Our A - Z Guide of Top Attractions

Whether you visit by region, type of attraction, or are just on a day's out, this guide will help you find top places to visit to give you a taste of our history, culture and dynamic commitment to sharing what's Cumbrian.

B

The Battery - A Roman museum at Sea Brows, Maryport, overlooking the Solway Firth, which houses a unique collection of Roman sculpture and artifacts. Part of Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site.

The Beacon - Home to Whitehaven's museum collection traces the social, industrial and maritime history of this Georgian town. The harbour-side attraction also offers views of the coast from its fourth floor gallery, gift shop and cafe.

Border Regiment Museum - based at Carlisle Castle. Cumbria's Military Museum, home of The Border Regiment & King's Own Royal Border Regiment.

Brougham Hall - This 14th century fortified home at Brougham, near Penrith, is on a site of considerable historical interest, dating from the Bronze Age. The hall has a chapel dating from 1310. The site is now a home for small crafts and there is a museum on the history of Brougham and its environs. Admission is free, although a contribution to restoration costs of the hall is appreciated.

C

Cars of the Stars Motor Museum - The museum of famous motors at Keswick features vehicles from TV and film, including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Batmobiles, James Bond's Aston Martin and the A-Team van.

Cumberland Pencil Museum - Home of the world's longest coloured pencil, Cumberland Pencil Museum at Southey Works, Keswick, includes exhibits and film revealing 170 years of pencil heritage and how pencils are made today.

D

Dalemain House - A mixture of mediaeval, Tudor and early Georgian architecture can be seen at Dalemain House, near Penrith. Behind an imposing Georgian façade there is a cobbled courtyard retaining the atmosphere of the north country Tudor manor. The present owner's family have lived at Dalemain since 1679 and have collected china, furniture and family portraits.

F

Florence Mine Heritage Centre - A heritage attraction at Egremont, which shows how Cumbria’s once numerous deep iron ore mines may have been worked. The museum features mining history and geology exhibits.

H

Haig Colliery Mining Museum - This Whitehaven museum features one of the two remaining Rever Dorling and Co winding engines, which is restored to working order and currently operated daily. The attraction boasts something for all ages and can host educational, group and corporate visits.

Honister Slate Mine and Visitor Centre - The last working slate mine in England can be found at Honister Pass, near Borrowdale. Visitors can take guided mine tours underground, learn how Victorian miners worked using hand tools by candlelight and have a go at making roofing slates.

Hutton-in-the-Forest - This historic house and gardens near Penrith retains its original medieval towers with 17th, 18th and 19th century additions. The house contains collections of period furniture, ceramics, tapestry and portraits.

K

Keswick Museum and Art Gallery, Fitz Park - The local history collection stretches back to Roman times, and includes such items as the famous 500-year-old-cat, a penny farthing cycle, and a man trap. One of the prime exhibits is a set of musical stones, variously termed the stone dulcimer, the rock harmonicon or the geological piano. It has travelled to London where performances were given to Queen Victoria.

Keswick Mining Museum - Cumbrian’s mining heritage is celebrated here with the aid of artefacts, plans, maps and old photographs. Visitors to the Otley Road museum can also learn about rock, minerals, fossils and the geology of the county.

L

Lakeland Heavy Horse Centre - The centre, at Dearham, near Maryport, comprises stables, a demonstration arena and an exhibition of carriages and historical farming implements.

Lakeland Miniature Village - The ‘village’ at Flookburgh gives an insight into traditional Lakeland buildings, featuring more than 120 scaled-down houses and farms that were hand-made from Coniston slate by Edward Robinson.

Lakeland Motor Museum - More than 30,000 motoring-related exhibits in the former shire horse stables and courtyard at Holker Hall, Cark-in-Cartmel.

The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway - Steam trains run a seasonal daily service from Haverthwaite to Lakeside via the Leven valley.

M

Maryport Maritime Museum - The museum contains an interesting look into Maryport's maritime heritage with a variety of exhibits including paintings, models, and many interesting objects from a whales tooth to telescopes and tools. There are displays about Fletcher Christian, of the mutiny on the Bounty fame, and Thomas Ismay owner of the Titanic.

Muncaster Castle - This historic castle near Ravenglass has a reputation for ghostly goings-on. Attractions also include Sino-Himalayan gardens, a meadow vole maze and the castle’s renowned world owl centre.

N

The Nenthead Mines Heritage Centre - An underground tour at Nenthead, Alston, interprets centuries of history in a unique environment. The centre features interactive exhibits and working waterwheels.

P

Penrith Museum - Set in what was a girls’ charity school from 1670, the Middlegate museum provides an introduction to the history of Penrith and the Eden District.

R

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway - Heritage engines haul trains of covered and open-top carriages from the Lake District National Park's only coastal village of Ravenglass through two of Lakeland's loveliest valleys to the foot of England's highest mountain.

Ravenglass Railway Museum - Over a century in the history of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, Englands oldest narrow-gauge line is revealed in this museum. The railway’s place in the life of the Eskdale Valley is illustrated using relics, models, photographs and a video show.

Rheged is a remarkable £18m visitor centre just off junction 40 of the M6 near Penrith. It takes its name from the name of the ancient kingdom of Cumbria during the Dark Ages. The centre specialises in showing mountaineering and adventure films and features a wide range of exhibitions, including Discovering Cumbria.

Ribblehead Viaduct - This huge monument to Victorian railway building isn’t so much visited as viewed in awe. The magnificent archways carry the Settle-Carlisle Railway over the Ribblehead Valley. It can be approached from Ingleton in the south or Hawes in the north.

Rum Story - This exhibition in Lowther Street, Whitehaven, is the world's first exhibition depicting the story of the UK rum trade. The experience includes visitors being plunged into a tropical rain forest and taken on board a slave ship.

S

Sellafield Visitor Centre - The Sellafield Visitor Centre presents a unique educational experience and contains interesting and innovative exhibitions providing an insight into the world of nuclear fuel and power. The centre has interactive exhibits, science workshops and the world’s first Immersion Cinema.

T

Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum - The mining and quarrying heritage of Cumbria is revealed in guided underground tours. The museum also features a narrow gauge industrial railway, the largest collection of cable excavators in Europe and, in May and September, vintage excavator trust working weekends.

Tullie House - Silver award-winner in the National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2008, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery is an excellent choice for a great day out for all of the family. Being the premier attraction in the North West means that Tullie House is recognised for its first class customer service, and an exciting, varied events and exhibitions programme.

U

Ullswater Steamers - The steamers have been sailing on England’s second largest lake since 1859. 'Lady of the Lake' was launched in 1877 and 'Raven' followed in 1889. 'Lady Dorothy' arrived in March 2001 having previously operated ferry services around Guernsey. A fourth heritage vessel, ‘Lady Wakefield’ has gone into service after a major refurbishment.

W

Wetheriggs Country Pottery - Wetheriggs Pottery at Clifton Dykes, Penrith, is the only remaining steam-powered pottery in Britain. There is a 'pots of fun' studio, newt pond, play area, cafe, shop and museum.

Wordsworth House - The household of William Wordsworth’s youth is recreated at his former home in Cockermouth, which includes a working 18th century kitchen. There is a restored garden and a range of 'hands-on’ activities.

If you want your attraction added to our list, please send an email to the Web Editor with the name, a one - two sentence description, and website address.