A small but serious family-owned gallery, Beckstones Art Gallery shows a range of artists’ work, many highly regarded and collected and leaning towards the traditional. It is in the little village of Greystoke, worth a visit in its own right for its ancient church, castle, the rather eccentric Greystoke Cycle Cafe and even an open-air lido which is open during the summer months.
An incredible wonderland of outdoor arts, masquerade and pint carrying competitions in Penrith.
free entry
Find out how the first tourists to the Lake District (a time before mobile phones, specialist clothing and TripAdvisor reviews) experienced the area, in this fascinating new exhibition.
from £6.00
Offering a brilliant blend of history, art and literature, this expanded exhibition at The Armitt, offers a revealing insight into the artist’s life and work.
from £4.00
This art exhibit pays tribute to the often forgotten Women’s Timber Corps (1942), who took up axes and saws to help with the war effort.
free entry
Kendal Mountain Festival explore the most captivating stories from those inspired by the mountains, wilderness and culture.
Exploring our natural world through words, music and poetry, Kendal Mountain Book Festival should be a top pick for lovers of nature writing and avid explorers everywhere.
from £6.50
Avant-pop Arthur Jeffes and his Penguin Café ensemble are visiting Brewery Arts to perform their much anticipated new album Rain Before Seven.
from £32.50
Afro-futurist collective Onipa perfrom ‘Off The Grid’, an album which journeys through the origins and evolution of African inspired music.
from £16.50
A unique creative venue offering an inspiring range of art, craft and heritage ‘Quirky Workshops’ and courses.
A visitor centre off the A66, containing gallery spaces, cinema screen, artisan shopping and local produce, as well as cafes and children’s play areas.
The menu, as you would expect is full of wholesome treats. All day breakfasts, soups, sandwiches and superfood salads are all served with care. If you fancy something sweet then the home baked scones and cakes can also be taken away. If you fancy sampling some of the cafés delicious Gingerbridges, inspired by Pooley Bridge then you can also now order them online too.
For over 150 years, 1863 has been integral to the village of Ullswater. Now, reimagined for the 21st century as a glamorous Michelin location.
Thacka Beck Nature Reserve is within easy walking distance of Penrith town centre, offering a quick retreat for local residents.
A few miles north of Penrith, Hutton-in-the-Forest is an exquisite country house, described by Simon Jenkins as “one of Britain’s top 100”.
Upfront Puppet Theatre is located near Penrith, Cumbria and is one of only four authentic working puppet theatres in England.
Ruins of a 14th century castle, former home of Richard III. Situated in Penrith’s Castle Park, and managed by English Heritage. Free to visit.
Boasting an array of hot and cold food including homemade cakes, The Yard Kitchen is a café with a distinctly quirky feel.
Victoria Clothing is an independent clothing boutique in the centre of Penrith, specialising in goods by small-scale British artisans and Fair-Trade apparel.
This modern bistro and bar, open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday, serves up classic British pub fare reimagined to its most indulgent.
School's back and we're heading towards autumn! Here are some of the best family friendly events and activities to keep the kids busy.
From post punk legends to the leading lights of modern shoegaze, read about the most exciting artists playing in Manchester and the North this autumn.
We’re crowning October the month of painting prizes! From Birkenhead to Huddersfield, biennials are showcasing the best of contemporary painting.
The best new venues and revamped food and drink menus in Manchester and the North as we head into autumn.
With literature festival season starting its engines, we select our top picks, alongside some standout launches and readings.
A true crime rock musical, contemporary dance and punchy new writing feature in this month’s eclectic pick of live theatre.
Get inspired to make the most of autumn with day trips, pumpkin carving and ghosts in this month's Tours and Activities guide.
Halloween's on the horizon, but there are some big film festivals to dive into first.
