J.B.Banks and Son Ltd
J.B.Banks and Son Ltd
4.8
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
About
Established in 1836, this traditional ironmongers & hardware shop contains a wealth of original features, from the 22 ft mahogany counter and all the drawers behind to the unusual counter made of keys. Go through the rear door & step back in time. See the workshop dating back to Georgian times, office and more. Great for adults & kids alike.
Duration: < 1 hour
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingWhat is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
70 within 3 miles
Attractions
18 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.8
220 reviews
Excellent
176
Very good
41
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0
JaneyG_10
England55 contributions
Jul 2024 • Friends
Visited with two retired engineers who looked like children in a sweet shop! They loved it. Staff are amazing and so knowledgeable. They loved the set up and felt it was like going back in time and seeing craftsmanship at its best. It was like time had stood still. Thank you for making us so welcome. We will definitely visit again when we come back to the Lake District.
Written 3 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Russell paine
2 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
Was a real highlight of our visit to cockermouth . Owner was great to chat to with lots of knowledge. Purchased a great cast iron pot by E Puch and Co which as a company has lots of history. The cast iron pot perfect for our clay oven and reasonably priced. The museum at the rear is a must to show the quality of craftsmanship of bygone years.
Written 1 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Superdiscoedits,
many thanks for taking the time to write a review. The owner remembers you well and is very happy to read that you're happy with the pot you bought!
Kind regards,
Written 11 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Youngatheart6248
Preston, UK426 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
The shop itself is fascinating, with a huge range of goods on sale but you must go through to the back where they have an unimaginable collection of tools, equipment, signs, etc etc - this collection/museum of bygones is incredible.
You could spend hours here and still not see everything.
And it’s free - though do put something in their collection box.
You could spend hours here and still not see everything.
And it’s free - though do put something in their collection box.
Written 23 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PhoebeYorks
Yorkshire28 contributions
Aug 2019
We've visited J.B. Banks and Son Ltd on a number of occasions and this unique place fills me with joy. It has everything you could need in hardware and more... and the heritage museum at the back of the shop is good for the soul, reflecting times gone by. We are so looking forward to calling in again now the shop is open once more.
Written 1 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David G
Lower Dicker, UK1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Family
All the staff were polite, friendly & helpful. Asked for advice for a faulty lock and purchased a new lock after receiving information on how to fit it. It was emphasised that if this didn't solve the problem (it did) then I should return it for a full refund.
It's not often these days that you get good service and knowledgeable staff such as here.
It's not often these days that you get good service and knowledgeable staff such as here.
Written 21 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bouquet12
Wigton, UK35 contributions
Nov 2019
I’ve been a customer here for many years. In some ways it is like going back in time as there is a lovely old world atmosphere of a place that’s been lovingly kept for a great many years. At the same time it is definitely part of the 21st century. The staff are friendly and helpful with a knowledge which is good to know in an age when many places have staff who know nothing of the products they sell.
Written 10 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helen
Chester, UK19 contributions
Aug 2020
Well worth a visit. This museum is unique. My partner found it particularly interesting given the inordinate quantity of old gadgets it has. Entrance is free but donations are welcomed. Look out for the old well INSIDE the shop!
Written 2 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colin Happy Day
Cockermouth, UK7 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
We visited to have some keys cut and the service was outstanding.
My only concern was that we asked for fork handles, and when we got all the way back home on Isel Road, we found four candles in our brown paper bag.
Seriously though, thank you Ken. Top gadgy…👍
My only concern was that we asked for fork handles, and when we got all the way back home on Isel Road, we found four candles in our brown paper bag.
Seriously though, thank you Ken. Top gadgy…👍
Written 15 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fennis Gates
County Durham, UK3 contributions
Sept 2020
Used this Hardware Store many times, but this trip they saved my life, Lock bust in door, Luckly we had back door and this Family helped me by given me tools to do job.
I travel all over the country never found a small hardware family shop so GREAT.
PLUS, A must is the museum upstairs.
But make plenty time to look round, IT IS GREAT.
I travel all over the country never found a small hardware family shop so GREAT.
PLUS, A must is the museum upstairs.
But make plenty time to look round, IT IS GREAT.
Written 25 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather C
Stockport, UK11 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
We usually go in to have a look around or buy something when we go to Cockermouth. Unfortunately we missed this September- just ran out time. Not just a museum, you can buy all kind of hardware, tools, equipment here. Lovely friendly staff too, do pay a visit if you are going anywhere near Cockermouth.
Written 16 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear susancB3381SC,
The majority of the shop is flat though there is a 1.5'' edge to the main door and the floor in the museum is slightly uneven.
The stairs up into the workshop part of the museum aren't
wheelchair accessible however we do have a digital photo frame downstairs with photos of the museum. We have had prams, wheelchairs and small mobility scooters through with no problem at all.
If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask and apologies for the late response.
Kind regards
Written 11 July 2016
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing