List of museums in Cumbria

This list of museums in Cumbria, England contains museums which are defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit art galleries and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.

Name Image Town/City Type Summary Abbot Hall Art Gallery Kendal Art Collections include George Romney, J. M. W. Turner, 18th and 19th century watercolours, and modern paintings Armitt Library Ambleside Multiple Local history, natural history, features over 450 watercolours by Beatrix Potter of archaeological and zoological subjects Beacon Museum, Whitehaven Whitehaven Multiple website, local history, art, industry, natural history, maritime heritage Beatrix Potter Gallery Hawkshead Art Operated by the National Trust, original sketches and watercolours by Beatrix Potter for her books Birdoswald Roman Fort Gilsland Archaeology Excavated Roman fort Blackwell Bowness-on-Windermere Historic house Arts and Crafts Movement style house from the turn-of-the-20th century, with period rooms, art exhibits Brantwood Coniston Historic house Home and museum of art critic John Ruskin, art displays, gardens and grounds Brougham Hall Brougham Historic house Restored country house with local history exhibits Carlisle Castle Carlisle Military Operated by English Heritage, historic fortress and museum of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment Dalemain Estate Ullswater Historic house Medieval, Tudor and early Georgian house and Lake District gardens Dalton Castle Dalton-in-Furness Local Operated by the National Trust, 14th century peel tower with displays of local history Derwent Island House Keswick Historic house Operated by the National Trust, 18th-century house on an island, open only a few days a year by timed ticket Derwent Pencil Museum Keswick Industry Pencil making Dock Museum Barrow-in-Furness Local Local history, shipbuilding, steel industry, World War II bombings Dove Cottage Grasmere Historic house A home and museum of poet William Wordsworth Guildhall Museum, Carlisle Carlisle Historic House website, 1407 building with items related to Guilds Haig Colliery Mining Museum Whitehaven Mining Coal mining Hawkshead Grammar School Museum Hawkshead Education Historic school dating back to the 17th century Helena Thompson Museum Workington Multiple website, period rooms, costumes, decorative arts, local history, industry, culture, agriculture Heron Corn Mill Beetham Mill Working 18th-century watermill Hill Top Near Sawrey Historic house Operated by the National Trust, home of children's author Beatrix Potter Holker Hall Grange-over-Sands Historic house Large country house and gardens Hub of the North Pennines Museum Alston Multiple website, vintage cars, motorbikes, bicycles, local history, agriculture, model railroad Hutton in the Forest Penrith Historic house Medieval manor house and gardens Kendal Museum Kendal Multiple Local history, culture, archaeology, geology, local and world natural history, Roman Britain, Ancient Egypt Keswick Museum and Art Gallery Keswick Multiple Local history, natural history, minerals, art, collection of oddities Lakeland Motor Museum Backbarrow Automotive Classic automobiles and memorabilia Laurel and Hardy Museum Ulverston Biographical website, comedy team Laurel and Hardy Levens Hall Kendal Historic house Manor house, topiary garden, steam vehicle and engine collection Maryport Maritime Museum Maryport Maritime , Maryport's maritime and painting history, also industry, social and political history Millom Discovery Centre Millom Local Period store displays, iron mining, rural trades, 19th century miner's cottage, agriculture, archaeology, poet Norman Nicholson, local history Mirehouse Keswick Historic house 17th-century house and gardens with connections to Lord Tennyson, Edward Fitzgerald, Thomas Carlyle and William Wordsworth Muncaster Castle Ravenglass Historic house Decorated castle, gardens Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry Kendal Multiple Local history, period rooms, agriculture, mining, Arts & Crafts movement, costumes Nenthead Mines Heritage Centre Nenthead Mining website, mineral mining past of the North Pennines, lead and zinc mine, equipment, buildings Norman Centre Appleby-in-Westmorland History website, castle keep with interactive experience Penrith and Eden Museum Penrith Local website, local history, geology, archaeology Quaker Tapestry Kendal Religious 77 embroidered panels illustrating the history of the Quakers from the 17th century to the present Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Ravenglass Railway Heritage railway and museum at the station Rheged Centre Penrith Art website, attraction with galleries for art and photography, also 3D films, shops, play areas Rum Story Whitehaven Industry Story of the rum trade and the creation of rum, located in an original 1785 trading shop and warehouses Ruskin Museum Coniston Local Local history, copper mining, slate, geology, lace, farming, art critic John Ruskin, car and motorboat racer Donald Campbell Rydal Mount Ambleside Historic house A home and museum of poet William Wordsworth Senhouse Roman Museum Maryport Archaeology website, site of the Roman fort Alauna, artifacts Sir John Barrow Cottage Ulverston Historic house Birthplace of statesman Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet, currently closed Sizergh Castle & Garden Helsington Historic house Operated by the National Trust, medieval castle, stately home and garden, woodlands Solway Aviation Museum Carlisle Aviation Located at the Carlisle Lake District Airport, World War II aviation and local aviation history Solway Coast Discovery Centre Silloth Local website, local history, culture, natural history, art gallery Stott Park Bobbin Mill Newby Bridge Industry Operated by English Heritage, former bobbin mill with preserved engines Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum Threlkeld Mining website, former microgranite quarry, exhibits, tools and artifacts from area mines Townend Troutbeck Historic house Operated by the National Trust, wealthy farming family's house Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Carlisle Multiple Contemporary and historic art, decorative art, costumes and textiles, natural history, archaeology, Roman Britain, Carlisle's social historyWindermere Jetty: Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories Windermere Maritime Boat collection and "the sights, smells and sounds of life on the lake" Wordsworth House Cockermouth Historic house Operated by the National Trust, 18th century Georgian townhouse, childhood home of poet William Wordsworth World in Miniature Museum Houghton Toy website, collection of miniature furnished room displays

Defunct museums Cars of the Stars Motor Museum, Keswick, closed in 2011 Cumberland Toy and Model Museum, Cockermouth, website Florence Mine Heritage Centre, Visit Egremont: Florence Mine Heritage Centre Egremont James Bond Museum, Keswick, closed in 2011 Keswick Mining Museum, Cotehill, website Lanternhouse International, Ulverston, website RAF Millom Museum, closed in 2010

References

Visit Cumbria

See also Visitor attractions in Cumbria