The Best Hotels in Keswick

Keswick Hotels

Keswick is a small, friendly market town set in the deep green fells of Cumbria. Surrounded by flower-laden meadows, forest-rich valleys and cool, pure lakes, Keswick is an ideal location for lovers of the outdoors. The town itself is infused with distinct local culture and traditions, with a historic market - that has been held for centuries - taking place every Thursday and Saturday - a perfect spot to snap up local, fresh-made foods, from farmers’ cheeses to bakers’ hearty breads.

Things to see

Throughout the sun-soaked summer months, Keswick hosts a number of buzzing annual festivals. The beer festival boasts live music and hundreds of artisan beers and ciders for the tasting, which you can enjoy to the sound of strumming guitars and cheery accordions. The film festival brings thousands to quaint Keswick, and showcases intriguing independent films alongside local projects. Many of the festivals take place in the Theatre by The Lake, a gorgeous stone-walled arts centre surrounded by arching green trees, which puts on dazzling theatrical performances throughout the year. Keswick’s cobbled high street is home to many family-run boutiques, delectable cafés and cosy timbered pubs. But beyond the charming town centre, and past the tall-spired church, the idyllic Lake District lies in wait, cut through by rocky walking trails, intrepid biking tracks and mile after mile of rolling green hills stippled with crystalline lakes.

Hotels in Keswick

This warm and welcoming market town provides plentiful accommodation year-round, but be sure to book early for your summer getaway to ensure you get the most spectacular rooms. Lavish lakeside hotels and spas provide outstanding views across the shimmering waters, and offer enormous rooms and fine-dining in-house restaurants. A range of 4-star hotels set in old-world, half-thatched buildings offer a relaxing stay with the town centre only a few steps away. Keswick’s cheap hotels take the form of guesthouses, which are dotted throughout the town, offering convenient accommodation with exceptional hospitality, all at a modest price.

Where to stay

Staying in the town centre is undoubtedly the ideal location for those wishing to immerse themselves in Keswick’s warm, local vibe. All the shops and cafés are at your feet, as well as the traditional market, which entices with its red-covered stalls, the wholesome smell of fresh fruit and vegetables, and the bustling sound of local chatter. Stay north of the glistening River Greta for a quieter area, with immense views across the luxuriant Weightman’s Wood. Fill yourself with the fresh smell of Cumbria’s luscious natural landscape by staying in one of the sublime lodges that occupy Keswick’s surrounding woods.

How to get to Keswick

Frequent, friendly and affordable bus services run from the surrounding Lake towns of Penrith, Kendal, Windermere and Cockermouth into Keswick’s cobbled town centre. Penrith is the nearest train station, with regular trains that link to stations throughout the country, including Newcastle, Manchester and London. Most visitors arrive by car, along the speedy M6 motorway, and Keswick has many affordable car parks to accommodate. Arriving by car also makes it easier to explore the surrounding Lake District towns, and take leisurely drives through the winding lanes and the mesmerising, pristine countryside.