Picture-perfect market town where 'original energy bar' and Postman Pat were created

A quaint marketplace municipality successful Cumbria and the 'Gateway to the Lake District,' known for a unsocial section dainty and the inspiration down Postman Pat is the cleanable picturesque UK destination

Resting connected the River Kent, Kendal is simply a quaint marketplace municipality in Cumbria and is often referred to arsenic the 'Gateway to the Lake District'. It has agelong been loved for its affluent history, and its idyllic presumption nestled wrong the picturesque surroundings of the Lake District.

The municipality dates backmost to the Roman period and during the medieval era, it became an important marketplace town. Today, visitors tin bask the well-preserved humanities buildings and architecture that inactive stands proud.

One of those buildings is Kendal Castle. With panoramic views of the municipality and bordering countryside, the castle ruins person go a fashionable spot for visitors funny successful section history.

Another of Kendal's celebrated icons is the Kendal Mint Cake — which really isn't a barroom astatine all. Instead, it is simply a mint-flavoured bar, that appears and tastes similar sugar. However, the precise saccharine dainty has been a staple of hikers, climbers and enactment enthusiasts for years. Including galore individuals who person climbed Mount Everest.

Do you cognize of a picture-perfect colony celebrated for a quirky reason? Email america astatine [email protected]

Much loved by children, the celebrated Postman Pat stories were besides inspired by the author's experiences successful Kendal, including surviving successful a tiny cottage connected Greenside and chatting with the section postmaster.

Things to bash

Despite its tiny size, Kendal is jam-packed with cute shops to explore, astir of which are autarkic making it a spot much special. With winding pedestrian-friendly streets and magical yards, Kendal offers a unsocial buying acquisition with a premix of modern high-street brands and section autarkic shops.

Down Allhallows Lane you volition find a scope of antique shops, successful Kirkland — the taste centre and caput down New Shambles to find galore section and independent businesses and eateries.

For arts and civilization lovers there's much than conscionable the castle. The Quaker Tapestry Museum is location to the communicative of the Quaker Tapestry itself, which was created implicit 15 years by 4000 people. Alternatively, caput to the Kendal Museum — 1 of the oldest museums successful the UK. Founded successful 1796, the depository was erstwhile curated by legendary fellwalker, Alfred Wainwright.

But if the outdoors is much to your taste, past you person the full of the Lake District to explore. Kendal offers the perfect basal to task into the landscapes of the Lake District surrounding the town. One adjacent destination is the celebrated Lake Windermere.

If you hap to beryllium successful Kendal successful May, past marque definite you cheque retired the Walking Festival. Regardless of walking capabilities, the walking festival was created successful 2017 and since has grown to pull hiking enthusiasts from the section areas and further afield alike. In 2024, determination were implicit 20 walks to take from.

Places to devour

Kendal besides isn't abbreviated of pubs, bars and eateries. The oldest surviving pub and hotel, Ye Olde Fleece, is the cleanable spot for seasonal and section food. If java and barroom is preferred, past caput to 1 of the town's galore cafes including Farrers Tea and Coffee House which has been serving Kendal since 1819, making them 1 of the oldest autarkic java roasters successful the UK.

For saccharine tooth's, determination is the 1657 Chocolate House which is simply a historical store and café dating from the 1630s and serves luxury blistery chocolate.

In the evening caput to 19 The Wine Bar — the oldest vino barroom successful Kendal, located successful a people 2 listed building. The relaxing barroom besides has an outdoor terrace and offers a wide scope of prime wines, cocktails, and draught beers.

Places to stay

Sometimes a time isn't capable and Kendal has galore places to enactment to widen your trip. The Castle Green Hotel BW Premier Collection by Best Western is acceptable successful 14 acres of plot and woodland overlooking Kendal Castle and Lakeland Fells.

Alternatively, caput to the Riverside Hotel — a historical family-owned dog-friendly edifice nestled connected the banks of the River Kent.