Pole Star Gallery

Art galleries in Keswick tend to be either aggressively touristy or tucked away where you'll walk past them twice without noticing. Pole Star Gallery sits somewhere in between - a proper working space where the owner shows contemporary work alongside craft pieces, mostly from local and northern artists. The space itself is small but light, with the kind of walls that actually let the work breathe rather than claustrophobic corners where everything fights for attention.

It's the sort of place that rewards a 20-minute wander if you're interested in what's actually being made in the region, rather than another gallery selling the same landscape prints you've seen in a dozen other Lakeland towns. The work changes regularly, so even if you're returning to the area, you'll likely find something different on the walls.

Don't expect a major day out - this isn't somewhere to park the family for hours. But if you're staying at one of the nearby campsites like Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club or Castlerigg Hall just down the road, it's worth a quick look while you're sorting supplies in town. Quiet, unpretentious, and genuinely worth the detour if contemporary art is your thing. Free entry, as far as I can tell, though opening hours aren't always straightforward - ring ahead before you trek into Keswick specially.