Kendal Tourist Information
Kendal, often described as “The Gateway to The Lakes” is a homely compact town with a sizeable diversity of retail outlets, restaurants, cafes, tea & coffee bars, pubs, food stores and out of town supermarkets.
This, the home of the late Alfred Wainwright, acclaimed fell walker and author, is a town with a colourful history and varied fortunes from Roman occupation to the Norman Conquest, an attack by marauding Scots and its development as an important wool trading centre which went into decline in the last Century.
Today, Kendal is a peaceable friendly community well worth exploring.
A good place to begin is the old area of Kirkland at the southern end.
Kirkland is dominated by the Parish Church (The Holy Trinity), parts of which date back to the 13th Century. It is the largest church in Cumbria and at one time was accommodating over 1000 worshippers at a time.
Inside, stands the sculpture “The Family of Man” by the Brazilian artist Josephina de Vasconcellos, and, a helmet and sword belonging to a soldier named Robert Philipson, also known as “Robin the Devil”.
It was during the Civil War when Philipson rode into the church on horseback in pursuit of his enemy, one Colonel Briggs. The congregation was in uproar and drove Philipson away, knocking off his helmet. The helmet and sword now hang in the church in memory of the incident.
There are car parking facilities close to the church and at the nearby Peppercorn Lane which also provides public toilets.
From here, it is only a short distance to The Museum of Lakeland Life, the very fine Abbot Hall Gallery and a pleasant riverside walk alongside the River Kent with views to the 12th Century castle ruins standing on the hill overlooking the town.
The castle was once home to Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII.
The hill is a popular area for walks, and from the top are particularly good views of Kendal and the surrounding countryside.
There are several places to take a meal or refreshments in old Kirkland. The long established Union Jack Café serves good fare as does Danny’s licensed Restaurant.
For those with an appetite for the East and Indian foods, the Tandoori Indian Takeaway, the Chang Thai Takeaway, the Beijing House Cantonese and Thai Restaurant and the Sizzle Inn's Pizza & Kebabs will cater for your taste.
Leaving Kirkland and walking the short distance to the beginning of Highgate you’ll find the Brewery Arts Centre with parking facilities, cinema, theatre, music and dance, exhibitions, licensed bar, café and restaurant with outdoor seating for sunny days.
An interesting feature a few yards before the entrance to the Arts Centre are the two milestones placed each side of the steps to the Highgate Hotel door showing 135 miles to Edinburgh and 258 miles to London. There are not many of these left around the Country.
Moving on along Highgate with its “Yards” leading off, are the New Inn and Shakespeare pubs and the Masters House Tea Rooms.
The imposing Town Hall, housing a Tourist Information Office, stands close to the traffic lights. Opposite, is Allhallows Lane leading to the steepish hill of Beast Banks.
Number 32 Greenside at the crest of the hill, is where the well-loved children’s television character Postman Pat was created in 1978 by the author John Cunliffe who resided at that address.
Returning to the Town Hall and carrying on along Highgate, you enter the pedestrianised shopping zone with motorized access only for buses, taxis and delivery vehicles.
Plenty of choice here with fruit and vegetable stalls, Farrers Tea & Coffee House and the shops of the Market Place with open air stalls on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Finkle Street leads down to yet more restaurants, cafes and shops including Beales Department Store and the connecting Branthwaite Brow, home to the well known 1657 Chocolate House with waitresses dressed in 19th Century clothing.
A large Boots Store is opposite the Westmorland Shopping Centre and adjoining Blackhall Yard Shopping Precinct. Close by are the main Post Office, the Public Library, and the relaxing Charlies Bar serving tea, coffee and refreshments with the option of garden seating.To the rear of the library is a large Marks & Spencers store plus additional shops of florists, musical instruments and a café/restaurant.
At this stage of your stroll, you may well be ready for an open-air break in tranquil surroundings.
Nobles Rest will provide this. It is a delightful park of impressive trees and a large grassed area with benches reached via Maude Street on Stricklandgate. The bustle of the town will seem very far away.
This completes the journey along the main thoroughfare of Kendal, but there’s much more of the town to enjoy. The Riverside Hotel and the Bridge Inn near Saint Georges Church, the hotels, guest houses and bed & breakfasts of Windermere Road, Milnthorpe Road, Shap Road, Sedbergh Road and all others afford their guests a warm welcome, good value, and are convenient for the town centre and to the whole of the Lake District and Cumbria.
Kendal really is ideally placed as a base for a Lake District and Cumbrian holiday. It is easily reached via the M6 Motorway, the West Coast main railway line to Oxenholme, long distance coach services and the not too distant airports of Manchester, Liverpool and Blackpool with the possibility of Carlisle Airport some time in the future.
The surrounding villages of Brigsteer, Crosthwaite, Grayrigg, Winster, Underbarrow, Natland, Old Hutton and Crook closely guard our way of life and traditions which are so clearly illustrated in the content of our Lakeland and Cumbria Shows and Festivals of the summer months. See our Events Page for details.
For Kendal history: www.kendaltowncouncil.gov.uk
How to get there:
By rail: Oxenholme station, on the West Coast railway is some two miles away with a link to Kendal station.
By road: Situated on the A6, Kendal is only eight miles from J36 off the M6 motorway.
| Kendal Accommodation | Kendal Attractions |
| Kendal Food and Drink | Kendal Transportation |
Attractions in Kendal |
Westmorland Shopping Centre and Blackhall Yard
Includes many local and national retailers
The Museum of Lakeland Life
Abbot Hall, Kendal.
Phone: 01539 722464
www.lakelandmuseum.org.uk
Kendal Museum
Founded in 1796, Kendal Museum's fascinating collections include local archaeology, history, geology and a natural history collection from around the globe.
Phone: 01539 721374
www.kendalmuseum.org.uk
Levens Hall and Gardens
Steeped in history, the building dates from 1350, and the topiary gardens are world famous in their own right.
www.levenshall.co.uk
Sizergh Castle and Gardens
Medieval house extended in Elizabethan times, with handsome gardens.
Phone: 015395 60951
Kendal Leisure Centre
Swimming, Sauna, Fitness, Dry sports, Disability sports, Theatre and Concerts.
Phone: +44 (0)1539 729777
Food and Drink in Kendal |
Paulo Giannis
Fine Mediterranean food & wine.
21a Stramongate, Kendal,Cumbria LA9 4BH
Phone: 01539 730290
Eastern Balti
Kendal's first Balti House, exquisite Indian cuisine, elegant surroundings, vegetarian menu, fully licensed, take away service.
Phone: 01539 724074
Waterside Wholefood Vegetarian Café & Restaurant
A riverside setting a few minutes from the town centre.
www.watersidewholefood.co.uk
Chang Thai Restaurant
54 Stramongate, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 4BD
Phone: 01539 720387
Bridge Street
Contemporary Cuisine, Bridge Street.
Phone: 01539 738855
Infusion Restaurant
Fine Italian Cuisine. 24, Finkle Street
Phone: 01539 720547
Finkles
Extensive a la carte menu. Licensed. Finkle Street.
Phone: 01539 727325
Indian Restaurant & Takeaway
Licensed. 8, Stramongate.
Phone: 01539 723787
Danny’s Restaurant & Café Bar
36 Kirkland
Phone: 01539 722009
Brewery Arts Centre Restaurant
Highgate.
Phone: 01539 725133
Transportation in Kendal |
Gateway Taxis - Courteous, prompt and reliable. Local, long distance and airport destinations.
Phone: 01539 725935
Castle Taxis - Long established Company offering 24 hour service. Distance no object.
Phone: 01539 726233