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Family activities in and from Cockermouth

The Tourist Information Centre is now located in the Library Community Hub: Telephone 01900 822634
Cockermouth library is now a one stop shop Community Hub...

The following is an indicative list of some of family activities on offer in and from Cockermouth. Click on links for further details or onto specific websites where stated. Further information is usually available from the Tourist Information Centre. It is important to check with the individual attractions as to opening times, admission charges (where applicable) and suitability according to the ages of children. The inclusion in this list does not imply recommendation.

Cockermouth

  • Cockermouth Leisure Centre & Pool, Castlegate Drive Tel 0800 037 5949 (25 metre pool, multi-function sports hall & climbing wall)

  • Bike Repairs: Contact 4Play Cycles, Market Place. Tel. 01900 823377.
  • Cockermouth Golf Club
    Contact:Tel. 017687 76223 secretary@cockermouthgolf.co.uk
    Website: www.cockermouthgolf.co.uk
    Meets: Daylight hours plus specified competition times, At: The Clubhouse, Embleton

  • The Reivers Cycle route. Passes through Cockermouth on its 150 mile route through the Lakes and Borders.
  • Kirkgate Centre - theatre, music, cinema, arts Tel 01900-826448

  • Banks Museum. Step back in time to see all the tools and anvils, vices and hand machinery. We have recently discovered that this was in existence in 1829, several years before the shop opened & when George IV was in the throne. More...

  • Wordsworth House, Main Street, , National Trust Tel 01900 824805 www.nationaltrust.org (family house evocative of Wordsworth’s childhood including toys)

  • Memorial Gardens with children’s play area, opportunity for feeding the ducks on the River Derwent and riverside stroll

  • Harris Park with children’s play area, tennis courts and bowls

  • Walks and trails


  • Climbing Wall at Cockermouth Leisure Centre & Pool, Castlegate Drive, Cockermouth. Tel: 01900 823596. Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 10pm Sat/Sun 9am - 5pm .Fixed climbing wall with some overhang. 20ft/25ft high. No equipment supplied and generally no instruction given (although this could be arranged on request), therefore some experience required. No appointment necessary, just turn up. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an experienced adult.
  • Horse Riding: Possible options...Allonby Riding School at Gilcrux Tel: (016973) 22889 · Keswick, Calvert Trust Tel: (017687) 74395 · Armathwaite Hall, Bassenthwaite Tel: (017687) 76239 · Ennerdale Riding Centre Tel: (01946) 861354 · Egremont Riding Centre, Wilton Tel: (01946) 820105 ·

WITHIN A RADIUS OF 15 MILES OF COCKERMOUTH

Keswick (12 miles)

  • Cumberland Pencil Museum, Southey Works, Greta Bridge, Tel 017687 73757 www.pencils.co.uk (history of the local extraction of graphite and the manufacture of pencils. Drawing corner and shop)

  • Keswick Launch Tel 017687 72263 (50 minute trips around Derwentwater, with selection of jetties to disembark. Also self-drive motor or rowing boat hire)

  • Keswick Museum and Art Gallery, Fitz Park, Station Road, Tel 017687 73263 (local history)

  • The Puzzling Place, Museum Square, Tel 017687 75102 www.puzzlingplace.co.uk (Anti-gravity room, hologram gallery, optical illusions, puzzle area & shop)

  • Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Tel 01768774411 (wide variety of productions, café)

  • Fitz Park, Station Road, Keswick with children’s play area, tennis, bowls, putting and River Greta

  • Hope Park, 100 metres from Derwentwater, Keswick with miniature golf, obstacle golf, putting

    Around Keswick:

  • Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum, just off A66 east of Keswick, Tel 017687 79747 www.threlkeld-mine.co.uk (learn about the history of local mining with tour)

  • Trotters World of Animals also now renamed North Lakes, north of Bassenthwaite Lake, seven miles from Keswick, Tel 017687 76239 www.trottersworld.com (wide variety of animals, birds of prey, indoor and outdoor play centres, picnic area tearoom and shop)

  • Mirehouse, Bassenthwaite Lake near Keswick, Tel 017687 72287 www.mirehouse.com (historic family house and gardens with adventure playground, lakeside paths and adjacent Sawmill Tearoom)

  • Dodd Wood, Bassenthwaite opposite Mirehouse and above The Sawmill Tearoom, Tel 017687 78469 (Whinlatter Visitor Centre) (Osprey Project, viewpoint with telescopes and project staff support during nesting season. Marked trails)

  • Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre, beyond Braithwaite off the A66, Tel 017687 78469 (exhibitions, CCTV of osprey nest, shop, café, outdoor adventure playgound, walks with quiz sheets)

  • Nichol End Marina, Portinscale Tel 017687 73082 (boat hire, dingies, rowboats, canoes. Waterside café. Jetty for Derwent passenger ferry)

