Museums & Galleries · Keswick
The Rum Story
📍 CA28 7DJ
Photo: Darrin Antrobus (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Step inside a Dickensian merchant's office
- Experience recreated Antiguan rainforest sights, smells and sounds
- Learn how sugar cane was processed into rum
- Explore the original bonded warehouse of imported goods
- Discover stories of pirates, smugglers and the Royal Navy
The Rum Story is a museum in Whitehaven, Cumbria, set within the original 1785 shop, cellars, bonded warehouse and courtyard of the Jefferson family business. You'll journey through atmospheric exhibits covering the Jeffersons' rum and sugar trade, a recreated Antiguan rainforest, the history of enslavement behind rum production, pirates and smugglers, the Royal Navy, and prohibition-era jazz speakeasies. It suits visitors curious about maritime history, trade and social history, including families and groups, with group visits bookable in advance. The attraction is close to Whitehaven station, just 0.3 miles away, and St Bees beach is 4.1 miles off for a coastal walk afterwards. With 26 bookable places to stay within 5 miles on BritStays, it's a convenient base for exploring west Cumbria's coast and heritage sites.
Practical details
- Booking
- Group visits can be booked
- Accessibility
- Guidance available on making the most of your visit
From the attraction's own website on 25 Sep 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Disabled Access
- ✓ Gift Shop
- ✓ WiFi
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Create a free account to claimPlaces to stay near The Rum Story
Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
0.1 mi
0.1 mi
0.3 mi
The Edge Hotel
✓ Base for coastal activities like kite-surfing, paddle-boarding, biking and hiking
Whitehaven
0.5 mi
0.6 mi
0.9 mi
🎪 What's on near The Rum Story
Events from
Skiddle
Thu 19 Nov · 19:00
Night of Mediumship With Stephen Black
The Falcon Club, Egremont · 4.8 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 18 Dec · 21:00
Finchy v cover
King Of The Octagon Nightclub, Workington · 6.8 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 12 Feb · 19:30
Badboy Chiller Crew
The Solway Hall, Whitehaven · 0.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Wed 17 Feb · 19:00
Egremont Market Hall
Egremont Market Hall, Egremont · 5.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to The Rum Story into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
A weekend in Keswick: an accessible itinerary →
A weekend in Keswick with the kids →
A weekend in Keswick →
🗺️ Plan the drive to The Rum Story
🚆 Or come by train
- Whitehaven 0.3 miles
- Corkickle 0.5 miles
- Parton 1.6 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page