Serviced Apartments in Penrith

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

Lowther Castle & Gardens
Lowther Castle is a dramatic ruined Victorian mansion set within extensively restored gardens and parkland a few miles from Penrith. The estate’s careful restoration has turned it into a major visitor attraction with seasonal planting schemes, family trails, sculpture, and events (weddings, exhibitions and outdoor theatre). Its popularity comes from the mix of romantic ruin, sweeping views across the Eden Valley to the Lake District fells, and year‑round programming that draws day‑trippers and families. Locally it boosts the tourism economy, provides seasonal and volunteer opportunities, and showcases local food and craft suppliers at on‑site events.

Rheged Centre (Redhills)
Rheged is a large cultural, shopping and leisure complex on the edge of Penrith known for its distinctive architecture, an art gallery/exhibition space, a family‑friendly cinema, an award‑winning café/restaurant, and a shop stocking local produce and crafts. It’s popular because it combines indoor attractions for all weather with rotating exhibitions, live events and a focus on Cumbria’s landscapes and makers. Rheged acts as a regional cultural hub, supporting local creative businesses, drawing visitors into the area (especially families and coach parties) and helping extend stays that benefit hotels, pubs and other shops in Penrith.

Penrith Castle
The ruins of Penrith Castle sit right in the centre of town and form a compact, atmospheric glimpse into the area’s medieval history. Though not a fully restored stately home, the site’s dramatic stonework and proximity to the town centre make it a frequent stop for history lovers and walkers heading into the Lake District. Its presence enhances Penrith’s historical character, encourages walking tours and teaches local history; the castle also increases footfall for nearby cafés, shops and heritage services.

Penrith and Eden Museum
Housed in Penrith’s town centre, the Penrith and Eden Museum tells the story of the local area from prehistoric times through Roman, medieval and modern eras — with exhibits on local families, industry and archaeology. It’s valued for preserving community memory, running education programmes for schools and hosting temporary displays that celebrate local artists and traditions. As a free or low‑cost cultural resource it helps make Penrith attractive to visitors interested in Cumbria’s social history and supports small‑scale cultural tourism that benefits local guides, retailers and eateries.

Penrith Market, Independent Shops and Dining
Penrith’s market tradition and compact shopping streets (around Cornmarket, King Street and Great Dockray) form the town’s commercial heart: independent boutiques, artisan food shops, bakeries, cafés and pubs sit alongside regular market stalls and periodic farmers’ or craft markets. The mix is popular because it offers authentic local produce (cheeses, meats, preserves), unique shopping and a lively town‑centre atmosphere — useful both to residents and visitors en route to the Lakes. Markets and independents sustain local producers, create small‑business jobs, keep spending in the local economy and provide the kinds of cafés and restaurants that make Penrith a convenient and appealing stop for tourists.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Penrith, 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
- Rail – Penrith (Penrith North Lakes) station - Located on the West Coast Main Line with regular intercity services (Avanti West Coast) to cities such as London, Manchester and Glasgow plus regional/stopper services linking to Carlisle, Oxenholme (for Windermere) and local destinations; station facilities include a car park, cycle parking, ticketing and real‑time information.
- Local and Regional Bus Services - Town buses and rural routes connect Penrith with surrounding villages and towns (including Carlisle, Keswick, Kendal and Lake District destinations); services are a mix of year‑round and seasonal/tourist routes with main stops around the town centre and bus interchange areas.
- Long‑distance Coaches - Intercity coach services (timed services vary by operator and season) provide links to major cities and airport hubs, offering an alternative to rail for some longer journeys.
- Community Transport and Taxis - Local taxi firms, private hire vehicles and community transport schemes (dial‑a‑ride/volunteer car schemes) provide door‑to‑door and demand‑responsive travel for residents in rural areas and those with mobility needs.
- Airport Connections - Nearest airports include Carlisle Lake District (limited commercial services), Newcastle and Manchester; onward travel to these airports is possible by a combination of rail, coach and road (journey times vary by route and connection).

Major Highways
- M6 (Junction 40 nearby) - Principal north–south motorway providing fast access north to Carlisle/Scotland and south toward the Midlands and London.
- A66 - Key east–west trunk route that links Penrith with the M6 and crosses the Pennines toward the A1(M), important for regional and cross‑country traffic.
- A6 - Historic north–south arterial route through the town connecting Penrith with Kendal and other local centres for shorter regional journeys.
- A592 / A5091 (Lake District approaches) - Primary routes from Penrith into Ullswater and the central Lake District, heavily used by tourist traffic and local residents.
- A69 (via Carlisle) - Major east–west route to the Newcastle area accessible via Carlisle, used for journeys to the northeast and border regions.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycling Infrastructure - A mix of on‑road cycle lanes and traffic‑calmed streets in the town centre, off‑road shared paths and riverside routes, secure cycle parking at the station and public locations, and extensive quiet rural lanes and promoted recreational routes into the Lake District; however, continuous segregated cycleways remain limited so many cyclists rely on country roads and regional cycle routes.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Rail station accessibility and facilities upgrades - Ongoing local and national investment has targeted improved accessibility (step‑free access where possible), better waiting facilities, upgraded ticketing/real‑time information and expanded cycle/car parking to support rail users.
- Highway and junction works - Targeted maintenance, safety improvements and junction upgrades on routes around Penrith (including work on M6 junctions and A66 corridor improvements) to improve traffic flow and reliability for commuters and freight.
- Active travel and walking/cycling projects - Local authority schemes and national funding have supported pedestrian crossing upgrades, new/shared‑use paths, signage and other measures to encourage walking and cycling for short trips.
- Bus service and fleet updates - Timetable revisions, improved bus shelters and incremental fleet upgrades (including low‑emission vehicles) have been introduced or planned to improve local and regional bus reliability and environmental performance.
- EV charging and sustainable transport measures - Expansion of public electric vehicle charging points, promotion of park‑and‑ride/park‑and‑rail options and town‑centre traffic management measures aimed at reducing congestion and emissions.
- Seasonal/tourism management measures - Additional seasonal coach and shuttle services, enhanced wayfinding and parking management initiatives to cope with Lake District visitor demand and to reduce pressure on local roads; further schemes may be subject to local consultation and funding availability.