National Park Print Shop

The Print Shop sits quietly in Windermere, a working gallery that takes printmaking seriously. You're looking at original artwork here - etchings, lithographs, screenprints - made by artists who actually know their craft. It's a proper working space, not some tourist trap flogging postcards, though they sell those too.

What makes it worth stopping for is the chance to watch artists at work or at least see how prints develop from blank stone and copper plate. The gallery rotates exhibitions, so you might catch contemporary work one visit and traditional Lake District landscapes the next. It's intimate rather than grand - you can walk through in twenty minutes or spend an hour if you get talking to someone about technique.

This appeals most to anyone with a genuine interest in printmaking or contemporary art. If you're dragging reluctant teenagers round the Lakes, they'll tolerate it for a bit but won't thank you. For couples or serious art types, it's excellent. Free entry, though they hope you'll buy something.

Based right in Windermere itself, it works well alongside the lakeside walks and waterfront cafes. If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Fallbarrow or White Cross Bay - both within walking distance - it's an easy afternoon diversion when the weather turns iffy. Combine it with a stroll round town and a decent coffee. The nearby holiday parks offer good bases for exploring both the Print Shop and the wider Lake District.