Summer holidays in and around Keswick
Summer Holidays 2025
This page is being updated constantly so check back regularly for new summer events scheduled
Ultimate Cycling Adventures
Get on your Bike
For guided cycling tours of the North Lakes area, Ultimate Cycling Adventures can create bespoke tours for all ages and abilities and riding preferences.
Lowther Castle & Calvert Lakes
Wednesday 27 August at 5.30pm
Illyria Outdoor theatre company returns to the beautiful grounds of Lowther Castle for their annual, family performance.
This year in the company of Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad as they perform Kenneth Grahame’s much loved The Wind in the Willows.
Tickets from £10
Whinlatter Forest
Wild Things Adventure Club
Wild Things Adventure Club at Whinlatter is an amazing holiday club for children aged 5– 14.
Expect lots of exploring, bushcraft, wildlife and outdoor skills led by experienced teachers and outdoor practitioners.
Multiple Dates from the 28th July - 20th August
9am - 5pm each day
Whinlatter Forest
Photography Workshops -
Full & Half Days in July & August - With Steve Blake
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
All the mischievous little mice from the Keswick Cheese Deli have escaped and are hiding in lots of wonderful shops around the town. Can you help to find all 24 of them?
A perfect family activity, you can do it all in one go or spread it out over your stay in Keswick. Maps can be collected from the front of the Keswick Cheese Deli or from the Tourist Information Centre.
Free Fitz Park I-Spy Trail
If you're looking for some fun outdoor family activity in Keswick, why not drop-in to Keswick Museum and pick up your FREE I Spy Trail – a great way to explore the town's beautiful Fitz Park any day of the week. Find the numbers, look around, look up high and on the ground, spot an eagle and a fountain, spy a bridge, a bear, a mountain! There are 10 trail posts to find – when you’ve found them all, come into the museum for a prize!
Thirlmere Flower Show
Update - Markus can no longer attend
Stephen Barnes, who has just retired as President of the British Bee-Keepers Association and is the current President of both Cumbria and Keswick Bee-Keeper Associations will take his place at the event.
Keswick Museum
Summer Crafts
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Looking for some fun craft activities during the Summer holidays? Come to the museum to make masks, clay pots, lavender bags and even a woolly mammoth (not life size). All materials and tuition provided, but be prepared to let your imaginations go wild!
The craft sessions are aimed at younger children, but some are more suitable for older children and adults will also enjoy getting involved.
Whinlatter Forest
Stickman, Gruffalo, Wallace and Gromit Trails and so much more at Whinlatter Forest this summer to keep everyone entertained including the dog
Theatre by the Lake
Pride and Prejudice
Thursday 7 August – Saturday 6 September | 7.30pm; with 2pm matinees on selected dates
Jane Austen’s most iconic love story is brought dazzlingly to life on stage
Tickets from £12
Mirehouse & Gardens
For the youngsters, the woodland playgrounds and family natures notes are always popular. There is plenty of space to burn off excess energy along the heather path maze in the Bee Garden, on the terraced lawns and skimming stones by Bassenthwaite Lake. Bring a picnic or lovely home made treats are available aplenty at the Old Sawmill Tearoom across the road.
Theatre by the Lake
Summer Masterclasses
Week 1: Monday 28 July - Friday 1 August
Week 2: Monday 4 - Friday 8 August
Week 3: Monday 18 - Friday 22 August
For ages 12 - 18
In Summer 2025 our sell-out masterclasses return with three incredible weeks that will encourage young people to explore the landscape around us and create brand new outdoor theatre performances.
Theatre by the Lake
Aardman Model Making Workshop
Monday 11 August | 11am, 1pm and 3pm
Watch a Wallace and Gromit classic before joining the expert team from Aardman to learn the unique art of model making at these fun, interactive clay modelling workshops.
You’ll receive a step-by-step demonstration by an expert model maker from the Aardman studio, and discover how to craft your own model.
Choose to make Gromit (11am) Feathers (1pm) or Shaun the Sheep (3pm). Tickets: £12
Theatre by the Lake
Big Days For Tiny Theatre Makers - Playtime
Wednesday 13th August - 11am, 1pm and 3pmOur Big Days for Tiny Theatre Makers include a show and a series of activities for you to enjoy, including storytelling, puppet play and art activities. Activities are open before and after the show, so you’re welcome to stay and play for as long as you like.
Tickets: £12 (adults and children aged 0+), includes performance and all other activities. Suitable for age 0 - 4
Theatre by the Lake
Claytime
Saturday 30th August - 11:30am & 2pm
How it works: After exploring the medium of clay through clowning, two artists ask the young audience for ideas for characters, settings and stories which are then developed immediately. Based on this input, the company then improvises a play. Each play is unique to that specific audience. The piece culminates with a short on-stage workshop where the children have their own opportunity for some hands-on clay time.
Tickets from £14 adults and £12 U16s. Age 3-6
Keswick Alhambra Cinema
Located in Keswick Town Centre, open 7 days a week 365 days a year (yes including Christmas Day)
It is a fantastic place to watch the newest films or old favourites
Find out what is on at the Cinema this summer
Wordsworth Grasmere
Make and Play Sessions
Dates throughout July & August
Different themed days
Lake District Wildlife Park
A walk on the wild side just a 10 minute drive from Keswick.
