Hi, I’m planning the MOST last minute trip to England, arriving on 8/31 and leaving on 9/10. I have plans to stay in Bath for 2 nights, Stow on the Wold for 1 night, Bakewell Peak District 2 nights, Keswick for 1 and return to London for 4 nights to give me 3 full days in the city. My question is one night enough in Keswick? I’m going to rent a car from Bath and planned to return it on my way into London, so I have that to help get around in the Lake District. I’ve never been to England and I know I’ll return someday so maybe it can wait til another trip. Appreciate any advice!
Posted by
Lake District, England
7317 posts
Jessica,
If you know or believe that you will return some day then I will suggest gently to you to add that Keswick night to another place in your itinerary- Bakewell would be my preference.
Bakewell to Keswick is all but 3 hours drive, and 1 night is really not enough for Keswick and the Lake District IMO.
If this was likely to be a one time bucket list trip I would say, why not- any length of time anywhere is better than none. I am in the very, very early stages of planning a 2027 trip taking in Poughkeepsie, New Orleans, Dallas and Duluth (for genealogy reasons, except Duluth- that is for the scenic railroad). Currently I am thinking 2 nights/1 day for NO and 3 nights/2 days for Dallas- both of which the locals would no doubt say is laughable. And more or less skipping NY city on the way. For me that would be one time bucket list and is genealogy only. Doubtless as the plan develops I will ease my ferocious timings.
Even Rick on his tours gives Keswick 2 nights. As a local I think he is giving the town and area the drive by treatment. So given your drive time from Bakewell (and you say, I, implying that this is a solo trip so no one else to share the driving) I don't personally think it is the best use of your time.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2200 posts
I'd agree with isn31c. Allowing for travel time, one night hardly gives any time to see anything.
In fact I'd look at both of your one night stops. Remove the Stow on the Wold and add that day to Bath -
Add teh I night in Keswick tto Bakewell.This would allow plenty of time to see something of the Peak District - a much under rated part of England and not on the usual tourist itinerary. There are places like Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall, Harwick for example as well as stunning scenery , Buxton, a spa town and also Castleton with its ruined castle and caves.There are lots of small and very pretty viallages to explore too, the equal of those in the Cotswolds but without the crowds and tourism... Tissington springs to mind.
Posted by
Yorkshire
1333 posts
Hi Jessica -
More agreement with my compadres I’m afraid. For me, one night is Keswick is never enough, but if this is your one and only opportunity to visit, then go for it, if you don’t have other options in reality. Although once you’ve been there, if the weather is kind, then I’m sure you’d immediately be planning to come back! And of course it all depends on what you like to do. For me it’s the opportunity to get off into the surrounding hills but I realise that doesn’t float everybody’s boat. If you aren’t a mad keen hiker/outdoorsy sort then the appeal of Keswick will be diminished and one day is enough to investigate the town itself, although taking in all the other attractions - Derwentwater, Catbells, Castle Crag, the falls at Lodore, Castlerigg Stone Circle, The Pencil Museum (!), etc., etc., will be more time consuming.
Whatever you decide, have a great trip!
ian