Visit the Landscape of Beatrix Potter’s Life in the Lake District
The Lake District is famed for many things – its natural beauty, its outdoor activities and its many delicacies such as Kendal mint cake and Grasmere gingerbread. However, a lesser-known claim to fame is as a favourite place of beloved children’s author Beatrix Potter.
Beatrix Potter would frequently go on holiday to the Lakes with her family as a child, taking creative inspiration from the nature around her. As an adult, she moved here and cared deeply for the preservation of the land around her. There are several spots around the Lake District not far from Armathwaite Hall which you can visit to conjure up the world of Beatrix Potter. It’s a perfect trip for families, or for adults who want to relive a little of their childhood’s magic.
World of Beatrix Potter
This is a Beatrix Potter themed museum which features recreations of scenes from Beatrix’s most famous books. Visit Mrs Tiggy Winkle in her kitchen or Peter Rabbit in the vegetable patch. Visit the shop to buy Beatrix Potter merchandise, and even stop for a spot of tea. Regular storytelling events are held to keep the little ones entertained, so keep an eye on their website for details.
This amazing attraction is located in Bowness on Windermere, only an hour’s drive from Armathwaite Hall. The road passes through all of the main towns of the Lake District like Keswick, Grasmere, Ambleside and Windermere so you can always stop on the way there or back for some lunch or a wander.
If you are visiting Armathwaite Hall at Christmas time, this is when the World of Beatrix Potter really comes to life. Regular story telling’s and visits from Santa make this enchanted world even more magical.
The Beatrix Potter Gallery
This exquisite gallery in Hawkshead was once the office of Potter’s husband William Heelis, a local solicitor. The building remains largely the same but now it houses an exhibition of some of Beatrix Potter’s original illustrations. The selection changes every year so it is worth a regular visit.
You can expect to find original copies of her books and drawings, as well as interactive touch screens which bring the stories to life. It is the perfect place for a family outing, as parents pass on the enduring charm of some of Britain’s favourite stories to their children. It can also be a great place for adults to take a walk down memory lane and relive a part of their childhoods.
Hill Top
The most visited literary shrine in the Lake District, Hill Top is the once residence of Beatrix Potter herself. It was purchased with the money she earned from her first few books and is the place where some wrote some of her most famous ones. Potter would sketch the garden and surrounding countryside, looking for inspiration for new characters.
On her death in 1943, she left the property to the National Trust, requesting it be left exactly how it was. Visitors are now welcome to Hill Top to see exactly how Beatrix lived. Everything is as she left it, right down to her furniture and china. Food and drinks can be purchased from the National Trust owned Tower Bank Arms next door, so you can make a full day of the excursion.
Lake District Wildlife Park
Do you want to meet Peter Rabbit, Pigling Bland and Tom Chaton in real life? The Lake District Wildlife Park has a huge range of animals for you to meet and many of them feature in Beatrix’s stories. They have rabbits, Tamworth pigs and Scottish wildcats to name a few, but there are also a range of rare and exotic animals for you to see. There is a daily demonstration which you can take part in, which includes the opportunity to get up close and personal with all of the Peter Rabbits!
The Lake District Wildlife Park is just a short walk from Armathwaite Hall and when staying at the hotel, children can receive free admission when accompanies by parents. If you’re visiting without children, adults can get two admissions for the price of one.
If you want to relive your childhood, or pass the magic onto your own little ones, spend a weekend in the Lake District paying tribute to one of Britain’s finest children’s writers. Armathwaite Hall is the perfect base for exploring this magical world and then coming back to a relaxing night’s sleep. We have family rooms available and discounts for younger children. Contact us today on 017687 76551 to secure your room.