Does art, exhibitions and galleries feature in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, or is it just historic buildings and mountain landscapes? A larger majority of people visit the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District for the hills, walking, countryside and outdoor activities. If, however, you would like to break up your holiday in nature with a bit of artistic inspiration, here are just a handful, (and there are many more) of the places you can visit to see art exhibitions in Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales.
They are not always open every day, so always worth checking their websites for seasonal opening times and current exhibitions.
I have noted the distance to each place from here at St Marks Stays, so you can plan your visits.
Farfield Mill : 3.6 miles drive / 1.9 miles walk
https://www.farfieldmill.org/
Garsdale Road, Sedbergh LA10 5LW
Allow plenty of time to visit as the mill has four floors, several exhibitions, is a heritage textile mill, has art to buy, artists studios and a cafe.
Brewery Arts : 13.9 miles
https://www.breweryarts.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/
122A Highgate, Kendal LA9 4HE
Usually has two small but free exhibitions to view and also has a bar and restaurant.
Abbot Hall : 13.9 miles
https://lakelandarts.org.uk/abbot-hall/
Kendal LA9 5AL
View art in a Grade I listed Georgian building on the banks of the River Kent.
Blackwell : 22.5 miles
https://lakelandarts.org.uk/blackwell/
Bowness-on-Windermere LA23 3JT
If you are interested in the Arts and Craft Movement, this is the place to visit and a beautiful location near Lake Windermere.
Rheged : 33.3 miles
https://rheged.com/
Rheged Centre, Redhills, Penrith, CA11 0DQ
Worth a stop if you are heading to the Northern Lake District. Place to refuel, cafe, cinema, exhibitions, workshops, deli and shops. Take a look at their website to see what exhibition they have on.
Brougham Hall : 34.5 miles
https://www.broughamhall.co.uk/
Brougham, Penrith CA10 2DE
A historic manor house that is now home to artist studios and a cafe.
Upfront Gallery : 38.8 miles
https://up-front.com/
Nr Hutton-in-the-Forest, Unthank, Penrith CA11 9TG
Upfront arts venue has a gallery, gift shop and vegetarian cafe. It even has a puppet theatre.
Tullie : 53.3 miles
https://tullie.org.uk/
Castle Street, Carlisle, CA3 8TP
Museum and Art Gallery in one venue. Further away, but a good day out to also visit Carlisle Castle, Cathedral, the shops in Carlisle town centre and even head out a little to see a section of the Hadrian’s Wall path.
Saltaire : 59.5 miles
https://www.saltsmill.org.uk/
https://saltaireinspired.org.uk/
Salts Mill, Victoria Road, Saltaire, West Yorkshire BD18 3LA
(Check various carparks and for the Mill they say satnav postcode is BD17 7DR)
Saltaire village is a UNESCO Heritage site and a lovely day out that you can drive to, or get on a train to. Independent shops and cafes and the Salts Mill is a historic building with art and places to eat.
