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Keswick Museum

Keswick Museum

Keswick Museum
4.5
Natural History MuseumsChildren's MuseumsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Great exhibitions, activities and cafe in a glorious park setting by the river. Giant map, musical stones and loads for kids to do. Open daily 10-4
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • redscarfox
    Redcar, United Kingdom969 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Small but interesting
    Small museum on the way to the old railway station. Only 2 smallish rooms but with some interesting exhibits, especially the very large (rock) xylophone. Perhaps could do with a few more local exhibits. The volunteer on tHe cash desk was very knowledgeable and interesting.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 October 2023
  • Simon
    Washington, United Kingdom465 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very small
    Visited to avoid torrential rain. The museum was very interesting in part, especially around the mining and geological history of Keswick. It was very small though. There is a huge amount that could be covered on the history of the area but there just isn't enough space here to do it justice
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 8 February 2024
  • Nicole H
    Huddersfield, United Kingdom11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Charming local museum
    We only had an hour and this was an hour well spent. The collection is somewhat disjointed but the museum is charming for its randomness. Our particular highlight was the stone musical instrument (lithophone) but we all enjoyed how hands on the whole museum and gallery is. We also appreciated that our ticket is annual admission, which would be useful if we lived closer.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 13 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles330 reviews
Excellent
198
Very good
90
Average
23
Poor
13
Terrible
6

baxterwood
glusburn8 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021
We called in this Museum and were very welcomed on entry by a most helpful volunteer who indicated that there were two rooms we could look round which sadly was the total of this museum. Clearly many people have spent a great deal of time putting the exhibits and information together and on display but on the whole all is very spartan. We were both very disappointed that there was, for instance, little in the way of how the town evolved particularly during the industrial revolution with the use of old photographs. Although our tickets allow for entry free for the next year it will be very unlikely we will return, a seniors reduction would have been more appropriate.
Written 9 November 2021
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.

Phileas_Flogg
Oxford, UK388 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
I really cant think of anything positive to say about this museum: it is expensive, there are no senior citizen discounts and there are only 2 very small rooms with a random and partial history of a town oozing with fascinating stories to tell.

I simply do not understand how this attraction continues to exist whilst offering such an impoverished account of Keswick. This was a place that thrived on industry and now thrives on tourism. The journey from the one to the other is the story that should be told in detail. Instead, we heard about some obscure proto-lesbian, saw fewer examples of the Keswick Industrial Arts School than the antique shop in town and were left to play a few random tunes on a stone xylophone.

This is barely a cabinet of curiosities that took me less than 25 mins including a toilet break and given its niggardly lack of an OAP concession, no you certainly didn't deserve me giving you the benefit of Giftaid! Oh, and the cafe isnt open on Monday tho the museum is. Great thinking!
Written 6 June 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.

Sawyer
Hereford, UK205 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Family
Decent little museum with information about local poets and artists, a stone xylophone that you are allowed to play, some old taxidermy and examples of wares from the Keswick Industrial Arts Society. You can buy lovely replica items and interesting books from the shop. I bought a little copper stencilling kit for £4.50 but the instructions were missing so I don’t think I am doing it right! The cafe is shut on Mondays but the one over the road in the park does great coffee, churros and scones.
Written 12 August 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.

Sarah G
150 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
Really charming museum with some interesting local history. Clearly meticulously maintained with love and a nice step away from the bustle. It is very small, just 2 rooms and some may not feel like spending £5 on it. But we really enjoyed it and the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable.

Probably the highlight were the Musical Stones of Skiddaw. They look and sound incredible and would be a great way to entertain you kids. It's an amazing example of ingenuity
Written 6 March 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.

GlennA946
Whitehaven, UK265 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Keswick Museum is small, being based in two rooms with a small cafe downstairs. However, don't let that put you off as for your £ 5, which can be used again over the next 12 months if you keep your ticket, there is quite a lot to see. Geologists will be interested in the displays of 300 million year old rocks and how the Lake District became what it is now, and there are features relating to the history of Keswick and the Durden family of artists, with their paintings on display. Also the stuffed birds and mammals are interesting to look at and there are interactive displays and games to keep children occupied.
However, the best exhibit is a xylophone created from rocks and Alpine bells in the 19th century that toured the country and was once played in front of Queen Victoria. You are allowed to play a tune on this if you wish as the rocks were selected for their musical attributes.
Also, do visit Cafe West downstairs, which is very reasonable and which helps people with learning disabllities.
Written 20 October 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.

Louise071982
London, UK32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
We attended an arts and craft session for children and made our own slate xylophones after playing with the museum's slate xylophone. It was a lovely session and we got to look at the museum too which had a good number of activities and trails for children. So definitely worth a visit on a rainy day in the Lake District!
Written 6 April 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.

George M
2 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Solo
A great, small museum. Very well curated with staff willing to help and inform you. Updates the Victorian model of curation well. A great mix of topics from the arts and crafts movement, early 20thC art, endangered local species, the mining industry, etc. It's a wonder they cram it so elegantly into this small space! Others have pointed out it would be nice to have a broader view of the town rather than focusing on the museum's benefactors and famous keswickians - and I agree, some more community engaged exhibits in the main rooms would be a nice addition to a great museum.

Also the musical stones are beautiful.
PS be prepared for kids running around.
Written 10 May 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.

MarionjaneB
Wolverhampton, UK32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Fabulous museum for all ages and especially welcoming for children and families. We loved the interactive exhibits even as adults, especially having a go on the musical stones and writing with quill pen and ink.

We found a warm welcome in the cafe below and loved that the staff were all so friendly and helpful, offering fantastic work experience to many adults with additional needs. Service was fast and efficient.
Written 18 August 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.

Nicole H
Huddersfield, UK11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
We only had an hour and this was an hour well spent. The collection is somewhat disjointed but the museum is charming for its randomness. Our particular highlight was the stone musical instrument (lithophone) but we all enjoyed how hands on the whole museum and gallery is. We also appreciated that our ticket is annual admission, which would be useful if we lived closer.
Written 13 August 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.

Simon
Washington, UK465 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Visited to avoid torrential rain. The museum was very interesting in part, especially around the mining and geological history of Keswick. It was very small though. There is a huge amount that could be covered on the history of the area but there just isn't enough space here to do it justice
Written 8 February 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.

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KESWICK MUSEUM (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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