Brockhole

Brockhole on Windermere is one of the Lake District’s leading family attractions, offering outdoor adventure, nature and heritage gardens in a spectacular setting on the shores of Windermere. Now operated by BeWILDerwood, Brockhole combines beautiful grounds, woodland walks and family-friendly facilities with popular attractions including Zip World and Windermere Lake Cruises.

In 2026, the site will also welcome a new indoor play and sensory adventure created by BeWILDerwood, providing year-round imaginative play inspired by nature and storytelling.

History

Built at the end of the 19th century, Brockhole house was intended as a summer home for its wealthy owner, William Gaddum, a silk merchant. Gaddum employed local landscape gardener Thomas Mawson to lay out the grounds. Mawson later went on to design gardens across the UK and around the world including at The Hague. Beatrix Potter was a frequent visitor to Brockhole, being a cousin of William Gaddum’s wife.

Following Gaddum’s death in 1946 the house was used as a convalescent home, until it was bought in 1966 by the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNA), who opened up the visitor centre here in 1969. Since then the centre has grown in popularity. Today the house is home to a number of activities as well as a shop and food options, whilst the grounds are open to the public with various activities available.

Things to See

Since being taken over by BeWILDerwood, Brockhole has blended classic outdoor activities with imaginative, storytelling-led play. The new centre features:

• Play & Sensory Zones: A brand new indoor play and sensory adventure space, along with an outdoor adventure playground built from sustainable timber.
• Themed Trails: Family-friendly history and nature trails that use the colorful BeWILDerwood character cast.
• Café & Refreshments: The Whitehouse Café operates on-site, serving hot drinks, cakes, ice cream, and cold sandwiches.
• Watersports & Boat Hire: Kayak and paddleboard rentals, rowing boats, and stops from Windermere Lake Cruises directly at the site's jetty.
• Land & Aerial Adventures: Zip World treetop treks, nets, mini-golf, and woodland laser tag.
• Scenic Grounds: Protected access for walkers and swimmers, complete with stunning gardens and historic ancient woodland.

Tickets

Entrance to Brockhole is free of charge, however, there are charges for parking and activities. Please see the official website for further information.

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