Kendal brings together a range of cultural themes: Georgian art, castle and church history, historic yards, as well as cinema and live arts. There are also markets and opportunities for outdoor activities. This lets you choose the focus of your stay according to your interests – from collections and architecture to music and exercise.
Art and History in the Townscape
On the banks of the River Kent in Kendal stands Abbot Hall, a Grade I listed Georgian art gallery. Here, the gallery’s role meets the architectural history of a protected building. For a culturally focused stay, Abbot Hall offers a direct introduction to art and Kendal’s architectural heritage.
Kendal’s historic yards date from the 18th century. They were used for homes, industry and workshops, supporting the rise of local trades, particularly the wool trade. You can explore the yards away from the High Street. Collin Croft is the best-preserved of the historic yards; a covered staircase leads from there back to the High Street. The mix of homes, industry and workshops offers insight into the economic role of these courtyards.
Castle, Church and Museum
Kendal Castle was built around 1200 on a drumlin – a hill formed during the Ice Age. Visitors can explore the ruins on foot while listening to the Audio Trail. The walk thus combines two ways of experiencing the castle: the visible site and the accompanying information from the Audio Trail.
The present-day Kendal Parish Church dates from the early 13th century. It is believed that a church has stood on this site since Saxon times. The church has five aisles and is one of the United Kingdom’s “Great Churches”. It also contains a fragment of an Anglo-Saxon cross dating from around 850 AD. The building history of the present church and the older cross thus bring different historical periods together in one place.
Kendal Museum was founded in 1796 and is one of the oldest museums in the United Kingdom. Its collections include natural history, archaeology, geology and a herbarium. It also houses Europe’s largest collection of taxidermy specimens. The breadth of its subjects makes the museum a different kind of cultural stop from the gallery, castle and church: here, collections spanning different fields of knowledge take centre stage.
Live Culture and Time Outdoors
Brewery Arts is a cinema, a live arts venue and a creative learning centre in Kendal. Its live music programme includes contemporary, indie, folk, world, blues, jazz and electronica. If you want to include different cultural formats in your stay, you’ll find film, live arts, learning and music here alongside the historic sites.
For time outdoors, Abbot Hall Park offers a different set of options: it has a children’s playground, an open lawn and a crown green bowling green. On the Kendal to Lancaster Canal Towpath Trail, you can paddle, walk and picnic. The two places offer different experiences – park facilities in one, and activities on and along the trail in the other.
Plan Your Market Visit and Journey
Kendal’s markets have a market charter dating from 1189 and still take place weekly. Kendal Farmers Market is held on the last Friday of each month. Local farmers sell their own organic vegetables and organic meat there. Check the date of the farmers market before your trip so you can plan your visit around the stated market day.
For rail travel, Kendal’s two stations are useful points of reference. Oxenholme – The Lake District is Kendal’s nearest mainline station and is connected to Kendal by the Lakes Line. Kendal railway station is also on the Lakes Line and just a short walk from the town centre. Art, historic sites, markets and outdoor activities offer various possible focuses for your stay; the train connections add a practical point of reference for your journey.
Discover more destinations: Watermillock, Drigg, Ireby, Frizington, Crosby Garrett, Patterdale, Winton, Maryport
For the broader travel guide: Cumbria.
