Summary
Kendal, a historic market town and a popular tourist destination, is situated in the Kent Valley beneath the eastern fells of the Lake District.
The architecture of the town, characterized by its cottages, mansions, and remnants of industrial heritage, primarily comprises rusticated limestone exhibiting a somber grey hue, which has earned it the moniker “Auld Grey Town.”
As part of the Lake District, engaging in hiking is an essential experience, particularly on the challenging yet breathtaking Kentmere Horseshoe.
To the east, the Howgill Fells seamlessly extend into the Yorkshire Dales National Park, offering an array of outdoor activities.
Complementing its natural beauty, Kendal also offers a vibrant cultural scene, featuring nearby Medieval and Elizabethan manors, a distinguished art gallery, and a thriving cultural hub.
Here is a look at the premier attractions in Kendal:
1. Kendal Castle
Located to the east of Kendal, a brief distance from the River Kent, lie the ruins of Kendal Castle, which was erected on a hill in the 12th century.
From the 14th century onwards, this site served as the seat of the Parr family, ancestors of Catherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII.
By the time of her birth over five centuries ago, Kendal Castle had already fallen into disrepair, rendering it remarkable that substantial portions of the structure remain intact.
A significant part of the manor hall endures, along with its window openings and two vaults below.
In the late 19th century, the castle transitioned to public ownership and has since become a cherished picnic area, offering expansive views westward towards the peaks of Lakeland and eastward to the Howgill Fells.
2. Holy Trinity Church (Kendal Parish Church)
This impressive church, dating back to the 1200s, was constructed over an Anglo-Saxon place of worship, utilizing reclaimed stone from a Roman fort.
The interior dimensions of the church are striking upon entry, enhanced by two additional aisles on the northern and southern sides of the nave, creating a total of five that bathe the space in light.
These extensions were completed in the 18th century, enabling Holy Trinity Church to accommodate 1,200 worshippers.
Visitors are encouraged to take time to observe the fittings and monuments within, such as the black marble font from the 1400s and the 16th-century effigy of local nobleman Sir Walter Strickland, along with the Parr Chapel that houses the 15th-century tomb of Sir William Parr, grandfather of Catherine Parr.
3. Abbot Hall Art Gallery
Offering a cultural passage through the Lake District, the Abbot Hall Art Gallery is housed within a magnificent Georgian residence built in 1759, which replaced the earlier Abbot’s Hall, a Medieval lodging for abbots visiting from St Mary’s Abbey in York.
The residence suffered significant disrepair during the 20th century until its restoration for gallery purposes.
The gallery features works from 18th-century portraitists George Romney and Daniel Gardner, representations of Windermere by landscape artist Philip James de Loutherbourg, and numerous watercolors by J. M. W. Turner, Edward Lear, John Robert Cozens, and John Sell Cotman.
John Ruskin, a prominent Victorian art critic and Lake District resident, is also represented with a collection of his sketches and watercolors.
Modern exhibitions include sculptures by Elisabeth Frink and Barbara Hepworth, as well as paintings by Hockney, David Bomberg, and Ben Nicholson.
4. Kentmere Horseshoe
In the quaint hamlet of Kentmere, situated just north of Kendal, one can embark on one of the Lake District’s most lengthy and secluded walks.
The Kentmere Horseshoe presents a demanding trek, with an elevation gain exceeding 1,000 meters over a distance of 12.8 miles, typically taking around six hours to complete.
However, the effort is rewarded with breathtaking views from the fells encircling the Kentmere Valley.
Once on the ridge, the path undulates like a rollercoaster between summits until reaching the 784-meter peak of Thornthwaite Crag.
At this summit, one can pause for a picnic while enjoying extensive vistas across the valleys and fells of the Lake District.
5. Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry
Housed within the Georgian stable block of Abbot Hall, this acclaimed local history museum is devoted to the Lakeland region from the 1700s onward.
Visitors can step into a reconstructed street scene, exploring a vintage toy shop, pharmacy, and tailor’s shop, as well as viewing reproductions of domestic interiors from various eras, alongside workshops for weaving and woodworking.
Among the museum’s compelling exhibits is the Williamson Brothers vortex turbine from 1856, a highly effective waterwheel traditionally used to power agricultural equipment.
The museum also provides in-depth coverage of 20th-century author Arthur Ransome, a notable resident of the Lake District who set his beloved Swallows and Amazons series within these landscapes.
6. Sizergh Castle
This late-Medieval fortified manor, held by the Strickland family for 750 years, is now operated as a visitor attraction by the National Trust.
Over the centuries, Sizergh Castle has undergone numerous transformations while retaining a significant amount of Medieval architecture, notably in the 14th-century four-storey solar tower.
In the 16th century, it is believed that Catherine Parr resided at Sizergh Castle for a period.
The interiors are adorned with exquisite oak paneling, particularly in the Inlaid Chamber, featuring floral and geometric inlays crafted from bog oak and pale poplar.
The Strickland family had ties to the Jacobite court in exile (which was expelled after the Glorious Revolution of 1688), and the interiors feature contemporary portraits of the Catholic Royal Stuart family.
Visitors can freely explore the estate, take hikes in the fells, and enjoy the extensive seven-hectare gardens, highlighted by a beautiful limestone rockery.
