Museum of Lakeland Life Museums

Why not learn a little more about the way Cumbrians lived and worked in the last 250 years, with a visit to the Museum of Lakeland Life at Abbot Hall in Kendal, on the edge of the English Lake District.

In 1973 the Museum was the first winner of the coveted 'Museum of the Year' award. The permanent collections include displays linked to the Arts and Crafts movement, 'Swallows and Amazons' author Arthur Ransome, and the Victorian period. There are also a variety of temporary displays, drawing on our wonderful costume collection which dates from the seventeenth century onwards. The Museum also has an innovative programme of educational activities and events, which you can discover more about, on this site.

All the family will enjoy a visit to the Museum -with a walk down an Edwardian street scene, and a visit to an eighteenth century kitchen! The Museum and its collections will fascinate, and give you a chance to learn a little more about the past of the lake District.

Temporary displays, largely drawn from our extensive costume collection will add to your visit - and the Museum also has a range of events, such as the craft demonstrations which take place during the Easter and Summer school holidays.

Families are warmly welcomed, and a trip to the Museum is always fun for children. Free worksheets can add to the visit - kids are kept busy, and learn more about history through objects. There are also a wide range of kids' activities to keep children happy in the school holidays.

The Museum of Lakeland Life is managed by The Lakeland Arts Trust (charity no. 526980) which also runs Abbot Hall Art Gallery on the same site, and Blackwell the Arts and Crafts House ten miles away at Bowness-on-Windermere.

The Museum of Lakeland Life is open Monday - Saturday 10. 30 am to 4. 00 pm

(From April to October we stay open until 5. 00 pm).

We are open between 18 January and 23 December 2005.

The Museum is closed on Sundays. .