The life of Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter outside her cottage in the Lake District

Beatrix Potter is known as the creator of Peter Rabbit and other favourite animal characters but in her life she achieved much more than this. Visit the Gallery and discover more about the real Miss Potter - beyond the books and cute animals - and learn how she was forward-thinking and acted upon concerns very familiar to us still today.

The letter writer

As well as writing books, Beatrix was a great letter writer and wrote to family, friends and fans all over the world.

You can buy a book of her published letters to adults and another of her letters to children.

The farmer

Beatrix made the amazing transformation from a London writer and artist to a Cumbrian farmer, after she bought Hill Top farm. She was most passionate about the local traditional breed of sheep, the Herdwick.

The conservationist

When she died in 1943, Beatrix left 4,000 acres of land, including 15 farms, to the care of the National Trust. Her legacy has helped ensure the survival of the Lakeland landscape and way of life that she loved so well.