We visited Keswick in the beautiful Lake District with our two teenagers (aged 14 and 18) in August 2025. We absolutely loved our time there. Keswick is the kind of place where adventure is never far away – whether that’s hiking up a mountain, paddling on the lake, cycling through stunning scenery, or trying something a little unusual.
It’s also a great base for families with teenagers because there’s a good mix of outdoor adventure, quirky attractions and relaxed activities that teens will actually enjoy. Read on to discover our top picks of the best things to do in Keswick with teenagers.
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The Puzzling Place
The Puzzling place sits right in the centre of Keswick and is best described as a museum of optical illusions. Inside, you’ll find plenty of quirky exhibits, clever visual tricks, and lots of fun photo opportunities as you try to figure out how the illusions work.
It was probably one of the best-value activities we did during our time in Keswick. Although the Puzzling Place itself isn’t very large, we easily spent well over an hour and a half exploring and enjoying all the different exhibits.
Keswick Mini Golf
Mini golf is always a great activity when you’re travelling with a mixed-age group, and Keswick Mini Golf is a fun place to spend an hour or so.
There are actually three different options here:
- Crazy golf
- Pitch and putt
- Traditional putting on the grass
We chose crazy golf, which was perfect for a relaxed bit of family competition. The course is colourful and playful, with plenty of tricky obstacles that had us all laughing (and occasionally groaning).
The whole course took us around an hour, making it a nice activity to slot into your day between other adventures.
Pop next door to the mini golf to Cafe Hope for some refreshments or an ice cream after your game.
Hire Bikes and Cycle the Keswick Railway Path
One of our favourite activities in Keswick was hiring bikes and heading out for a scenic ride.
We rented bikes from Whinlatter Bike Hire and cycled along the old railway line towards Threlkeld.
The route follows the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path, which is mostly traffic-free (apart from a short section at the beginning while you cycle from the shop to the trail and at the end when you leave the railway path if you want to get refreshments).
The scenery along this route is absolutely stunning.
We stopped halfway at the lovely Threlkeld Coffee Shop for drinks and cake before cycling back.
The ride is easy enough for most teenagers and feels like a real adventure without being too strenuous.
Kong Adventure
If your teens enjoy climbing or adrenaline activities, then Kong Adventure is well worth visiting.
This indoor adventure centre offers a variety of activities including indoor climbing walls, bouldering and an escape room.
Take a Lake Cruise on Derwentwater
We didn’t actually do this activity ourselves because my boys tend to get a bit bored on boat rides. However, that’s not to say other teenagers won’t enjoy it.
The cruise takes around 50 minutes and stops at seven different landing stages, meaning you can hop on and off around the lake.
It’s a lovely way to combine a boat trip with some walking, swimming spots or café stops along the shoreline.
Watersports on Derwentwater
If your teens prefer something more active, then heading out onto the water is a fantastic option.
You can rent kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and rowing boats from places like Derwentwater Marina or Platty+ Watersports.
We decided to hire a rowing boat, which sounded like a relaxing idea at the time!
However, it turned out to be quite challenging because the wind picked up and rowing in a straight line became surprisingly difficult.
In hindsight, I’d probably recommend kayaking instead. It’s a bit more expensive but looks much easier to control and much more fun.
Whinlatter Forest
Whinlatter Forest is about a 15-minute drive from Keswick and offers loads of outdoor activities for families with teenagers.
You could easily spend half a day here.
Popular things to do include:
- Hiking forest trails
- Hiring bikes for mountain biking routes
- Taking a Segway tour through the forest
- Tackling the treetop obstacles at Go Ape Whinlatter
The forest also has some fantastic viewpoints where you can see across the Lake District mountains.
Honister Slate Mine
You can explore the historic underground mine on guided tours and learn about the history of slate mining in the region.
But what really attracts adventurous teenagers are the adrenaline activities, which include:
- The Via Ferrata climbing experience
- The Infinity Bridge
- Mine climbing adventures
The location itself is also spectacular, with dramatic views across the surrounding fells.
The Lake District Wildlife Park
If your teens enjoy animals, then The Lake District Wildlife Park is worth a visit.
Located just a 10-minute drive from Keswick, the park covers 24 acres of beautiful parkland and is home to more than 100 species of animals.
You’ll find everything from lemurs and zebras to birds of prey, reptiles and monkeys.
The bird of prey flying displays are one of the highlights and have been a popular attraction since the park first opened.
Hike Up Catbells
One of the most famous walks in the Lake District is the hike up Catbells.
Often described as one of England’s most iconic Lake District hikes, Catbells offers an incredibly rewarding climb without being too difficult.
The classic route begins just outside Keswick and follows a steady path up to the summit. Along the way you’ll get breathtaking views across Derwentwater, the surrounding Lake District mountains and the town of Keswick below.
It’s a brilliant hike for teenagers because it feels like a proper mountain adventure, but it’s still achievable for most reasonably fit families.
The views from the top are absolutely worth the effort.
Other Things for Teenagers To Do in the Surrounding Areas
There is so much for teenagers to do in the surrounding areas too. Here are some things we also did with our teens.
Buckstones Jum
We parked in the White Moss Car Park and walked up hill to Buckstones Jum to swim in the pools up there. It is a tough walk (about 30 minutes uphill). My youngest teenager did moan a little bit but it was a very hot day when we walked which probably made it tougher. However once, we got to Buckstones Jum, all was forgiven and we.
Aira Force Waterfall
If your teens will tolerate a bit of walking this is another beautiful place to visit. A woodland walk up to see a stunning waterfall.
We also found my teen a wild swimming spot here as well. Obviously be very cautious, I would research thoroughly before swimming.
© 2025 – Travels With Louise
