Free Activities
Hands On History
Join us for our Hands-on History event, where you can touch, feel, and learn about real historical artifacts from our collection. It’s a fantastic chance to connect with the past in a hands-on way, guided by our knowledgeable staff. Perfect for curious minds of all ages!
Bring your family, friends, and your curiosity – we can’t wait to share the wonders of our collection with you.
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 9am – 4pm
Cost: Free for members, £5 / £2 for non-members (includes annual membership) under 5s free.
No need to book – just show up!
Kids Activities
There’s plenty for children to explore at Kendal Museum; they can get creative with fossil rubbings, play a tune on the slate lithophone, be inspired by the local landscape in the Kendal & Westmorland Gallery, and discover evolution in the World Wildlife Gallery.
We have a dedicated children’s area in the museum with dressing up clothes, toys, games, books, and even an historic rocking horse! There is seating close-by for parents to enjoy a coffee, while little ones are kept entertained.
For older children, we design seasonal Kendal Museum themed trails and worksheets – involving questions and activities that lead the children (and adults!) on a hunt for answers around our galleries. It’s a great way for families, groups or young ones independently to engage in all areas of the museum.
Lunchtime Talks
Lunchtime Talks at Kendal Museum: The Black Death in Kendal’s History
The Black Death in Kendal’s History: A Local History of a Global Catastrophe
Join local historian Seren Shaw for a fascinating exploration of how the Black Death — one of history’s deadliest pandemics — impacted the town of Kendal. Discover how this 14th-century catastrophe reshaped local life, economy, and society, leaving lasting marks on the town’s landscape and memory. Drawing on historical records, archaeology, and local lore, this talk brings to life the human stories behind the statistics and connects Kendal to a pivotal moment in global history.
Perfect for history enthusiasts, students, and anyone curious about Kendal’s medieval past.
Event Details:
Date:Â Saturday September 27th, 1:00 – 2:00PM
Venue:Â Kendal Museum
Price: £10 General Admission, £6 for under 16s/students
PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately the venue is accessible only via a staircase, so is not suitable for wheelchair users. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Book your tickets HERE
Lunchtime Talks at Kendal Museum: Egyptology in Kendal
Egyptology in Kendal: Kendal’s Collections and Community
Join Janet McWilliam of Carlisle & District Egyptology Society for a captivating journey into Kendal Museum’s collection of Ancient Egyptian objects. This talk will explore the fascinating origins and meanings behind key artefacts in the collection, revealing how they connect Kendal to the rich world of ancient Egypt.
We’ll also delve into the lives of John Garstang and John Rankin, the two key donors whose contributions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries helped shape the museum’s Egyptology collection. Learn about their roles in the early days of British archaeology in Egypt and how their legacy lives on in Kendal today.
To accompany the talk, a fun and educational “I Spy” sheet will be available to help attendees identify and engage with the objects during their next visit to the museum.
Event Details:
Date:Â Saturday October 4th, 1:00 – 2:00PM
Venue:Â Kendal Museum
Price: £10 General Admission, £6 for under 16s/students
PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately the venue is accessible only via a staircase, so is not suitable for wheelchair users. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Book your tickets HERE
Lunchtime Talks at Kendal Museum: A Gothic Novelist on Tour in the Lake District
A Gothic Novelist on Tour in the Lake District: Ann Radcliffe’s momentous 1794 encounter with the landscapes of the Lakes + Book Signing
Join Dr Penny Bradshaw, Associate Professor of English Literature at the University of Cumbria, for an engaging talk on Ann Radcliffe’s 1794 tour of the Lake District. As one of the most celebrated Gothic novelists of her time, Radcliffe’s journey offers a fascinating insight into early tourism and its influence on literary responses to landscape.
The talk will highlight key moments from her travels—including her ascent of Skiddaw, reflections on Kendal, and the dramatic crossing of Lancaster Sands—exploring how these experiences paved the way for Romantic approaches to place, later shaped by poets like Wordsworth.
