Things to do in Lake District, England: The Best Art Galleries

Unique as one of only four puppet theatres constructed in England, with puppeteers bridges for marionettes and a pit for working rod puppets from below. The site lines are great for children, with all the rows of seats on a steep rake, allowing children to see over adults. All of our productions are written, designed and produced in our own on site workshops,staged with full lighting and musical scores and appeal to all ages. The theatre has an on site cafe and also an on site free entry art gallery with shop. Tables can be reserved in the cafe for groups visiting the puppet theatre and a children's menu is offered. We were awarded the Readers Choice Culture Award from Cumbria Life Magazine this year for our venue and last year won the "Sustainable Tourism Award" from Cumbria Tourist board for our"Eco" buildings and sound green business ethic. Many of our audience members have returned year after year to see our performances and after show meet the puppet sessions for photographs.

Established in 1994, the Old Courthouse Gallery, Ambleside has become one of the leading independent contemporary arts galleries in the North of England. Occupying three floors within an historic building, the bright and welcoming gallery showcases the best arts and crafts in the Lakes and in Britain today. A range of media are featured in the gallery including wall art, wood/furniture, glass, ceramics, metalwork and jewellery, ensuring a deep and high quality range of pieces for the serious collector or the person looking for the ideal gift or memento.

Percy House Gallery is situated in one of the oldest town houses in Cockermouth originally built in 1390. With it's unique features which includes the original bread oven, fire places, plaster work ceiling and coat of arms in seven rooms over 2 floors, it is the ideal setting for the many unusual arts and crafts on display. These include jewellery, textiles, glassware, ceramics, metalwork, woodwork, paintings and photographs. Percy House Gallery is worth visiting throughout the year as we receive new work all the time from our various artist's and is constantly changing.

The gallery is now open. Thuline is a professional artist specialising in animal portraits, mainly farm animals and pet portrait commissions. In her studio-gallery she sells originals, prints and gifts with her animals on (cushions, aprons, coasters….). She runs small workshops, up to 6 people. These can be for individuals, families, businesses, friends... On location, she can work with bigger groups. These can be organised on very short notice. Or you can come and watch her paint. Thuline does demonstrations too. Thuline also exhibits originals and limited edition prints all over the UK and Ireland. There is a permanent showcase of her work in the Jumbleroom, Grasmere. “I observe animals, their shapes, gestures and mannerisms and in developing my ideas, I take them quite often out of their context. I like using bold colours.” Thuline takes online orders too.

One of the foremost galleries in the North West. Internationally known names exhibit alongside those who are showing for the first time, making sure the gallery never stands still

An artists' co-operative consortium selling work by the six members and invited artists: ceramics, glass-work, paintings, willow-work, printmaking, slate-work, wood-work and poetry.