7. Levens Hall
Situated slightly beyond Sizergh Castle, Levens Hall is an Elizabethan residence featuring magnificent formal gardens.
This 16th-century mansion was constructed around a 14th-century Peel Tower, a fortified structure common in the Borders region.
Visitors can enter to admire the lavish oak paneling and stuccowork in the great hall, dining room, drawing room, library, and bedrooms.
Much of the historical detail dates back to the Bellingham family, who expanded Levens Hall and resided there until the late 17th century.
The mansion features Jacobean furniture, a collection of historic portraits, and above the fireplace in the great hall, the coat of arms of Elizabeth I. The gardens are truly spectacular, designed based on a plan established in 1694, and they boast over 100 extraordinary topiaries, many dating back to the garden’s inception.
8. Kendal Museum
The Kendal Museum’s history dates back to 1796, making it one of the oldest museums in the country.
With a traditional ambiance, Kendal Museum features exhibitions of mounted animal heads, intricate dioramas of taxidermy, and even a full-sized polar bear.
Among the captivating archaeological exhibits are Iron Age swords, Viking artifacts, a Medieval annular brooch, and a pair of steel dies used for creating tokens for Kendal’s Mercers’ Company.
The geological displays showcase an extensive collection of minerals collected from disused mines throughout the Lake District, along with an impressive array of crystals sourced from as far away as Myanmar and Brazil.
9. Brewery Arts Centre
Housed in a renovated Victorian brewery, the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal offers a wide range of entertainment, catering to diverse audiences.
This venue hosts live performances from emerging artists, well-known acts, and tribute performances spanning a multitude of genres, from jazz to soul and heavy metal.
Moreover, the centre provides a platform for theatre, dance, comedy shows, and various talks and seminars.
The cinema screens both blockbuster films and independent features, while two concurrent art exhibitions are always ongoing, and the popular Grainstore restaurant ensures the centre remains a hub of daily activities in Kendal.
10. Scout Scar
Positioned as one of the easternmost fells in the Lake District, Scout Scar rises to 235 meters, located three miles west of Kendal.
A car park is available at the base of the hill, offering access to a circular walking path leading to the summit and back.
The eastern slope presents a gentle ascent, whereas the western aspect features a steep limestone escarpment, providing a viewpoint to observe the Central Fells of the Lake District.
The area includes two summits, with the lower one featuring a shelter known as “the mushroom.”
This structure was established in 1912 to commemorate the coronation of King George V and features a toposcope displaying the Central Fells.
11. Hawkshead Brewery
This small-scale craft brewery produces 140 barrels weekly, distributing its products across Northern England.
Established in 2002 and relocated to a refurbished wood-turning mill in Staveley since 2006, Hawkshead Brewery invites visitors to experience its beer hall.
The hall operates seven days a week, where patrons can sample a diverse range of Hawkshead beers (including lager, stout, and pale ale) from bottles, casks, or kegs.
For those intrigued by the brewing process, daily brewery tours lasting approximately 45 minutes are available, providing insights into activities such as mashing and fermentation.
12. Lakeland Maze Farm Park
The Lakeland Maze Farm Park, known for winning the “Maize Maze of the Year” award several times within the past five years, is worth exploring.
This attraction, primarily designed for children, is open during the spring and summer months and features an array of animals including alpacas, sheep, pygmy goats, pigs, ponies, donkeys, and guinea pigs, which children can interact with in the pet barn and outdoor areas.
The maize maze operates from July to September; additionally, there is a mini-maze for younger visitors, tractor rides, go-karting, and spacious indoor play areas such as a soft play zone and sandpit available for inclement weather.
13. Howgill Fells
Located across the River Lune, the Howgills are a picturesque range approximately ten miles east of Kendal.
Offering a unique level of seclusion, the Howgill Fells are less frequented than the more popular Lake District attractions.
The lower Howgill Fells lie within the Yorkshire Dales National Park yet remain within the county of Cumbria.
Visitors can park in the charming town of Sedbergh and embark on the ascent of Winder Fell, which stands 473 meters tall, providing panoramic views of the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District fells, and much of the Lune Valley.
In close proximity to Sedbergh, one will find Cautley Spout, England’s highest waterfall, cascading nearly 200 meters.
14. Quaker Tapestry Museum
The Georgian Friends Meeting House, a Quaker place of worship, showcases an art piece that chronicles the 350-year history of Quakerism.
The Quaker Tapestry, inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, comprises 77 panels stitched by 4,000 men, women, and children from 15 countries over a span of 15 years, from 1981 to 1996. Each panel measures 64 cm by 21 cm, and in the mid-1990s, the complete tapestry was transported to America for touring exhibitions.
The tapestry honors significant Quakers, such as 19th-century chemist John Dalton, and recounts their historic commitments to peace and the abolition of slavery.
15. Castle Howe
A significant fragment of Kendal’s history can be discovered in the open area adjacent to the Brewery Arts Centre.
At Castle Howe, visitors can observe the well-defined earthworks of a Norman motte and bailey castle.
This fortification was erected at the conclusion of the 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest.
However, Castle Howe was not utilized for long and faced abandonment within a century.
Eight centuries later, the motte reaches a height of 11 meters and spans almost 20 meters in diameter, while an obelisk was positioned here in 1788 commemorating the centenary of the Glorious Revolution, when William III, the Dutch Prince of Orange, invaded England and ascended to the throne.
