Derwent Pencil Museum
A museum in Keswick on the history of the pencil, entered through a replica graphite mine, with secret wartime pencils and one of the world's largest colour pencils.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Keswick calls itself the home of the first pencil. Derwent, whose pencil works stand in the town, has been part of the Lake District since 1832, and its Pencil Museum opened in 1981 to tell the story of the pencil from a cottage industry to modern production.
Visitors enter through a replica graphite mine, the kind of source that supplied the pencil industry more than three centuries ago. The displays follow graphite and pencil making through the centuries and include secret Second World War pencils with hidden maps made for the intelligence service, miniature pencil sculptures, a commemorative pencil for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and one of the largest colour pencils in the world, almost eight metres long.
In 2015 floods gutted the museum and ruined part of the company's archive. After about eighteen months of restoration it reopened on 26 May 2017 with a redesigned layout, new interactive areas, a drawing space for art classes and workshops, and a renamed café. The museum is run by the company that owns the Derwent brand.
Highlights
- Entrance through a replica graphite mine
- One of the largest colour pencils in the world, almost 8 metres long
- Secret Second World War pencils with hidden maps
- Miniature pencil sculptures and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee pencil
- Workshops with local artists
- Coffee shop and shop with the full Derwent range
Permanent exhibitions
- The story of the pencil – The museum is entered through a replica graphite mine and follows the pencil from cottage industry to modern production, with secret wartime pencils and miniature pencil sculptures.
- World's largest colour pencil – A colour pencil almost 8 metres long, one of the largest in the world.
- Founded
- 1981
- Operated by
- Derwent (ACCO UK Ltd)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £6.65 |
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| Reduced | £5.55Senior or concession |
| Children & teens | £5.85 |
| Seniors | £5.55 |
| Groups (10+ people) | –A group discount is offered for parties of 10 or more, according to a Lake District tourism listing. |
| Families | £22Two adults and two children. Other family tickets: one adult and one child £11.00, one adult and two children £16.15, two adults and one child £16.85, two adults and three children £26.95. |
| Family: 1 adult and 1 child | £11 |
| Family: 1 adult and 2 children | £16.15 |
| Family: 2 adults and 1 child | £16.85 |
| Family: 2 adults and 3 children | £26.95 |
| Yearly membership (two adults and up to three children) | £33.50Includes 10% off in the coffee shop and gift shop. |
Tickets can only be bought on site. Yearly membership is £33.50 for two adults and up to three children.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
A Lake District tourism listing describes the museum as fully accessible for wheelchair users. The museum notes that access has returned to normal and that well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | £22 · Two adults and two children. Other family tickets: one adult and one child £11.00, one adult and two children £16.15, two adults and one child £16.85, two adults and three children £26.95. |
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- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Baby changing facilities
The museum presents itself as a day out for the family. Children can answer a question sheet using the exhibits and use colouring sheets, and the museum has interactive areas and workshops with artists. Family tickets cover one or two adults with one to three children. Baby changing facilities are available.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Keswick bus station · 5-min walk
The main Keswick bus station is about a five-minute walk away, with regular services from the surrounding area. The nearest railway station is Penrith, about 17 miles away on the West Coast Main Line, and a bus of about 40 minutes links it with Keswick bus station.
By car
Paid parking
Parking is outside the museum, in a car park that is not owned or managed by the museum. It has automatic number plate recognition cameras and payment is required on arrival; see the notices on site for the terms.
From the M6, leave at junction 40 and follow the A66 towards Keswick, then follow the signs to the museum next to the factory. Keswick taxis can meet trains at Penrith by prior arrangement.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is available. The coffee shop serves light lunches and cakes, and the gift shop sells the Derwent range, with an online gift store as well. Baby changing facilities are provided.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The museum is a single compact set of galleries. Workshops with local artists are held during the year. |
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