Most people come to the Lake District seeking the great outdoors. Boating, camping and hiking are a big part of the national park’s appeal. But indoor attractions matter here, too. This is one of the wettest parts of Britain, after all, and when the rain stops play, the region’s museums offer plenty to explore.
Museums have existed in the Lake District almost as long as tourism itself. In 1781, an enterprising local guide named Peter Crosthwaite opened one in Keswick. His collection included fossils, minerals and other curiosities gathered from the surrounding fells and farther afield. The place proved a hit with visitors. More than 1,500 people called in 1783 alone.
Other museums soon followed. Another local guide, Thomas Hutton, opened a rival establishment in Keswick in 1786. Ten years later, William Todhunter started a similar attraction in Kendal. So, by the end of the 1700s, something like a small museum network had begun to bud.
