Keswick, Market town in Lake District National Park, England
This town sits between Skiddaw mountain and Derwentwater, with a central square lined by shops, restaurants, and the 1813 Moot Hall. Streets lead from the square down to lakeside footpaths and trailheads into the hills.
Edward I granted a market charter in 1276, which still supports a Saturday market on the central square. Graphite mining from the 16th century onward turned the settlement into a center for pencil production.
The Theatre by the Lake presents performances throughout the year in a modern hall overlooking the water. Visitors find manuscripts from poets who lived and worked in this part of the country on display at the museum.
The pedestrian zone around the square makes exploring the center easy on foot, and many shops stock gear for walking and hill routes. Paths down to the lakeside are mostly level and gentle.
The Pencil Museum shows the story of local graphite mining, which enabled pencil making in this town from the 16th century onward. Visitors see old tools and learn how the mined material was processed.
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