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Kendal

England, United Kingdom · Europe

About Kendal

Kendal works well as a base: 15 minutes from Staveley, 14km from Lake Windermere.

Kendal is a town located in England, United Kingdom. With a population of 29,147, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Kendal sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Kendal to your route.

About Kendal

Kendal, once Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish in the Westmorland and Furness area of Cumbria, England, just outside the Lake District. It lies within the River Kent's dale, from which its name is derived. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the area was collected under Yorkshire. The

Read more area came under the Honour of Lancaster before the barony split. The town became the Barony of Kendal's seat, in 1226/7 this barony merged with the Barony of Westmorland to form the historic county of Westmorland with Appleby as the historic county town. In 1889, Kendal became the county town. Under the 1974 reforms, it became the administrative centre of the South Lakeland district. The town became Westmorland and Furness district's administrative centre in a 2023 reform. It is 8 miles (13 km) south-east of Windermere and 19 miles (31 km) north of Lancaster. At the 2011 census, the town had a population of 28,586, making it the second largest town in Westmorland and Furness after Barrow-in-Furness. As of the 2021 Census, its population was 29,593. It is renowned today mainly as a centre for shopping, for its festivals and historic sights, including Kendal Castle, and as the home of Kendal Mint Cake. The town's grey limestone buildings have earned it the sobriquet "Auld Grey Town".

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Kendal

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Kendal?

Kendal offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Kendal?

Plan your road trip to Kendal with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Kendal as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Kendal located?

Kendal is located in England, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 54.3268 latitude, -2.7476 longitude.

What is the population of Kendal?

Kendal has a population of approximately 29,147 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.

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Quick Information

Population
29,147
Continent
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Region
England
Timezone
Europe/London
Coordinates
54.3268, -2.7476

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United Kingdom

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomEnglandTown

Worth the detour from Kendal

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

natural wonder

Lake Windermere

England's largest natural lake, stretching over 10 miles through the heart of the Lake District with stunning mountain backdrops.

14 km · about 25 min drive

museum

Lakeland Motor Museum

Riverside museum at Backbarrow with 30,000 exhibits including 140 classic vehicles and a dedicated exhibition on the Campbells' Bluebird land and water speed record machines.

16 km · about 20 min drive

mountain pass

Kirkstone Pass

The Lake District's highest motor road, topped by an ancient inn and sweeping views over Brothers Water.

19 km · about 20 min drive

national park

Lake District National Park

England's largest national park with dramatic lakes, rugged fells, and literary heritage of Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.

27 km · about 30 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Wrynose Pass

A wild mountain pass connecting the Langdale and Duddon valleys with panoramic views of the central Lake District fells.

27 km · about 30 min drive

landmark

Ribblehead Viaduct

Magnificent Victorian railway viaduct with 24 arches striding across the bleak moorland of the Yorkshire Dales, an engineering marvel of the 1870s.

28 km · about 35 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Helvellyn

England's third highest peak at 950m, famous for the knife-edge ridge of Striding Edge and sweeping views across the Lake District.

28 km · about 35 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Hardknott Pass Summit

England's steepest road pass with gradients up to 33%, offering spectacular views of the Eskdale valley and surrounding Lakeland fells.

29 km · about 35 min drive

Driving roads near Kendal

  • 19 kmKirkstone PassThe Lake District's highest motor road, topped by an ancient inn and sweeping views over Brothers Water.
  • 27 kmWrynose PassA wild mountain pass connecting the Langdale and Duddon valleys with panoramic views of the central Lake District fells.
  • 28 kmHelvellynEngland's third highest peak at 950m, famous for the knife-edge ridge of Striding Edge and sweeping views across the Lake District.
  • 29 kmHardknott Pass SummitEngland's steepest road pass with gradients up to 33%, offering spectacular views of the Eskdale valley and surrounding Lakeland fells.
  • 30 kmHardknott PassEngland's steepest road with gradients of 1-in-3, a white-knuckle single-track pass through the Lake District with a Roman fort at the top.
  • 30 kmUllswaterA graceful Z-shaped lake with steamers, the lakeside road and Glenridding making it the perfect Lakes touring base.

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Kendal.

Burneside

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

3 km awayPop. 1,017

Staveley

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 km awayPop. 1,384

Milnthorpe

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

11 km awayPop. 2,199

Windermere

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

12 km awayPop. 7,765

Sedbergh

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

14 km awayPop. 2,171

Arnside

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

15 km awayPop. 2,334

Kirkby Lonsdale

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

17 km awayPop. 1,843

Ambleside

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

18 km awayPop. 2,529

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence