Serviced Apartments in Kendal

Discover the best activities and attractions Kendal has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Kendal Castle
Kendal Castle is a prominent historic ruin and green space overlooking the town and the Kent valley. As a landmark linked to the Parr family (and commonly associated with Katherine Parr), it draws history-minded visitors and walkers, sustaining footfall for nearby cafes, shops and B&Bs. The castle and its grounds provide free recreational space for residents, host small community events and contribute to local identity and heritage-led tourism, which supports jobs in hospitality, conservation and guided-tour services.

Abbot Hall Art Gallery & Museum
Abbot Hall is a Georgian house turned art gallery and local museum with strong regional collections (including works associated with the Romney circle) and regularly changing exhibitions. It acts as an educational and cultural hub—running schools programmes, talks and workshops—and attracts visitors who then spend in the town’s shops, restaurants and accommodation. By commissioning regional artists and staging touring shows, Abbot Hall helps sustain the local creative economy, raises Kendal’s cultural profile and supports jobs in curatorial, visitor services and events management.

Brewery Arts Centre
Housed in a converted brewery, the Brewery Arts Centre is Kendal’s main multi-arts venue, offering theatre, cinema, exhibitions, live music, workshops and community arts projects. As a year-round cultural engine it brings steady audiences into town, supports local performers and creatives with rehearsal and studio space, and bolsters the evening economy (bars, eateries, taxis). Its community-led programming increases access to the arts, nurtures skills and volunteering, and helps diversify Kendal’s tourism beyond daytime sightseeing.

Kendal Mountain Festival
The Kendal Mountain Festival is an internationally recognised annual festival celebrating mountain culture, adventure films, talks and outdoor industry trade events. Drawing thousands of delegates, filmmakers and brands each year, it provides a concentrated economic boost to hotels, restaurants, retail and event services and raises Kendal’s global profile as an outdoor and adventure hub. The festival also supports local outdoor businesses, networks UK and international outdoor professionals, and inspires year-round participation in outdoor pursuits that feed into gear sales, guiding and training enterprises.

Stricklandgate, Kendal Market & Local Food Scene
Kendal’s main shopping streets (Stricklandgate and the town centre) plus the regular market form the commercial heart of town, showcasing independent shops, artisan producers and food stalls—many selling regional specialities such as Kendal mint cake, local cheeses and Lake District produce. This retail and market ecosystem keeps more spending in the local economy, supports small business owners and food entrepreneurs, generates employment in retail and hospitality, and creates an attractive destination for visitors seeking authentic local goods and dining experiences. Seasonal events and market days also activate public space and help sustain a vibrant town centre.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Kendal, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Bus services (Stagecoach & local operators) - Regular local and regional bus services operate from Kendal town centre and the bus station, linking Kendal with nearby towns and tourist destinations such as Windermere, Ambleside, Keswick, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancaster and Ulverston; frequencies vary by route and season.
- Rail connections (nearest stations: Oxenholme Lake District & Windermere branch) - Kendal does not have a mainline station in the town centre; the nearest mainline station is Oxenholme Lake District (around 4 miles / ~6 km away) on the West Coast Main Line with long-distance services, and the Windermere branch provides local trains to/from Oxenholme that connect onward to Kendal by bus or taxi.
- Coach services (National Express & intercity coaches) - National Express and other coach operators provide scheduled coach links to larger cities and long-distance destinations; services are less frequent than buses and are typically aimed at longer journeys.
- Community transport and dial‑a‑ride - Voluntary/community transport schemes and demand‑responsive minibuses provide door‑to‑door and flexible services for elderly, disabled passengers and areas with limited scheduled services.
- Taxis and private-hire (local firms & app-based options) - Local taxi and private-hire companies operate in Kendal, providing flexible point-to-point travel, station transfers (Oxenholme/Windermere) and airport transfers.

Major Highways
- M6 - The primary north–south motorway serving the region; Kendal is easily accessed from nearby M6 junctions (e.g., Junction 36), providing routes north toward Carlisle/Scotland and south toward Lancaster/Manchester/Liverpool.
- A6 - Historic major road running through Kendal that links the town northwards toward Penrith/Carlisle and southwards toward Lancaster; key for local and regional road movements.
- A591 - Primary scenic route from Kendal to Windermere, Ambleside and on to Keswick, important for tourism and local traffic into the Lake District.
- A65 - East–west route terminating in Kendal that connects the town to areas toward Skipton and the Yorkshire Dales (useful for freight and cross‑Pennine traffic).
- A590 - Major east–west trunk route to the Furness peninsula and Barrow-in-Furness (accessible via connecting roads and the M6), important for access to coastal industrial areas.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle lanes, shared‑use paths and routes - Kendal has a mix of on‑road cycle lanes, off‑road shared-use paths and signed local cycle routes linking residential areas to the town centre and parks; there are also connections to regional and recreational routes used by leisure cyclists, plus cycle parking in key town centre locations.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and funding-led upgrades - Local and regional authorities have been using national BSIP and similar funding to improve bus frequencies, upgrade shelters and real‑time information, and trial route improvements aimed at better connectivity for Kendal.
- Active travel and cycling investments - Recent and planned spending has targeted active travel: improved pedestrian crossings, expanded and better-signed cycle routes, and more secure cycle parking to encourage walking and cycling for short trips.
- Rail interchange and service resilience measures - Continued focus on improving connections between Kendal and Oxenholme Lake District station (better bus/taxi links and information) and ongoing timetable and rolling-stock updates on the Windermere branch to strengthen rail connectivity.
- M6 and highway maintenance / junction improvements - Periodic maintenance and targeted junction improvements on the M6 corridor and A‑roads around Kendal have been carried out or planned to reduce congestion and improve resilience on key commuter and freight routes.
- Town centre traffic management and accessibility schemes - Local council initiatives have included traffic flow reviews, pedestrian-first measures in parts of the town centre and parking management changes to improve safety, air quality and the experience for residents and visitors.
- Feasibility studies for larger schemes - Local authorities periodically commission feasibility work (for example, relief road options or improved park‑and‑ride provision) to identify longer-term capacity and environmental solutions, though major new road schemes typically require extensive consultation and funding decisions.

In Kendal, finding the right furnished rental apartment for short term or long term rental can be challenging - especially with affordable rates all year round in Kendal. That is where we help companies find the right serviced apartment to stay when working away from home. Our accommodation offers you the perfect self-catering, furnished rental properties in central Kendal and easy-access locations nearby. Whether it be one week, one month or one year, we have flexible terms to suit you.