School visits to Brockhole
Take a look at the information below to help you with organising your visit, we can’t wait to see you soon!
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
Brock's Adventures for EYFS and KS1
Join us on one of our Brock’s Adventures, nature inspired workshops for EYFS and KS1 children.
Each adventure day starts with a reading of a picture book, leading to exciting exploring out and about at Brockhole and fun activities with links to the seasons, life cycles, art and conservation.
There is a Brock’s Adventure for every term!
Frequently asked questions and booking
We can help you with group visits to Brockhole on Windermere. We are currently taking bookings through our Brockhole Learning team. To book your place, please contact the team:
- Email: Brockholelearning@lakedistrict.gov.uk
- 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
Navigate through our learning pages above to discover learning sessions for different age groups. Find out more about attractions for children by contacting the Brockhole Learning team:
- Email: Brockholelearning@lakedistrict.gov.uk (opens email)
- Telephone: 015394 40275
If you would like to visit Brockhole but don’t wish to do any tutored activities, we still need to know you’re coming so that we can allocate you a coach parking space and control numbers on site. Contact us via:
- Email: Brockholelearning@lakedistrict.gov.uk (opens email)
- Telephone: 015394 40275
The visitor centre is now closed to the public and only in use for our pre-booked, tutored sessions. The shop, café and exhibition are closed. The toilets in Brockhole house are accessible for all visiting groups, 10:00 – 16:00. Please follow the directional signage, as the entrance to the building has changed.
Reduce your waste
We encourage all visiting groups to take our ‘waste-free packed lunch challenge’. To help the environment, we aim to minimise food waste and encourage recycling and reusing. Please help us by taking part! Find out more about our Waste-Free Packed Lunch Challenge (PDF).
Be ready for the great outdoors
All of our sessions have outdoor elements or take place entirely outside, our general guidelines are:
- Please ensure that all children/students are properly equipped for the weather on the day, i.e. strong footwear, waterproof clothing, hats & sun cream as necessary
- Please ensure any children/students requiring medication carry it with them at all times
- Please ensure that accompanying staff remain with their group at all times
Costs vary depending on the learning session, with a minimum charge for some sessions. Please navigate the learning sessions available for different age groups above to see the prices.
As we don’t have an entrance fee, or charge for coach parking, we do ask for a £1 per child voluntary contribution. This income is extremely valuable to us, and goes towards the upkeep of the play and learning facilities on site.
Coach parking is free and booking is essential. Parking charges apply to cars and minibuses. All income goes towards supporting the work of the Lake District National Park and helps to maintain our stunning landscape for all to enjoy.
We understand that the health and safety of your group is paramount. We strongly advise you to make a preliminary visit to site so that you can carry out a risk assessment for the activities that you intend to do.
Brockhole has a number of beaches with access to the water (Lake Windermere). Please ensure that your children are carefully supervised at all times. We strongly advise that they are not allowed to enter the water. If you have already booked with us, please refer to the hazard identification map attached to your booking email, and the photos of the play park equipment.
Changes to Brockhole for 2026
Please note, as the visitor centre is now closed, there will not be any first aid provision available unless you are working directly with the Learning Service, or one of the activity providers on site.
If you have any health and safety queries, please get in touch in advance.
- 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
