Retire to Cockermouth

a river running through a town

Retirement living in Cockermouth

Situated on the convergence of the Cocker and Derwent rivers, Cockermouth stands as a gateway to the beautifully imposing mountains of the Lake District National park. The town still runs along its original ancient street patterns and has a characterful mix of historical architecture, including Medieval, Georgian and Victorian buildings - this has earned Cockermouth the status of being one of Britain's 51 'Gem Towns' - listed by the Council of British Archaeology for special preservation.

McCarthy Stone Developments in Cockermouth

a group of cars parked on the side of a road with flowers and a statue on top of

Things to do in Cockermouth 

One of the town's main landmarks is Cockermouth Castle - with its original 13th Century dungeons - open to the public during the town's July festival. There's also the beautifully preserved Wordsworth House - birthplace of the poet, William Wordsworth, which offers fascinating tours of the house and gardens. Cockermouth's ancient market square has been recently rejuvenated and now reflects the town's eclectic history in various examples of stonework and pavement art. The traders still gather on the first Saturday of every month.

Cockermouth has plenty of shops and supermarkets, along with a wide array of amenities and independent local traders. There's also a fine selection of artisan restaurants, tea-rooms and eateries, and many of the town's excellent traditional pubs serve beers produced by Cockermouth's own Jennings Brewery, who also provide on-site tours.

a grassy hill with trees and hills in the background

Enjoy a happy retirement in Cockermouth 

For fitness enthusiasts, Cockermouth has its own sports centre with two gymnasiums and a large swimming pool. Culture-seekers can enjoy a varied calendar of theatre, cinema, comedy and performing arts events held at the Kirkgate centre. The town hosts a number of annual festivals, including The Cockermouth Live music and arts festival in July and the Taste Cumbria Cockermouth food festival in September. Cockermouth has regular local bus services connecting to the towns of Workington, Penrith and Carlisle. The town of Keswick - at the heart of the Lake District - is a 20 minute drive away.

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