Lots of Culture and plenty of heritage to be had in Cumbria - Have a look at some of the options to choose from.
Morning
The best place to start would probably be Museum Of Lakeland Life in Kendal. It shows how our Cumbrian ancestors worked, lived and entertained themselves in the changing social climate of the past 200 years.
Head over to Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre; this multi-purpose arts complex presents a year-round programme of theatre, music, films, lectures and exhibitions, together with a range of amateur participatory activities including art and craft workshops, Cumbria Youth Theatre, and classes.
Known nationally as a centre for world-class theatre, music, art and events, the Brewery has a 450 capacity music venue, three cinemas, two visual arts galleries, drama studio, darkroom facilities, meeting rooms, great restaurant/cafe/bar.
Lunch
Just outside Kendal is the National Trust's imposing medieval Sizergh Castle, with its beautiful limestone rock gardens which you can walk around. Nearby is Levens Hall, this magnificent Elizabethan mansion built around a 13th Century. The Grade I listed garden, dating from 1694 has survived well and the topiary is some of the oldest in the world and justifiably famous.
Medieval House with Tudor additions surrounded by a superb garden and large estate. Has been lived in by the Strickland family for over 760 years. Learn about the Elizabethan carvings and contents of the castle, and the gardens.
Levens Hall is an Elizabethan mansion built around a 13thC Pele tower. The much loved home of the Bagot family, visitors often comment on the warm and friendly atmosphere.
Victorian stately home, set in 25 acres of stunning gardens and ancient deer park. Holker has its own cafe, gift shop and food hall, and hosts an annual programme of special events.
Afternoon
Kirkby Lonsdale is a historic market town in Cumbria and the pleasant drive is only thirteen miles south-east from Kendal along the A65. The town is a great tourist attraction with an excellent range of small speciality shops and many of the shops are in listed buildings which offer arts and crafts, plus there's a weekly market with lots of local produce to buy. There's also attractive 17th and 18th century inns and a fine Norman church. Admire the wonderful scenery from Ruskin's View. Spanning the River Lune is the 14th century Devil's Bridge with its graceful arches, steeped in legend.
Kirkby Lonsdale is in the beautiful valley of the River Lune on the fringes of both the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. A national winner of 'Britain in Bloom', the town has an excellent range of speciality shops.
Evening
Full circle brings you back to Kendal. If the weather is fine, why not take an early evening stroll upto Kendal Castle, probably late 12th Century, is now a ruin, but worth exploring. From here you can get brilliant views over the town and watch the sun go down over the Lakeland Fells.
The town's old cobbled lanes and byways branch off the attractive main street and are peppered with quaint antique and speciality shops. You will also find a number of high street stores in the main pedestrianised shopping area.
Kirkby Lonsdale
Kirkby Lonsdale is in the beautiful valley of the River Lune on the fringes of both the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. A national winner of 'Britain in Bloom', the town has an excellent range of speciality shops and attractive 17th and 18th century inns. Kirkby Lonsdale's superb location has attracted many notable visitors. The Vale of Lune was greatly admired by the painter Constable, and Turner painted landscapes in and around the town. Ruskin was so impressed that he wrote, "I do not know in all my own country, still less in France or Italy, a place more naturally divine."Ruskin's View" over the River Lune is a famous local attraction. The medieval Devil's Bridge spans the river, and is a scheduled ancient monument. There are many riverside and country walks in the area, and historic buildings to see in the town itself, including the 11thC Norman parish church. Whilst many old market towns and their settings have suffered over the years, Kirkby Lonsdale and its surrounding area of outstanding landscape still offer the same beauty appreciated by Constable, Turner, and Ruskin. In 1997 the town was awarded a National Tourism Award by the English Tourist Board.
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