Platty+

You'll find Platty+ just outside Keswick, a sports venue that punches well above its weight for a Lake District location. It's the sort of place that actually gets used year-round rather than sitting empty between tourist seasons. The facility offers indoor sports courts and equipment hire - proper for families who've had enough of rain-soaked hiking or need to burn off cabin fever on a drizzly afternoon.

The setup works brilliantly if you're camping nearby at Castlerigg Hall or Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club. Kids can shoot hoops, play badminton, or do whatever's on the schedule without needing to drive anywhere. Adults aren't forgotten either - there's genuine kit and space for a proper game rather than the sad municipal court experience you sometimes get.

A couple of hours is enough unless you're genuinely keen on a specific sport. Head in the morning if you want fewer crowds and can actually book something easily. Admission and pricing details are on their website, so check before you go - these places change their rates more often than the weather shifts over the fells.

Honestly, it's not a reason to visit Keswick on its own. But paired with the excellent campsites in the area and days when the weather's truly grim, it's a solid safety valve. Threlkeld Hall is a bit further out if you're basing yourself there, but still within reasonable distance.