Whinlatter Forest
England's only true mountain forest: Gruffalo sculptures on the trail, the WildPlay adventure area, red squirrels if you are lucky, and Go Ape for older kids. Views over Derwentwater thrown in.
The Puzzling Place
Keswick, Cumbria
An anti-gravity room where water runs uphill, an Ames room that shrinks the grown-ups, and a hologram gallery - cheap, indoor, and precisely one hour long, which in Keswick rain is worth its weight.
Photograph the Ames room illusions; the effect lands hardest on screen. Then back out into the town for cake, mission accomplished.
Know before you go
- Take photos in the Ames room - the size illusion only fully lands when you see it on screen.
Looking for more museums & science near Keswick?
Also in Keswick
Honister Slate Mine
A working slate mine at the top of Honister Pass with guided tours deep into the mountain, and via ferrata routes up the crag for the brave. Tours take all ages; the climbing starts at ten.
Lake District Wildlife Park
A proper zoo day near Bassenthwaite: birds of prey flying displays, meerkats, animal feed for a pound, and indoor soft play for when the Lakes weather does its thing. No booking needed.