Guided house tour
Explore the fascinating history of the Browne family, their home and their unusual collection of documents and books. 3pm daily tour. Maximum 15 people. Booking essential.
Townend
Lake DistrictAtmospheric farmhouse full of quirky objects and fascinating stories
Troutbeck, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1LB
Important notice
Townend will be closed over November. Re-opening on the 4th December 2026 for Fridays and Saturdays until the 19th for a Victorian Christmas.
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 11 November 2026
Asset Opening time House Closed House (Guided tour) Closed Last entry to house for free-flow visit 2.30pm. Guided tour must be pre-booked online.
Whole property
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £12.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £6.00 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £30.00 1 adult, 2 children £18.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Car park
Small car park. Designated mobility car park spaces and drop-off point. This car park uses the JustPark app for member check-in and non-member payments. Before your visit, please ensure you have access to the JustPark app and an active account.
Car park - more information- 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.
Guided tour - more information- 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.
- Induction loop
- Narrow corridors
- 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 train
- Windermere station is 2 ½ miles (4km). Get a bus 516, 555, 599 to Troutbeck Bridge, then walk 1½ miles (2.4km) along Bridge Lane (there is no pavement on this section). Or walk using the walking route described in 'Getting here by foot'
- 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. This is a country lane with no pavement.
- Cycling
- National Cycle Network route 6 runs to Windermere, some sections of the route are still to be developed.
- By road
- ** 15–17 June: Access via Bridge Lane only, due to a closure on Holbeck Lane for essential United Utilities works (diversion in place).** 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. *PLEASE NOTE* you can still get to Townend via A592 Patterdale Road (from Windermere) - the Kirkstone Pass road closure starts beyond the Queens Head in Troutbeck.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
- On foot
- Walk from Windermere railway station to Townend using this downloadable walking route (4 miles / 6.4km)
Planning your visit
Christmas at Townend (4,5,11,12,18,19 December)
Join us for a Victorian inspired Christmas in a cosy historic farmhouse. No booking needed, admission on the door.
Article
Things to do at Townend
Townend is a traditional Lake District farmhouse full of fascinating domestic objects and stories of the family who lived there. Step back in time 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 12 generations of the Browne family for 400 years. Full of carved furniture, rare books and farming objects.
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. You can see into the library but not walk through it.
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
Christmas at Townend (4-5, 11-12, 18-19 December)
Step back in time to a Victorian Christmas. The fire is roaring, the house is decked with traditional festive evergreen foliage and the smells of Christmas fill the air. There is festive food on display to feast your eyes on, and our Victorian cooking presentation will be ongoing throughout the day.
Christmas Wreath Making Workshop (11 & 12 December)
Join us in the historic Townend barn to design and create your own natural Christmas wreath to decorate your home this festive season. Booking essential. £55 pp
Things to see and do
Article
Things to do at Townend
Townend is a traditional Lake District farmhouse full of fascinating domestic objects and stories of the family who lived there. Step back in time 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?
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
Christmas wreath making workshop
Join us in the historic Townend barn to design and create your own natural Christmas wreath to decorate your home this festive season.
Event
Christmas music at Townend
Enjoy live festive music from local saxophone duet Take Two, while you explore Townend decorated for Christmas.
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.
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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