Maryport (7 miles)

  • Maryport Maritime Museum, Senhouse Street, Tel 01900 813738 www.allerdale.gov.uk/maryport-maritime-museum (objects,models and paintings depicting local maritime heritage, discover links with Titanic and Fletcher Christian)

  • Senhouse Roman Museum, The Battery, Sea Brow, Tel 01900 816168 www.senhousemuseum.co.uk (adjacent to Roman fort with artefacts and dressing-up costumes)

  • The Lake District Coast Aquarium, Harbourside, Tel 01900 817760 www.lake-district-coastaquarium.co.uk (Native sea life aquarium with talks and fish feeding. Café & gift shop. Mini-golf and adventure playground) Highly recommended for families.

  • West Coast Indoor Karting, Solway Trading Estate, Tel 01900 816472 www.westcoastkarting.co.uk (Cumbria’s largest indoor kart racing track)

Workington (8 miles)

  • Helena Thompson Museum, Tel 01900 326255 (local social and industrial heritage, costumes and artefacts)

Whitehaven (13 miles)

  • Billy Bears Fun Centre, Unit B1, Haig Enterprise Park, Kells, Tel 01946 690003 (soft play centre)

  • The Rum Story, Lowther Street, Tel 01946 592933 www.rumstory.co.uk ( local history exhibition, interactive displays, café and gift shop)

  • Haig Colliery Mining Museum, Haig Industrial Estate, Currently closed..www.haigpit.com (history of local mining with memorabilia)

  • The Beacon, West Strand, Tel 01946 852939 www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk (Interactive displays about local characters and history and Met Office Gallery for mock broadcasting. Café)

  • Copeland Swimming Pool, Cleator Moor Road, Tel 01946 695021 (25m six-lane pool, baby pool, disabled access)

WITHIN A RADIUS OF 15-30 MILES OF COCKERMOUTH

Carlisle (26 miles)

  • Laser Quest, Bush Bow, Victoria Viaduct, Carlisle Tel 01228 511155 www.cyberquest.org.uk (space age play centre and computer games)

  • AMF Bowling, Currock Road, Tel 01228 810310 (24 lane, ten-pin bowling, diner & bar)

  • Carlisle Castle, English Heritage, Tel 01228 591922 www.english-heritage.org.uk (Splendid fortress, fascinating rooms and dungeon)

  • King’s Own Royal Border Regimental Museum, Carlisle Castle, Tel 01228 532774 www.armymuseums.org.uk (wide range of military memorabilia)

  • The Sands Centre, Eden Bridge, Tel 01228 625222 (constantly changing programme of concerts and recreational activities, café)

  • The Solway Aviation Museum, Aviation House, Carlisle Airport, Tel 01288 573823 www.solway-aviation-museum.co.uk (inspect aircraft and control equipment)

  • Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Street, Tel 01228 53478 www.tulliehouse.co.uk (explore the history of Carlisle with hands-on activities)

Egremont (16 miles)

  • Florence Arts Centre which has a gallery, live music, cinema, theatre, stand-up comedy, workshops and a wildlife garden. We programme events all year round in arts, entertainment and education.
    http://www.florenceartscentre.com/Tel 01946 824946

    Honistor Pass (20 miles)

  • Honistor Slate Mine, Explore into the mountain and a daredevil Vis Ferrata..Honistor Pass, near Buttermere, Tel 017687 77230 https://honister.com/(underground mine tour, slate cutting demonstration and shop)

Penrith (30 miles)

  • Penrith Leisure Centre, Southend Road, Tel 01768 863450 (swimming pool, climbing wall)

  • Rheged, The Village in the Hill, off A66 just before M6, Tel 01768 86800 www.rheged.com (large screen cinema, indoor soft play area, Everest exhibition craft & gift shops, café & restaurant)

  • Wetheriggs Pottery, four miles south of Penrith at Clifton Dykes 01768 892733 www.wetheriggs-pottery.co.uk (hands-on-pot making, shop, café and grounds)

Ravenglass (28 miles)

  • The Muncaster Experience, Muncaster Castle, Tel 01229 717614 www.muncaster.co.uk (audio-guided castle tour, owl sanctuary, bids of prey displays, maze, gardens, play area and.tearoom)

  • Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, Tel 01229 717171 www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk (seven mile narrow gauge journey with children’s quiz)

Silloth (18 miles)

  • Traditional seaside town with promenade, paddling pool and beaches, Silloth Airfield Sunday Market & Car Boot sale-family friendly with children’s play area

Allonby (7 miles south of Silloth)

  • seaside village with bay and beaches and Twentymans noted ice cream specialists Tel 01900 881247

St Bees (18 miles)

  • Traditional seaside village with promenade, beaches, and children’s play area.