With the backdrop of the Skiddaw massif journey on foot around the 24 acres of parkland visiting over 100 species of wild and domestic animals cared for in this beautiful setting by their qualified and highly motivated keepers.
A range of engaging presentations take place daily bringing you closer to many of the park’s favourites. Take a look at Tripadvisor for all the latest reviews.
With conservation at the heart of our ethos we actively support three charities and as BIAZA members we participate in six endangered species programmes. Please see section on conservation. We also jointly manage two SSSI sites on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake.
Open 7 days a week 10am -5pm
Wordsworth House & Gardens
Visit William Wordsworth Childhood home in Cockermouth
Family-friendly events
Activities run from Saturday to Wednesday in the school holidays and are free with admission to the house and garden. Keep checking our website as we add more exciting events throughout the year.
N.B. Please call ahead if you are coming specially for an activity as, due to staffing issues, we sometimes have to cancel.
Ellis Brigham
Repair & Restore Event
Free Event
Where: Ellis Brigham, Kings Head Court, Keswick, CA12 5FJ
When: Saturday 26 July 10:00 - 16:00
One item per person. First come, first served.
Repairs will be carried out on the day. Items must be from a brand we stock and must be clean — unwashed items may be refused. Wait times will vary. If we’re unable to complete the repair on the day and haven’t reached capacity, we’ll offer a collection from the same store within 14 days.
Festival of Archaeology 2025
Join for the Festival of Archaeology 2025
Keswick Museum & English Heritage
Saturday, July 26 and Saturday, August 211:00 AM – Castlerigg Stone Circle
Thornthwaite Galleries
Craft Workshops
Multiple Craft workshops throughout July, August and September
Thornthwaite Galleries and Tea rooms
Head to the Park
We've a choice of outdoor play areas around Keswick. Fitz Park, close to the town centre, has a fantastic children's playground, outdoor gym, a multi use games area and BMX track as well as a large open recreational area. There are also grass tennis courts and a putting green. At the other end of town, close to the lake, Hope Park has crazy golf, putting, a pitch and putt course and remote controlled boats. Whinlatter Forest Park, just outside Keswick, has a wonderful adventure playground laid out as a trail through the forest where children can explore the natural environment. It includes an archimedes screw, secret doors in trees and a series of pulleys to move millions of little pebbles. Nearby at Mirehouse Historic House the grounds are home to four woodland adventure playgrounds and a heather path maze in the Bee Garden.
Go for a Walk
Take a look at our Family Walks page where you'll find a selection of routes from buggy friendly walks for young families to more challenging routes for those with older children.
The multi-user railway trail between Keswick and Threlkeld allows families of all ages to get out together as you can use the path on foot, bike, scooter, buggy and wheelchair. There are lots of information panels along the way where you find out more about local nature and wildlife as well as the history of the railway.
Head up to Whinlatter Forest, England’s only true mountain forest, where you'll find walking trails of varying lengths to suit all abilities
Take a Walk on the Wildside
Take a walk with an alpaca, a unique chance to bond with one of the Alpacas as you lead them, feed them and even take them for a dip in the lake. Alpaca Meet and Greets are great for all the family, lasting around half an hour and allowing you to get up close.
Or spend the day at the Lake District Wildlife Park - see over 100 species of wild and domestic animals in 24 acres of parkland set amongst breath-taking scenery. There are birds of prey and a rare breed farm animal collection. Play areas, picnic sites and a café make it a fun day out for all the family.
Indoor Fun
Head to Puzzling Place, a world of optical Illusions. Be amazed by interactive illusion exhibits, artwork and sculptures and see balls roll uphill in the anti-gravity room.
At the Derwent Pencil Museum discover the history of pencil making and see the world's largest pencil. Visit Keswick Museum where you'll find digital activities and engaging exhibitions.
Click here for more details of our local attractions.
Outdoor Adventures
There are a wide range of family activities around Keswick. Whinlatter Forest is home to Go Ape, a fantastic treetop adventure where you can swing through the trees or if you’d rather stay down on the ground, you can enjoy the all-terrain Segways to explore Whinlatter forest from a thrilling new perspective.
From Ghyll Scrambling to Indoor Climbing, Rookery Woods to Canoeing, there are lots of exciting adventures waiting for you at Keswick Climbing Wall & Outdoor Activity Centre.
Find out more about water based activities here including sailing, paddle-boarding, kayaking and canoeing. To find out more about outdoor activities around Keswick click here.
Get on Your Bike
Cycling is a fun way to explore the area and, if you haven't brought your bike with you, you can hire one from Cyclewise in Whinlatter Forest where you'll find a choice of mountain bike trails.
The pump track in Fitz Park is a very popular destination for riders from beginners through to advanced. For younger riders, just learning to ride a bike or not yet confident to go on the road, the perimeter path, which runs all way around the park, makes a great circuit.
The Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail is a 10km out and back off-road route with gentle gradients. Being a multi-user trail it is great for the whole family with cyclists, runners, push-chairs, walkers and mobility scooters all sharing the space.
Read Our Blogs
For more inspiration about what to see and do in the Keswick area read our blogs.
What's On
From Family Fun to Festivals and Shows, check out what's on in Keswick
