Penrith

Penrith is a small town in Cumbria, northwest England, about three miles from the Lake District National Park. Red sandstone buildings line the narrow streets around the central market square, where shops, cafés and old pubs stand side by side.

King William II took control of the settlement in 1092, as England expanded its northern borders. Later, residents built walls and fortifications to protect against Scottish raids.

The Tuesday market fills the main square with stalls selling vegetables, cheese and baked goods from nearby farms. Locals gather to shop and chat while visitors can sample regional foods and handmade items.

The railway station sits north of the main street and offers connections to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and London. Buses leave from the stop near the market square to reach villages and lakes to the west.

Outside the town stands Mayburgh Henge, a circular Neolithic earthwork about 400 feet (120 meters) across. A single large stone rises in the center, while thousands of river cobbles form the outer ring.