Keswick is the northern tourist hub of the Lake District National Park and is a favourite base for serious walkers and climbers, artists and photographers, and anyone who enjoys mountain and lake scenery. A thriving town of individual shops, including many selling outdoor equipment, art galleries, delis, cafes, restaurants and pubs, Keswick is a great place to collapse at the end of a long walk and eat a hearty meal. It also has many attractions to occupy visitors on a rainy day when heading up into the hills is not the thing to do.
Keswick sits under the shadow of England's fourth-highest mountain, Skiddaw, and it lies at the head of the Borrowdale valley with Derwentwater lake reaching the edge of town.
Trains to Keswick were axed back in the 1970s so you either have to drive, cycle, walk or get a bus. You could walk part of the way along the former railway line from Penrith.
There is a regular bus service from Penrith train station to Keswick.
Driving is fast: Keswick is 17 miles (25 km) along the partially dualled A66 trunk road from the M6 motorway at Penrith.
Parking space is at a premium on busy days. There are a couple of pay-and-display car parks in the town centre, and another close to the lakeside, with plenty of free on-street parking further from the centre. A free but time-limited disc-parking scheme is in operation on some roads, often allowing two hours' free parking.
Within town, distances are short so walking is easy.
Buses run all over the Lake District from Keswick and these can make a good way to get out to or back from a day's walking destination.
The Keswick Launch water taxis run on Derwentwater with both clockwise and anticlockwise routes serving seven jetties around the lake.
Walk... walk.. . walk... Hikers can walk onto the surrounding hills (known locally as fells - a word dating from Viking times) or into the nearby valleys straight from the town, with more options opening up if you use the Keswick Launch, a car, or the local buses.
Skiddaw, , 54.65144°, -3.14773°. is Keswick's own mountain. The walking path leaves from the back of town and ascends this 3,054-foot hill, the fourth-highest in England. The walk is straightforward, just a little long for non-walkers. First you pass the smaller Latrigg, then along a well-worn path up the grassy slopes. The summit is a long undulating dome with four tops. 2023-03-24
Catbells, , 54.56835°, -3.17066°. The most-climbed of the local fells. This is because it looks great from the lake shore in town, and looks close and easy. Many people take the ferry over to the jetty at Hawse End and take the pleasant walk through the woods then onto the hillside for the easy ascent. However, it is also the hill with the most injuries, because people tackle it in trainers or sandals, then have problems on a section of smooth-worn rock. For an alternative (quieter) route, when the path crossed the lane by the cattle grid, take the small lane to the right of the hill toward Skelgill Farm, and continue the gently ascending path into the Newlands Valley, then head left and uphill to reach the summit ridge after the summit of Catbells. You can then backtrack along the ridge to the summit. People most often descend from this dip on the ridge, down to the side of the lake, then either walk along the lakeshore or catch a ferry back to Keswick from the jetty at Brandlehow. 2021-07-17
Grisedale Pike, , 54.59173°, -3.24215°. Walk up from the car park on Whinlatter pass, to a sharp scenic ridge leading up to the summit. 2023-03-19
Outdoor gear. All the big high-street outdoor shops are represented in Keswick, so you'll be spoilt for choice if you need any clothing or equipment for walking, climbing, or camping (just don't forget to spend some time using it!)
Pretty much all of the pubs in the area offer traditional pub food at lunch and dinner time. With so much sheep farming in the surrounding hills, roast lamb is a favourite local dish, as is Borrowdale trout. Cumberland sausage is a speciality throughout Cumbria.
Beyond pub grub there are plenty of restaurants - such as the Red Fort and Taste of Bengal (Indian), the Loose Box (Italian, so named as it is the former stables of one of the hotels), or the Golden Hills (Chinese).
The Dog & Gun, The Oddfellows Arms and the Bank Tavern are among the more popular of Keswick's traditional pubs, all offering a good range of real ales. The modern and stylish Cafe Bar 26, Sweeney's and The Square Orange offer a welcome change to the traditional.
Live music is very popular in Keswick. The Oddfellows on the main street has music every night of various quality. The Square Orange on St Johns Street and Cafe Bar 26 on Lake Road have music every Thursday, both worth a visit. Sweeney's on Lake Road has live music every Friday and Saturday.
The Loft on the main square is the town's only night club, with the vibe of a bad school disco with alcohol. However, a late-night drink is available at other venues such as the locals' favourite, The Queens Back Bar, or Rumours, the local dive bar.
Keswick has many, many bed-and-breakfasts. Stanger Street and Bank Street just east of the bus station are good places to start, or the grid of streets around Southey Street, Helvellyn Street and Eskin Street just back from the riverside, or try the visitor information centre in the Moot Hall in the main square. Note that very few B&Bs in Keswick have a car park. During high season or weekends, reservations are strongly recommended. Try the Keswick Tourism Association site for finding accommodation .
Keswick Youth Hostel, Station Road, CA12 5LH, 54.6019°, -3.1344°, +44 870 770 5894. In a nice setting in the town by the river.
Denton House independent hostel, Penrith Road, CA12 4JW, 54.60337°, -3.12591°, +44 17687 75351. Independent hostel catering for groups including stag weekends.
Royal Oak, Main St, Keswick CA12 5HZ, 54.60047°, -3.13631°, +44 17687 73135. Town centre pub with rooms, earning mostly good reviews. B&B double £100 2022-08-28
Lots of inns and guesthouses in the countryside around.
Dalegarth House, Portinscale, Keswick CA12 5RQ, 54.602°, -3.161°, +44 1768 777817. Pleasant B&B in Edwardian house a mile west of town. Open Mar to mid-Dec, no children under 11 or dogs. B&B double £100 2020-08-09
Lyzzick Hall, Udderskiddaw CA12 4PY, 54.626°, -3.165°, +44 1768 772277. Charming hotel and restaurant in mid-Victorian house, open Feb-Dec. B&B double £180 2020-08-09
Leathes Head Hotel, Borrowdale, CA12 5UY, 54.550°, -3.148°, +44 1768 777247. Charming country house in great valley setting, but service and comfort lapsed in early 2020. Open Feb-Dec, no children under 15. B&B double £100 2020-07-05
Borrowdale Gates, Borrowdale, CA12 5UQ (off B5289), 54.549°, -3.159°, +44 1768 777204. Upscale country house hotel in quiet woodlands. Open Feb-Dec. B&B double £200 2020-08-13
Borrowdale Youth Hostel, Barrow House, Borrowdale, CA12 5XE, 54.5178°, -3.1525°, +44 845 371 9624. From £13 pppn
Camp at sites in town, or a mile away at Castlerigg Farm, or at the nearby village of Braithwaite, or at Hollows Farm in Borrowdale.
Keswick has 4G from all UK carriers. As of March 2022, 5G has not reached this area.