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Britain > Lake District > Keswick |
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A small town located in one of the Lake District's most beautiful areas |
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Keswick is a small town in the Lake District, historically known as being the site of a local cheese market. It's home to less than 5,000 people, but despite its small size and quiet location, Keswick is actually a vibrant and fascinating place, full of interesting things to do. |
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The market is still here, although nowadays it sells a lot more than just cheese. It takes place every Saturday in the dead centre of the town, in front of an eye-catching building called Moot Hall. This is Keswick's main event, but there are usually plenty of other things going on throughout the year, including annual film, jazz, and beers festivals. There is also a choice of several unusual museums to visit. |
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![]() Moot Hall Photo Katherine_Davis |
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The most well-known of these was probably Cars of the Stars. This automobile museum focused on well known vehicles from film and television, and its collection is second to none. It houses KITT from Knightrider, several Batmobiles, Del Boy's 3-wheeled Reliant, and many more. The cars are displayed within an appropriate film set, giving them just the right atmosphere. Unfortunately, this museum is currently closed. |
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Another popular place to visit is the Pencil Museum. Graphite was actually discovered very close to here, meaning that the world's first pencils were made in this very area. Keswick is still the location of a major pencil factory, and the museum is housed just next door. It explains about the manufacturing process, from the very first step to the last. The star attraction is the world's longest colouring pencil, which measures nearly 8 metres. There is also a drawing area, meaning that you're free to create your own masterpieces if you start feeling creative. |
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Close by to Keswick's Main Street lies another attraction, which can certainly be described as "eye-catching" - in more ways than one! This is the Puzzling Place, a museum dedicated to baffling optical illusions. There are several rooms, all of which are guaranteed to confuse you completely. There is also a hologram room, as well as a dedicated puzzle area, where you can test your wits against a series of tricky brainteasers. |
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All of Keswick's interesting attractions are set against the backdrop of Derwent Water, which is known as one of the Lake District's most beautiful areas. The water is surrounded by wooded hills and fells, including Skiddaw, England's fourth-highest peak. Dozens of walking trails cover the hillsides, providing the perfect method for seeing the jaw-dropping views. Getting to the various different paths is easy, thanks to the convenient network of ferries and water taxis. Boat hire is also available for the nautically inclined. |
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Keswick is one of the most unique towns in the entire Lake District, and with it being situated right next to one of the most beautiful lakes, its easy to see why many people make this their primary destination within the entire National Park. |
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The town is also host to The Keswick Convention, the country's oldest bible conference that started in 1875. It runs for 3 weeks every July and August and is attended by several thousand visitors. |
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Keswick Tourist Information Centre, Moot Hall, Market Square, Keswick, CA12 5JR. Tel: 01768 772645 |
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The Pencil Museum is open daily from 9:30am to 5pm (extended peak hours). Entry costs around £5. Southey Works, Keswick, CA12 5NG. Tel: 01768 773 626 |
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