible sights into a compact area. Start with Derwentwater, where you can take a 50-minute lake cruise (£12 adult, £6 child) or hire boats from Nichol End Marine. The lake has four islands including Derwent Isle with its 18th-century house (National Trust, limited openings).

Castlerigg Stone Circle (CA12 4RN, free entry, open 24/7) dates back 5,000 years and sits in a dramatic mountain bowl. It's especially atmospheric at sunrise or sunset when the crowds thin out.

The Pencil Museum (CA12 5NG, £4.95 adult) tells the story of Keswick's graphite mining history and houses the world's largest pencil. Sounds daft but it's actually fascinating, especially on rainy days.

Trip Advisor scores show visitors love Derwentwater (4.5/5), Catbells (5/5), Surprise View (5/5) and Theatre by the Lake (4.5/5). The Keswick Museum (4/5) contains odd treasures including a 700-year-old cat and the first ever sleeping bag.

Pet Friendly

Keswick was voted "UK's Most Dog Friendly Town" multiple times and I can see why. Most pubs welcome dogs - try The Dog & Gun (CA12 5JA) where they'll get free treats and water bowls, or The George (CA12 5JN) with its dedicated dog menu.

Booth's supermarket has a dog hitching area and many shops keep treats behind the counter. The Podgy Paws pet shop (CA12 5JR) is brilliant for emergency supplies or forgotten leads.

For walks, Derwentwater has an accessible 10-mile loop with plenty of swimming spots. Whinlatter Forest (CA12 5TW) has marked trails where dogs can run off-lead in certain areas.

Hot tip: The Hope Park café has a covered outdoor seating area with heaters - perfect for wet days when you need refreshment but have a muddy dog in tow. After all that exercise, your cottage hot tub will feel even better (though keep the dog out!).

Top 3 attractions you have to see in Keswick

Honister Slate Mine (CA12 5XN) is England's last working slate mine. The underground tour (£19.95 adult) takes you deep into Fleetwith Pike where miners have worked since Roman times. Their Via Ferrata experience lets you follow old miners' routes up the mountain face with safety cables. One visitor wrote: "Terrifying but exhilarating - our kids still talk about it months later."

Theatre by the Lake (CA12 5DJ) sits right on Derwentwater's shore and runs year-round productions. Their Christmas shows are particularly good. The building has a lovely café with lake views and often hosts pre-show talks. Ticket prices range £10-35 depending on performance and seating.

Keswick Launch offers a hop-on-hop-off boat service around Derwentwater with seven landing stages. The full circuit takes 50 minutes but I recommend getting off at Lodore and walking to the Falls, then catching a later boat back. Boats run every 30 minutes in summer (reduced winter service). A day ticket costs £12 - worth every penny for the views.

What's the best time to visit Keswick?

May and September offer ideal conditions - fewer crowds than summer but generally good weather. The Keswick Mountain Festival (May) brings outdoor activities and music, while autumn colours peak in October. Winter brings empty fells and cosy pubs with roaring fires - plus your hot tub feels even better when it's cold outside!

Do I need a car in Keswick?

No. The town centre is compact and walkable. Buses connect to Penrith station (X4/X5), Cockermouth (X5) and Windermere (555). The Keswick Launch boat service reaches several walking routes and mountain Goat Tours run excursions to harder-to-reach spots.

Where's the best view in Keswick?

Surprise View (CA12 4QE) offers spectacular Derwentwater panoramas with minimal effort - it's just a short walk from the car park. For those wanting more challenge, Catbells (2.5 hour round trip) or Latrigg (2 hour easy walk) provide stunning vistas.

What should I pack for a Keswick break?

Waterproofs are essential year-round - the Lake District gets 3 metres of rainfall annually! Bring walking boots, swimwear (for your hot tub and wild swimming) and layers for changeable weather. Binoculars help spot red squirrels and ospreys.

Where can I get good food in Keswick?

The Fellpack (CA12 5JF) serves brilliant modern British food with local ingredients. The Square Orange (CA12 5JS) does excellent pizzas and craft beers. For traditional pub grub, try The Dog & Gun's famous Hungarian goulash.

Is Keswick good for families?

Absolutely! Hope Park has mini-golf and boating, Puzzling Place offers mind-bending illusions and Whinlatter Forest has play areas and Gruffalo trails. The lake has shallow paddling spots and many walks can be tailored to different abilities.

1. Keswick Tourism Association
2. Lake District National Park
3. Keswick Launch Company
4. Theatre by the Lake