Located on the banks of the River Kent, Kendal is often referred to as the “Southern Gateway to the Lakes” and is a mediaeval market town with a stellar reputation for shopping. Its 12th-century stone ruins of Kendal Castle dominate the skyline from atop a hill, and the town’s charming main street is crisscrossed with charming, cobblestone side streets. Portraits by George Romney, a Kendal native, works by Turner and Ruskin, and other shows made possible by the gallery’s ties to the Tate make Abbot Hall Art Gallery well worth a visit. Limestone escarpments for easy walking offer breathtaking vistas of the Lakeland Mountains, the Howgills, and Morecambe Bay, and both Sizergh Castle and Levens Hall, with its superb Topiary Garden, are located in close proximity to the area. Kendal is ideally situated for day trips to South Lakeland, the Yorkshire Dales, and beyond. Kendal is a great place to set up camp for a vacation because it is close to the Lake Windermere and the rest of the National Park, as well as the Kendal Museum and the Museum of Lakeland Life, both of which feature fascinating exhibits, as well as the beautiful Quaker Tapestry.
