Located at the top end of the Lake District National Park, Keswick is the largest town in the northern Lakes. Its easy access and wealth of amenities make it a popular place to stay, so there are several quality hotels in Keswick and transport links are good.
The Lake District is located in the county of Cumbria, in the northwest of England, some 80 miles north of Manchester and approximately 300 miles from London. The nearest airports are Blackpool International (45 miles away) and Manchester (80 miles away).
The M6 motorway is located close to the Lake District, making driving to the area straightforward. Public transport links are also good and it is possible to reach Ambleside by train or bus from most major British cities (including Manchester airport).
By Car
The Lake District lies to the west of the M6 motorway. To reach Keswick town and Keswick hotels, take junction 40 (from either north or south) then take the A66 to Keswick. If you’re arriving from the south, it is possible to take a more scenic route by leaving the M6 at J36 and taking the A591 via Windermere and Ambleside, but this takes a little longer and is a more difficult drive after dark.
Approximate driving times are as follows:
From London – 5 to 6 hours
From Manchester or Newcastle – 1.5 to 2 hours
From York or Birmingham – 2.5 to 3 hours
From Glasgow or Edinburgh – 3 to 3.5 hours
By Coach or Bus
National Express coaches run regular, daily services from London’s Victoria Coach Station directly to Keswick, taking around 7 hours. There are also good coach services from Manchester town and airport, Birmingham, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Regional bus operators, such as Stagecoach, offer regular services from some of the closer towns and cities, such as Carlisle, Penrith and Lancaster.
By Train
From London’s Euston Station, the train journey takes between 4 and 5 hours (including one change of train in Oxenholme). The nearest station is Penrith; there are bus services connecting Penrith with Keswick and the journey takes around 40 minutes. Alternatively you can take a taxi.
It is also possible to take trains to Penrith from all major cities in the UK, including Manchester, Birmingham, York, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
So now that you know how to get to Keswick, check out our Keswick Tourist Information guide.