I have noticed in recent months an increasing number of clients selling their homes in Manchester and choosing to move north, to Cumbria and the Lake District, seeking a change of pace and a cleaner, more natural world oriented lifestyle. If you have been pondering on whether this might suit you, too, you will find a series of guides to some of Cumbria’s most sought after locations, including today’s post, all about Keswick.
If you want to investigate what homes you might find here to tempt you away from Manchester, visit our friends at Hackney & Leigh, who know all there is to know about making the move north.
Where is Keswick?
Keswick is a beautiful market town located in the northern part of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria. Sitting between Derwentwater and the dramatic peak of Skiddaw, Keswick offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in the entire national park. With a population of around 5,000, it’s a small, friendly community known for its outdoor lifestyle, bustling high street, and active arts and cultural scene.
Keswick is a magnet for hikers, climbers, and nature-lovers, but it’s also a wonderful place to live year-round. Its walkable town centre, independent shops, thriving markets, and proximity to lakes, fells, and forests create a lifestyle that many people dream of. Whether you’re seeking fresh air, community spirit, or access to world-class landscapes, Keswick delivers it all.
Transport links
Living in Keswick means enjoying rural tranquillity with practical transport connections. Though it doesn’t have its own train station, the town is well linked by road and bus services.
Train: The nearest stations are Penrith North Lakes (20–25 minutes away) and Workington. Penrith, on the West Coast Main Line, offers direct trains to Manchester (from 1 hr 45 minutes), Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, and Lancaster.
Road: Keswick sits just off the A66, which connects easily to the M6 at Penrith. Manchester is roughly two hours by car.
Schools
Keswick is well regarded for its education options, making it popular among families relocating to the Lake District. St Herbert’s Church of England Primary & Nursery School is renowned as a warm and welcoming school with a focussed curriculum. A little out of Keswick you will find Braithwaite CofE Primary School, which parents say has a very nurturing environment.
Keswick is also the location of one of the strongest secondary schools in Cumbria. With around 1200 pupils aged 11-18, it draws from a wide catchment and consistently achieves excellent Ofsted ratings and strong GCSE and A-Level results. It is known for exceptional pastoral care and an impressive range of extracurricular activities, from outdoor pursuits to music and drama.
Amenities
Despite its modest size, Keswick offers an impressive range of amenities, shops, and services.
The town centre has a lively mix of independent retailers, including outdoor gear stores (of course, in a location so popular with walkers), craft shops, delis and bakeries, bookshops and galleries, cafés, and restaurants.
For your food shopping, there is a smaller Co-op and (hurrah!) a full-sized Booths, the premium regional supermarket with a strong focus on local produce. Cockermouth is just 20 minutes away, too, and here you will find a Lidl, an Aldi and a Sainsbury’s.
The town also has GP surgeries, dentists, pharmacies, a small community hospital and local services including vets, a post office, banks, a leisure centre and gyms
Leisure time
If you’re moving to Keswick for lifestyle reasons, you’ll find no shortage of things to do. Keswick is one of the most active towns in the Lake District, and its leisure scene is second to none.
Keswick is a world-renowned centre for outdoor adventure. Activities include: hiking Skiddaw, Catbells, Walla Crag, Latrigg and dozens of iconic fells; walking scenic lakeshore paths around Derwentwater; paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, and boat hire on the lake; cycling routes for all abilities; and climbing and ghyll scrambling in surrounding valleys. If all of this is new to you, don’t worry, the town is filled with clubs and facilities to ease you in gently and safely.
Keswick also has a wonderfully rich cultural offering, including Theatre by the Lake, one of Cumbria’s premier theatres, staging year-round productions, film, festivals, opera, talks, you name it. There’s also Keswick Alhambra Cinema, a charming, renovated cinema showing both mainstream and independent films; and Keswick Museum, which celebrates local art, geology, history, and the area’s mountaineering heritage.
Keswick really is a great place to live, blending outdoor adventure, community warmth, strong schools, and stunning scenery. It’s ideal for families, professionals seeking lifestyle balance, outdoor enthusiasts, and retirees wanting beauty and tranquillity without feeling remote.
If you dream of a home where you can step outside and walk into the fells, kayak before breakfast, or enjoy a vibrant town packed with culture and independent shops, Keswick is an exceptional place to put down roots, visit Hackney & Leigh to learn more, now.
Keswick Office
Sales: 017687 41741
Lettings: 017687 41742
Eddie – 7th November 2025. (I’m working with Simon Leigh at Hackney & leigh Estate Agents).
