There are many beautiful places to visit in England’s largest national park, but Hassna thinks Keswick is the best town in the Lake District for staying and exploring—without any competition.
Among all the national parks she’s visited in the UK and around the world, the Lake District remains her favorite. She’s spent several hiking holidays there, and each time, she’s drawn back to the same town: Keswick. 
Choosing the right place in the Lake District isn’t easy because of all the amazing areas, but Hassna shares her personal experience visiting Keswick—especially her last trip in the summer of 2022, when she spent several days exploring the town and everything it has to offer.
She also explains why she considers it the best town to visit in the Lake District, highlighting the two best nearby hiking routes: Catbells and Scafell Pike. 
Table of Contents
• Why Stay in Keswick in the Lake District?
• Top Things to Do in Keswick Town
• Lake Derwent and the Catbells
• Hiking up Catbells
• Derwentwater Trails
• Climbing Scafell Pike
• How to Get to Keswick
• Final Thoughts
Why Stay in Keswick in the Lake District?
Top Things to Do in Keswick Town 🌿
Even if you’re not into hiking or exploring the surrounding countryside, Keswick still offers plenty of fun activities within the town itself 🌟.
Derwent Pencil Museum: Showcases the history of pencil making in Keswick and highlights the town’s important role thanks to its rich graphite deposits.
Moot Hall: A historic building in the Market Square that houses the Tourist Information Centre and art galleries, serving as a great starting point for exploring the town.
The Puzzling Place: A unique experience full of optical illusions, like the anti-gravity room, enjoyable for all ages and perfect for rainy days.
Lake Derwent and the Catbells 🌄
Catbells: A Hiking Experience Suitable for Everyone 🌿
Catbells is a famous hill in the Lake District, standing at just 451 meters,
making it ideal if you’re not an experienced hiker and are looking for an easy climb. Compared to tougher hills like Skiddaw or Scafell Pike.
Choosing which fell to hike depends on your experience and confidence in climbing, so choose wisely.
Catbells is about three miles west of Keswick, and you need to cross Lake Derwent to reach it.
There are regular cruise boats departing from Keswick, and a round trip takes around 50 minutes, costing approximately £12.50 per adult.
You can also disembark at any of the jetties around the lake for a cheaper fare.
During my crossing of the lake, the weather was cloudy and rainy 🌧️, and the boat offered no protection from the elements, leaving all the wooden seats completely soaked.
The conditions weren’t ideal, and it was far from the perfect start! 🌧️
Despite that, the boat ride still offered breathtaking views.
The clouds rolled dramatically over the mountain tops, making me feel like a hobbit in The Lord of the Rings on my way to Mordor 🏔️✨
Hiking up Catbells 🥾
I chose to disembark from the boat at Hawes End to start my hike up Catbells 🥾
From there, there are a few signposts leading you to the base of Catbells, but they weren’t very clear, so I relied on Google Maps to make sure I didn’t lose my way.
Although it was mid-July and other parts of the UK were enjoying bright sunshine, the day was misty and grey when I began the ascent 🌫️.
But don’t let that stop you! I started hiking even though I wasn’t fully prepared clothing-wise; I was wearing trainers and jeans, while every other climber I passed was fully equipped with proper hiking gear.
This is an important point for infrequent hikers – make sure you have the right clothing and equipment, or you’ll regret it!
The climb to the summit takes around an hour, and it was quite steep in some places, sometimes requiring scrambling over wet slate rocks, which felt a bit risky.
Overall, though, the route is relatively easy compared to other hiking trails in the Lake District.
The views from the summit are breathtaking, and even in the rain, I can still witness their beauty 🌄
It’s really lovely to sit and take in the surrounding views, and it’s even better if you come prepared with lunch and drinks—unfortunately, I wasn’t 😅.
You can continue from Catbells to climb other fells, but it all depends on your fitness and the time you have available.
I decided to head back after about 30 minutes of admiring the breathtaking views 🌄.
The descent was quite tricky, especially due to the harsh weather conditions, and then I walked several miles around the lake back to Keswick.
Rather than taking the boat again, I chose to walk around the lake back to my charming bed and breakfast in Keswick.
Derwentwater Trails 🌿
After recovering from my hike up Catbells, I ended my day with a leisurely stroll around Derwentwater 🌅.
Thankfully, the weather cleared up a bit, and the lake looked stunning in the evening light, making it incredibly photogenic.
The lake is undoubtedly the most scenic spot near Keswick and a big reason why I consider the town the best in the Lake District.
There are plenty of footpaths around the lake through the woodlands, and the paths are flat and easy to navigate.
A full loop around the lake is about 10 miles, but after the effort on Catbells, I only managed a few miles before heading back into town.
After the tiring hike and walk, there’s really only one thing to do: visit one of Keswick’s traditional pubs 🍻.
During peak season, you’ll often find a pub with a live band and a fantastic, friendly atmosphere.
There are also several excellent restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, including Mexican, Italian, and Indian.
Climbing Scafell Pike 🥾
After resting well, I was ready to take on Scafell Pike on the second day of my visit to Keswick 🏔️.
Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England at 978 meters, and climbing it is a real challenge, so you should be in good physical condition.
Keswick is the closest town to the mountain, about a 25-minute drive or 45 minutes by bus. On my second day, the weather was lovely and summery, making the Lake District even more beautiful 🌞.
Climbing increases your need for water, especially on a hot day like this, so make sure to stay well hydrated during the hike.
I chose the Wasdale Head route, which is the easiest and shortest way to the summit. For this reason, it’s the most popular route, and I shared the trail with many other hikers, especially during the summer season.
The hike takes around 3 to 4 hours round trip, and it’s very tough and steep, crossing many rocky areas—much harder than Catbells!
The views were incredible, and every step showcased the beauty of the English countryside and nature, to the point where I wished I could dive into some of the small lakes along the way! 🌿
Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the summit due to extreme exhaustion, even though the peak was clearly visible in the distance. It’s important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard.
The descent was even tougher than the climb, requiring as much mental strength as physical endurance.
Fortunately, I came across a lovely pub full of hikers, so I enjoyed a couple of beers to help with recovery! 🍺
How to Get to Keswick 🚗
By car:
The best way to get to Keswick and the Lake District in general is by car.
If you don’t have one but can drive, you can rent a car in advance from anywhere in the UK.
By train + bus:
If you’re like me and don’t drive, you’ll rely on public transport.
On my last visit, I took a train from Wolverhampton to Manchester, and from there to Windermere.
You can book the train from anywhere in the UK through the Trainline website.
From there, I took a bus north to Keswick, and it was a really beautiful ride.
There are regular buses throughout the Lake District, I took the 555 bus from Windermere train station for about £8.
The price might seem a bit high, but the views during the hour-long bus ride were stunning and worth every pound! 🌿
Summary & Final Thoughts 🌟
And this is how my experience in Keswick comes to an end, and why I think it’s the best town to visit in the Lake District 🌿
As it approaches Derwentwater Lake, Catbells, and Scafell Pike Keswick offers the best hiking options and the most beautiful views in the entire national park.
Even if you decide to visit another area in the park, the Lake District itself remains one of the main reasons that make England worth visiting — it’s full of breathtaking nature that captures the heart, and every time I go there, I’m left in awe of the scenery.
Keswick is an ideal destination for spending a few days, whether you’re traveling solo like I did, with family, or as a couple.
A charming town you’ll want to return to again and again whenever you’re looking for a nature-filled getaway and outdoor adventures in England 🌄🍻
| The place | Postcode | Note |
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The town center — the starting point for all activities. |
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The lake near Keswick — the spot for boat tours. |
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The starting point for hiking the Catbells trail. |
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The Pencil Museum in Keswick. |
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The information center and art galleries in the town center. |
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A fun optical illusion experience in the town. |
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The starting point for climbing Scafell Pike. |
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