Derwent Pencil Museum - Keswick, Cumbria, UK

Address: Southey Works, Keswick, Cumbria, UK CA12 5NG, United Kingdom.
Phone: 1768773626.
Website: derwentart.com
Specialties: Museum.
Other points of interest: On-site services, Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible toilet, Toilet, Good for kids, Paid parking lot.
Opinions: This company has 2666 reviews on Google My Business.
Average opinion: 4.4/5.

📌 Location of Derwent Pencil Museum

☎️1768773626

⏰ Open Hours of Derwent Pencil Museum

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 9:30 AM–5 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM–5 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM–5 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM–5 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM–5 PM

Okay, here’s a detailed description of the Derwent Pencil Museum, presented in a formal and approachable style, designed to be helpful to potential visitors:

The Derwent Pencil Museum: A Unique Artistic Destination

For those seeking an engaging and informative experience centered around the rich history of pencil making and art materials, the Derwent Pencil Museum presents a truly special destination. Located in the picturesque Lake District, this museum offers a fascinating journey through the evolution of graphite and the enduring legacy of Derwent pencils – a name synonymous with quality and innovation in the art world.

Location and Contact Information

The museum is situated at Southey Works, Keswick, Cumbria, UK CA12 5NG. Visitors can easily reach it by phone at 1768773626 or through their official website: derwentart.com. The website provides comprehensive details about the museum’s exhibits, events, and opening hours.

Museum Specialties & Key Features

The Derwent Pencil Museum is primarily a Museum, dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of Derwent pencils and their connection to graphite production. It’s a meticulously curated space that delves into the origins of graphite, the technological advancements in pencil manufacturing, and the individuals who shaped the company’s success. The museum highlights the significant role Derwent played during World War II, producing essential tools for the war effort. Beyond the historical narrative, visitors will find a vibrant shop stocked with a wide range of Derwent art materials, further solidifying the museum’s connection to the creative process.

Visitor Amenities & Accessibility

The museum has been thoughtfully designed with accessibility in mind. It offers a Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, and a Wheelchair-accessible toilet. Furthermore, on-site services are available, and there’s a Paid parking lot nearby. The museum is also a welcoming space for families, with activities that are Good for kids. Notably, it’s a dog-friendly venue, adding to its appeal and creating a relaxed atmosphere for all visitors.

Visitor Feedback & Reputation

The Derwent Pencil Museum enjoys a consistently positive reputation, as evidenced by its impressive 2666 reviews on Google My Business with an Average opinion of 4.4/5. Feedback frequently praises the engaging exhibits, the informative quizzes incorporated into the visit, and the well-stocked shop. Many visitors comment on the friendly and helpful staff, adding to the overall positive experience. The museum is often cited as a perfect activity for a rainy day, offering a captivating escape and a chance to learn about a fascinating industry.

Concluding Recommendation

For anyone with an interest in art, history, or the materials that bring creativity to life, the Derwent Pencil Museum is a worthwhile and memorable visit. We highly recommend exploring the museum’s website at derwentart.com to learn more about upcoming events and to plan your visit. Don’t hesitate to contact them directly via their website or phone – they’d be delighted to assist you.

Do you want me to elaborate on a specific aspect of the museum, such as its exhibits or accessibility features

👍 Reviews of Derwent Pencil Museum

Derwent Pencil Museum - Keswick, Cumbria, UK

Emeline H. (.

5/5

Lovely little museum that explain the beginning of graphite and of the Derwent pencils. I particularly loved the bits about the man making the gadgets during the WWII!
There is a quiz to fill during the visit that makes reading the signs more engaging and the shop at the end is well filled.

The staff was also lovely 🙂

The visit takes around an hour if you take your time and it is a perfect activity on a rainy day and maxi bonus, it is dog friendly (how cool is that!?).

PicklesTheNonPickle

4/5

Its pretty small but the staff are nice and welcoming. It's got a corner for kids to sit and colour in a few pictures and is dog friendly. They have an adult and a child quiz to fill in while you go around and on completion you got some pencils and the kids get 3 coloured pencils.

Laura M.

5/5

Lovely little place to visit. Doesn’t take long to go round, with a quiz for kids and one for adults to complete as you go round. Each person who completes gets 3 pencils. Both of my boys enjoyed buying some new colouring pencils from the shop at the end. Also great carpark to stay in and walk into Keswick town centre.

Mark T.

4/5

Pleasant experience at a small museum tracing the history and manufacture of pencils. This is not vast although I don't doubt the expertise involved. It is well laid out, with the entrance price gaining you a pencil and completing a 20 question quiz getting you a couple more! Entrance price just about reasonable for the experience. Cafe on site and discounted pencil sets, of which we took advantage of neither on this occasion.

Dawn A.

5/5

Lovely place to visit and really I interesting but not too large that you get bored if you know what I mean. A pencil is your entry ticket - bonus 😊 and everyone is given a quiz to complete to get a prize. You won't be disappointed. Even better is an art supplies shop. What's not to like?

Niki L.

5/5

Lovely and interesting museum to learn all about Derwent pencils. See the world’s longest pencil too! Great on a rainy day too!

djmadhatter666

5/5

Honestly, going to the pencil museum was an ongoing joke at the start of the holiday, but then we found ourselves out that way with nothing else planned so decided to stop in.... Only for it to become one of the highlights of the trip.

On entering you are given their 'pointless quiz' to do on the way round, simple questions that get you actually reading all the information plaques as you walk around. And it's a good thing that they do. You get to learn about miners, thieves, spies, world records, royalty and artists.

Who could have known that the humble pencil could be so fascinating.

Janet B.

5/5

A fascinating and enjoyable little place to visit.
On arrival, we were given a little quiz sheet and a pencil (of course!) to take around with us. A great idea, as it made us read everything more thoroughly to get the answers. It was also lovely as it made for laughter and chatter amongst visitors in general as they helped each other find the answers.
The process of pencil-making over the years was fully explained, through multiple displays and various videos. So interesting. The story of the special pencils created in the Second World War for the airman, housing a secret map and a tiny hidden compass, was incredible. It was absolutely fascinating too, to hear about the trials and tribulations they went through to recreate it in 2015.
The whole museum was really interesting and, for me, the only improvement would have been to actually see the pencils being made in the factory itself which, now they're not manufactured there, wasn't going to be possible, so the videos certainly helped in this regard.
There is a little café at the end, sadly too small to cater for many people, so we missed going in there. There is also a lovely shop with a wide variety of art materials.
On handing in our completed questionnaire, we were rewarded with some more pencils. What's not to love?!
Staff were friendly and helpful and there was a really happy vibe throughout the visit there.
Lovely! Definitely recommend!