Book your tour
Daily at 3pm. Please book your place in advance. Every Thursday time slots will be released for the next 14 days.
Townend
Atmospheric farmhouse full of quirky objects and fascinating stories
Troutbeck, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1LB
Opening times for 18 July 2025
Asset Opening time House 10:00 - 15:00 House (Guided tour) 15:00 - 16:00 Last entry for free flow visit is 2.30pm. Tour only from 3pm.
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Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £11.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £5.50 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £27.50 1 adult, 2 children £16.50 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Car park
Small car park. Designated mobility car park spaces and drop-off point.
- Guided tour
Guided tours at 3pm each day, lasting approximately 45 minutes, these will be themed and allow you exclusive access in a small group of up to 15 people. Tickets must be booked online.
- Toilet
Baby changing facilities are available in the toilets.
Designated mobility car park spaces and drop-off point. Access to cottage garden via a steep slope. Many small steps in the house, including a step at the entrance
- Designated parking
Designated accessible car park space in the car park.
- Steps/uneven terrain
Access to the cottage garden is via a steep slope and there are many small steps in the house, including a step at the entrance.
Townend Car Park - what3words: ///punt.smothered.winded
- By road
From the south exit M6 at junction 36 onto A590. Follow signs for Windermere A591, continue to Troutbeck Bridge. Turn right onto Bridge Lane, turn left onto Holbeck Lane continue for about 300 yards to car park on right. From the north exit M6 at junction 40, take the A66 at roundabout exit onto A592, turn tight on Green Gate, left past The Old Post Office Tea Room and continue to car park.
Parking: 300 yards (274m) along the road from the farmhouse. Not suitable for coaches or campervans. Path leads from the car park to the house.
Sat Nav: LA23 1LE
- By train
Windermere station is 2 ½ miles (4km). Get on a bus 516, 555, 599 to Troutbeck Bridge. Walk 1½ miles (2.4km) along Bridge Lane, approx 33mins. West Coast Main Line services run through Oxenholme the Lake District station. From there, connect to the Northern Lakes line to Windermere station.
- By bus
Stagecoach bus numbers 516, 555, 599 run from and to Windermere train station, alight at Troutbeck Bridge. Walk 1½ miles (2.4km) along Bridge Lane approx 33mins. This is a country lane with no pavement.
- Cycling
National Cycle Network route 6 runs to Windermere and some sections of the route are still to be developed, check the Sustrans website for route information.
Planning your visit
Article
Watch Townend on Hidden Treasures of the National Trust
We’re one of the places featured in series three of BBC Two’s Hidden Treasures of the National Trust. The show goes behind the scenes to hear from the experts who care for the objects and places we look after.
Article
Things to do at Townend
Townend a traditional Lake District farmhouse full of fascinating domestic objects and stories of the family who lived there. Step back in time to the 17th century and learn more about the Browne family and their lives.
Article
Visiting Townend with your dog
Visit Townend with your four-legged friend. Find out where you can and can't take your dog and discover some recommended walking routes.
Highlights
Farmhouse
Seventeenth-century farmhouse and home to the Browne family for 400 years. Full of intricately carved furniture and rare books.
Garden
Informal, cosy, cottage style garden.
Library
The library contains the family’s well-used collection of books, including 45 that are the only remaining copies in the world.
Bank barn
One of the earliest bank barns in Cumbria. The barn is still in agricultural use, it's not open to the public, but you can see it from the garden.
Spotlight events
Taste of Townend - food history brought to life
Join us every Thursday from 12–2:30pm as our living history team recreates 17th-century recipes from the Browne family cookbook. Chat with a volunteer in period costume at the downhouse about these historic dishes.
Watch Hidden Treasures of the National Trust
Tune in to BBC Two or iplayer to see Townend on the second episode. Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's rural retreat near Hawkshead also features in the first episode.
Upcoming events
Find out what seasonal events and activities are taking place at Townend.
Things to see and do
Article
Things to do at Townend
Townend a traditional Lake District farmhouse full of fascinating domestic objects and stories of the family who lived there. Step back in time to the 17th century and learn more about the Browne family and their lives.
Article
Things to do in Troutbeck
Troutbeck is an unusual collection of hamlets that make up a unique village in the Lake District. What will you discover?
Activity
Letters from London
Find out more about the Letters from London display at Townend. Listen to audio of two letters being and read aloud, plus read the transcripts of the dozens of letters that have been conserved in volume five.
Top trails
Trail
Ambleside to Troutbeck walk
From Ambleside go on a circular discovery walk through country lanes, woods and fields. Along the way enjoy views of Lake Windermere, visit Troutbeck village and Townend farmhouse, and climb up to Wansfell Pike for great views of the fells.
Trail
Townend and Troutbeck Valley walk
A 4-mile circular walk through classic Lake District scenery from Brockhole near Lake Windermere, through Troutbeck Valley to visit Townend, a 17th-century farmhouse.
Trail
Windermere to Townend walk
Discover the area around Townend, a 17th-century farmhouse a stone's throw from Lake Windermere.
Trail
Wansfell from Troutbeck walk
A challenging circular trail along old tracks and fields to the craggy top of Wansfell, with outstanding views over Windermere and Ambleside.
Places to stay
Silverthwaite
An inspiring spot looking out over Langdale Valley with Arts and Crafts influenced detail inside.
The Summer House
A cosy house in the old kitchen garden of Wray Castle with views of stunning scenery all around.
High Strawberry Gardens
A simple lakeside retreat for an uplugged holiday, with a jetty to launch your canoe or kayak in Windermere.
Upcoming events
Event
Letters from London
Delve into the Townend archive collection through these fascinating personal letters.
Event
Townend guided tour
Immerse yourself in the history of the Browne family and the objects in the house.
Event
Taste of Townend
Experience living history and learn about food recreated from the 17th century family recipe book.
About Townend
The Brownes of Townend in the Troutbeck Valley were just an ordinary farming family: but their home and belongings bring to life more than 400 years of extraordinary stories. As you approach Townend - a traditional Lake District stone and slate farmhouse, you'll understand why Beatrix Potter described Troutbeck Valley as her favourite.
Once inside, you are welcomed into the farmhouse kitchen with a real fire - burning most afternoons - and a quirky collection of domestic tools. Throughout the house, intricately carved furniture provides a window into the personality of George Browne. The library contains the family’s well-used collection of books, including 45 that are the only remaining copies in the world. Outside, the colourful cottage-style garden is a lovely place to while away some time among the flowers.
Please note that althought the food isn't to be eaten, we do have real food on display containing nuts and flour.
History
Article
History of Townend
Just who were the Browne family? Discover more about the Townend farmhouse, the family who lived here and their position in society.
Support us
Volunteer with us
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with Townend.
Donate to Townend
Help look after an extraordinary collection. By donating today you could be funding conservation work or digitisation projects.
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