Crafty Monkeys

Boy painting ceramic dinosaur model

What better souvenir to bring home from your Lake District family holiday than an item created by you and your children? At Craft Monkeys in Penrith, you can create a keepsake of your holiday by painting a plate, teapot, or any other item from a huge range of pottery.

If you prefer to be more hands-on, the centre also has a potters wheel where you can attempt to throw your own pot. Alternatively, you could try something a bit different, such as 'decopatch', which is a paper based craft activity, or make a mosaic picture from pieces of pottery.

Highlights

If you paint an item of pottery you can opt to use outdoor paint and take it with you on the day. Alternatively, you can use glaze paints and have it fired in the kiln. You can then arrange to collect the item at a later date or have it posted to you, and this is best for items that will be used for food and liquids.

For older children and adults, pottery lessons are available with pre-booking required. You will learn how to use the potters wheel and create an item to take away with you.

There is a small café on site serving light refreshments, and baby changing facilities. In addition, for very young children, there is a small play area that can be used whilst you and your older children paint an item.

Getting There

Crafty Monkeys is situated in the centre of Penrith – just a minute walk from the Penrith Tourist Information Centre. There are several pay and display car parks in Penrith with the nearest one to Crafty Monkeys being Bluebell Lane Car Park, starting at £1 per hour.