Holidays in Kendal

More around Kendal

Getting your bearings

Kendal sits in a useful spot: the Lake District on one side, the Yorkshire Dales on the other, and the coast around Morecambe within reach when you fancy a change of scene. That makes it a sensible base rather than a place you only pass through. You can spend a morning on a castle hill above the town and an afternoon on a lake, or swap grey skies for a museum without feeling you've wasted the day.

The town itself gives you a gentle start. Kendal Castle stands on its green mound above the rooftops, free to wander and good for a blow-away-the-cobwebs walk, and the Heritage Centre fills in the story of the place before you head further afield.

Days out with children

If you have energetic children, the big hitters are easy to name. The Lakes Aqua Park is the inflatable-on-the-water sort of day that tires everyone out properly, while Go Ape Grizedale and Go Ape Whinlatter put you up in the trees among the forestry — two separate sites, so pick whichever fits the direction you're heading that day.

For younger ones, The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction at Windermere is the obvious choice and holds its own in any weather. Older children with an interest in machines tend to do well at the Lakeland Motor Museum, and the Ravenglass Railway Museum suits anyone who likes trains more than they'll admit. The Retro Zone in Keswick is a reliable hit with teenagers and with parents who recognise half the games.

Rainy-day options

Cumbria's weather does what it likes, so it pays to keep a wet-weather list in your back pocket:

Keswick Museum & Art Gallery, for a proper browse on a drizzly afternoon
Windermere Jetty, which puts boats and lake history under cover
The Laurel and Hardy Museum and the Lancaster Maritime Museum, both over at Morecambe
Judges' Lodgings Museum, another Morecambe option when the coast is grey
JB Banks Ironmongers in Keswick, an unusual small museum that rewards a slow look
Eskdale Mill, tucked away and quietly absorbing

Sir John Barrow Cottage is a modest stop rather than a half-day, so pair it with something else nearby rather than making a special journey in bad weather.

Outdoors and heritage

Sizergh Castle and Levens Hall are the two heritage visits most people fit in from Kendal, and both reward unhurried wandering in the grounds as much as indoors. Acorn Bank is gentler again, more garden than grand house. Two of the properties in this area are National Trust, so if you're a member it's worth checking before you pay at the gate.

Further out, Appleby Castle and Howgill Castle give you a reason to drive east towards the fells and the Yorkshire Dales, and Burton Castle (site of) is one for people who enjoy ruins and imagination in equal measure. Brantwood, on its hillside above the water, combines house, garden and views in a way that suits a long afternoon, and Furness Abbey Visitor Centre makes sense of the stonework before you walk among it.

How to group them into a day

Don't try to cross the region twice in one day. A few pairings that work:

Kendal and south: Kendal Castle and the Heritage Centre in the morning, Sizergh Castle or Levens Hall after lunch.
Windermere day: The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, then Windermere Jetty or the Lakeland Motor Museum.
Keswick day: Keswick Museum & Art Gallery, The Retro Zone and JB Banks Ironmongers, with Go Ape Whinlatter if the forecast holds.
Coast day: Laurel and Hardy Museum, Lancaster Maritime Museum and Judges' Lodgings Museum around Morecambe.
Quiet west: Eskdale Mill, Ravenglass Railway Museum and Furness Abbey Visitor Centre.

Where to eat

Kendal does tea rooms well. Brew Brothers, Grove Barn and Joey's Cafe all hold five-star hygiene ratings and suit the usual holiday pattern of a proper sit-down after a walk. Relish is the one for picnic building — bread, cheese and something local to take up the hill — and Greggs covers the early start when you want to be on the road before anything else opens.

Making it a short break

There are 277 places to stay on BritStays across the Kendal area, which is enough choice to be picky about parking and dog policies. Three nights works well: one day close to base, one in the Lakes, one towards the Dales or the coast.

Book outdoor activities ahead, especially Go Ape Grizedale and The Lakes Aqua Park in the school holidays. Check opening days directly with smaller museums such as Eskdale Mill before setting off, carry waterproofs regardless of the forecast, and keep one indoor option unbooked each day so you have somewhere to go when the hills disappear into cloud.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kendal a good base for the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales?

Yes. Kendal sits between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, with the coast around Morecambe also within reach, so you can plan quite different days from one base rather than moving around.

What is there to do in Kendal itself?

Kendal Castle is free to walk up to and gives you views over the town, and the Heritage Centre covers the local history. Both work well together as a half-day before heading further afield.

What are the best rainy-day attractions near Kendal?

Good indoor options include Keswick Museum & Art Gallery, Windermere Jetty, The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, The Retro Zone, JB Banks Ironmongers, Eskdale Mill, and the Morecambe museums: the Laurel and Hardy Museum, Lancaster Maritime Museum and Judges' Lodgings Museum.

Where can we take children who want to be outdoors and active?

The Lakes Aqua Park is the main water-based option, and there are two tree-top sites to choose from: Go Ape Grizedale and Go Ape Whinlatter. Pick whichever fits the direction you are already travelling, and book ahead in the school holidays.

Which historic houses and castles can we visit from Kendal?

Sizergh Castle, Levens Hall and Acorn Bank are the main stately home and garden visits, while Appleby Castle, Howgill Castle and Burton Castle (site of) sit further east. Brantwood and the Furness Abbey Visitor Centre are also worth a half-day. Two of the properties in the area are National Trust, so check before paying if you are a member.

Where should we eat in Kendal?

Brew Brothers, Grove Barn and Joey's Cafe are tea rooms with five-star hygiene ratings, Relish is a deli that is handy for putting a picnic together, and Greggs is useful for an early start.

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