Primary schools
To inspire your pupils, we’ve got some great workshops and sessions for primary schools at Brockhole on Windermere.
Thank you for a great visit at Brockhole! Our children thoroughly enjoyed this experience and love the hands-on activities. The day was a fantastic blend of learning and fun, and the children were full of enthusiasm throughout. Many of them asked if we could return again soon – a sign of how much they enjoyed the experience! – Northside Primary School, 2025
Secondary schools and colleges
The National Park is a fascinating place to learn about geography and the impacts and management of tourism. We offer educational visits for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 secondary school pupils.
Explore the outdoors
Embrace your time in the Lake District and stretch your legs in Brockhole’s beautiful grounds – perfect for unwinding after a coach journey or during a lunchtime break. Your group can also enjoy one of our educational trails whilst exploring the grounds, woodlands and beautiful Windermere lake shore!
Frequently asked questions
We can help you with group visits to Brockhole on Windermere. We are currently taking bookings through out Brockhole Learning team. To book your place, please contact the team:
- Email: Brockholelearning@lakedistrict.gov.uk (opens email)
- Telephone: 015394 40275
We offer learning sessions for school and college groups at Brockhole on Windermere in a variety of topics including geography, science, visual art and more. Find details on session content and pricing by contacting the Brockhole Learning team:
- Email: Brockholelearning@lakedistrict.gov.uk (opens email)
- Telephone: 015394 40275
Find out about attractions for children by contacting the Brockhole Learning team:
- Email: Brockholelearning@lakedistrict.gov.uk (opens email)
- Telephone: 015394 40275
What is Brockhole?
Brockhole is a beautiful lakeside villa set in extensive gardens and grounds on the shores of Windermere, in the Lake District.
Brockhole House
Brockhole house was built at the end of the 19th century, as a holiday home for a wealthy silk merchant William Gaddum and his wife Edith (née) Potter, cousin to Beatrix Potter. The stunning gardens were designed by architect Dan Gibson and created by the renowned landscape designer Thomas Mawson. Brockhole is one of the lesser known arts and crafts treasures of Cumbria, but one you should certainly put on your ‘Lake District historic houses and gardens’ must visit list.
Please note that Brockhole House is not open to the public.
Gardens
Thomas Mawson (1861-1933) was one of the most renowned and prolific arts and crafts garden designers of his era. Mawson started his career as a local landscape gardener and is responsible for the design of many gardens in Cumbria, notably Rydal Hall, Holehird, Blackwell, Cragwood and Langdale Chase.
The garden was built as a series of south and west facing terraces, sloping gently down to Windermere, moving from formal to informal planting through flowerbeds, meadow and woodland to the lakeshore. A system of underground water tanks below the terrace by the orangery collected rainwater from gutters to act as a Victorian ‘sprinkler system’ to irrigate the flower beds.
Brockhole is a garden for all seasons. You can always enjoy a seasonal walk in the small but perfectly formed ancient woodland. When the snowdrops and bluebells carpet the ground, when the autumn colours appear, or on crisp winter days this can be a very special part of your Brockhole visit. From the grounds you can access the shoreline – even enjoy a paddle.
History
The Lake District National Park Authority purchased the house and grounds in 1966, opening it in 1969 as the UK’s first National Park Visitor Centre.
Brockhole today is just as stunning as it has always been and continues to attract visitors from across the country and worldwide, forming part of the beautiful Lake District National Park – a listed UNESCO World Heritage site in 2017.
- 1896: William Henry Adolphus Gaddum, a silk merchant from Manchester purchased the 30 acre site.
- 1897: William Gaddum commissioned architect Dan Gibson to design him a ‘summer house’ in the now fashionable Lake District.
- 1899: William, his wife Edith Potter (cousin to Beatrix Potter) and children, Jim and Molly, moved into the Brockhole. Beatrix Potter was a frequent visitor to the house and she refers to Brockhole in her Journals.
- 1946: The Gaddum family sold the house when William died.
- 1948: Merseyside Hospital Board purchased Brockhole and converted it into a convalescent home.
- 1966: The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) purchased Brockhole.
- 1969: The LDNPA opened Brockhole as the UK’s first National Park Visitor Centre. In its first month (June) it had 40,000 visitors.
- 1998: Brockhole carried out a major refurbishment with Heritage Lottery grant funding.
- 2016: The Gaddum Gallery was opened.
- 2018: The Gaddum Restaurant was opened.
- 2019: The ongoing Kitchen Garden project opened to the public.
- 2020: Bee’s were introduced to the Kitchen Garden