Dr Bradshaw is a specialist in regional Romanticism and the author of a new edition of Observations during a Tour to the Lakes (Hobnob Press, 2024). Signed copies of her book with be available for purchase after the event.
Event Details:
Date:Â Saturday October 25th, 1:00 – 2:00PM
Venue:Â Kendal Museum
Price: £10 General Admission, £6 for under 16s/students
PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately the venue is accessible only via a staircase, so is not suitable for wheelchair users. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Book your tickets HERE
Lunchtime Talks at Kendal Museum: The Pendle Witches – History, Myth & Legacy
The Pendle Witches – History, Myth & Legacy
Join us for a fascinating lunchtime talk exploring the infamous story of the Pendle Witches, with historian Seren Shaw. Discover the chilling tale of the 1612 witch trials, one of the most notorious in English history, as we delve into the social, political, and religious tensions that fueled the accusations.
Learn about the individuals accused, the dramatic courtroom proceedings, and how the Pendle Witch Trials continue to capture the public imagination over 400 years later.
Event Details:
Date:Â Saturday November 8th, 1:00 – 2:00PM
Venue:Â Kendal Museum
Price: £10 General Admission, £6 for under 16s/students
PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately the venue is accessible only via a staircase, so is not suitable for wheelchair users. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Book your tickets HERE
Lunchtime Talks at Kendal Museum: From Kenya to Kendal (and back again?)
From Kenya to Kendal (and back again?): the colonial history of the World Wildlife Gallery
How did the specimens in the World Wildlife Gallery find their way to Kendal? What are their stories? And what does the gallery reveal about the connection between Kendal and the rest of the world?
Join Joe Rigby, former Kendal resident and now Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Chester, to explore these questions through a focus on one of the primary donors to, and benefactors of, the museum in the 20th century, Colonel Edgard Garston Harrison, of High Hundhowe, near Staveley.
Harrison paid for the construction of the World Wildlife Gallery in 1939, on condition that this be used to display his collection of mounted taxidermy animal heads, or ‘hunting trophies,’ to the public. Harrison shot the majority of these animals whilst serving as a soldier in the British colonial army in eastern Africa. Uncovering the story of Harrison’s donations has revealed longstanding, but as yet unacknowledged, connections between Kendal and the Nandi community in western Kenya, who continue to be affected by the legacy left by Harrison and British colonialism.
Event Details:
Date:Â Saturday November 22nd, 1:00 – 2:00PM
Venue:Â Kendal Museum
Price: £10 General Admission, £6 for under 16s/students
PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately the venue is accessible only via a staircase, so is not suitable for wheelchair users. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Book your tickets HERE
Guided Tours
Kendal Museum Highlights Tour
Step into the past with a guided tour through one of England’s oldest museums.
Join us at Kendal Museum for an expertly led tour that brings our remarkable collections to life. From Victorian discoveries to ancient civilisations, our guides will take you on a captivating journey through time.
Tour Highlights:
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Victorian Naturalism
See how 19th-century collectors brought the natural world to Kendal. Our beautifully preserved taxidermy and geological specimens offer a glimpse into a time when science, exploration, and curiosity shaped museum culture.
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EgyptologyÂ
Discover artefacts from Ancient Egypt, including original objects that reveal the rituals, beliefs, and daily life of a civilisation thousands of years old.
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Roman Artefacts
Explore Kendal’s Roman past through pottery, tools, and relics from Cumbria’s Roman settlements—uncovering the stories of everyday life on the empire’s edge.
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Local History
Trace Kendal’s evolution from medieval market town to industrial hub. Learn about local trades, traditions, and the people who shaped the region.
 Tour Details:
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Date: September 25th, 2025 at 11:00AM
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Duration: Approximately 1 hour
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Pre-booking recommended (spaces are limited)
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Private or group tours available on request
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Venue: Kendal Museum, Station Road, Kendal LA9 6BT