Keswick is a vibrant and bustling market town on the edge of Derwentwater, a lake quite rightly regarded as "The Queen of Lakes". Keswick is a popular town offering a vast range of tourist attractions, shops, pubs and restaurants and many museums and other places of interest. The town was recorded during the 13th century as a market town for cheese (the name Keswick actually means "cheese town").

Keswick Town Centre - Main Street

Keswick was granted a charter for a market by King Edward I, today the town still holds the market every Saturday in the pedestrianised Main Street. The marketplace features the iconic Moot Hall, which was once the Town Hall but now acts as the towns Tourist Information Centre.

In addition to the weekly market the town centre has a tempting array of shops where you are sure to fin everything you’ll need from your daily requirements to that elusive special gift to take home. There is a vast array of independent and individual shops offering speciality foods, local produce, antiques, books, gifts, crafts and traditional toys, the town also has and an excellent choice of outdoor clothing and equipment retailers, thus earning the town the title of "Outdoor Retailer of the UK".

The town was also granted "Fairtrade Town" status in 2005.

Derwent Water - "The Queen of Lakes"

Derwent Water often referred to as "The Queen of Lakes" is located within the town of Keswick as well as occupying parts of Borrowdale, it is fed and drained by the River Derwent and measures approximately 3 miles long and 1 mile wide, Derwent Water is unusual in that it has four islands dotted along its length: Derwent, Lords, Rampsholme and St. Herbert’s. The lake also has cruises and row boats, allowing you to take advantage of the beautiful fells surrounding the lake. The Keswick Launch on Derwent Water sails from seven different points around the lake and also offer evening cruises.