Pictures of Workington

in the county of Cumbria

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About Workington

Ancient market town of quintessential English charm, where you could easily swap the modern day cars parked in gracious tree-lined avenues for the horse and carriage of Victorian times, so well would they fit with the town's beautiful buildings.

This lovely town is twice blest; it lies on the lovely Cumbrian coast where cliffs rise like fortresses from the sea and is backed by the towering peaks of the Lake District National Park, a landscape of diverse charm and beauty. From looking around it is hard to believe that this was once an industrial heartland, a centre for iron, coal and steel. Historically, the town played an important role in the Industrial Revolution for it was here that Henry Bessamer revolutionised the making of steel by introducing a new manufacturing process which in a short time was adopted all over the country and in other parts of the world. The old industries for which the town was known have died away and newer industry, more commensurate with the demands of the times have taken over, hence the town remains a prosperous place in which to live.

Further back in time, Mary, Queen of Scots sought sanctuary at Workington Hall, a magnificent estate which today is but a faded ruin. The house has an illustrious history and on a visit, it is easy to visualise the glorious place it once was. It was from here that Queen Mary wrote to Queen Elizabeth I, the letter is in the British Museum. Sadly, Mary's arrival here ended her freedom and the room in which she stayed lies in ruins. However, the house is open to the public and makes a tremendously rewarding day out for all the family. All manner of events are held here including the famous Curwen medieval fair which stages a Shakespearean pageant and operas.

Church history is well served in the town - there has been a place of worship here since the 7th-century. St. Michael's church originated in the 12th-century but was replaced late in the 18th-century. It is a magnificent church with a superb Norman tower decorated with turrets and intricate pinnacles. Amazing stained glass windows fill the church with glowing shades of light in which to view its many treasures. The town's other church is St.John's which was built in 1823 to celebrate The Battle of Waterloo.

A fascinating feature of Workington is the Helena Thompson Museum. The lady was a well known member of the community and philanthropist, on her death she bequeathed the museum to the people of the town. The building contains, clothes, furniture and other mementoes of her life including; silver, pottery and glass.

Few legacies of the town's rich mining heritage exist, however the remains of Jane Pit, built by Henry Curwen in the 19th-century at Mossbay is open to public view. It is one of the best surviving examples of the ornate castellated style of colliery and is listed as an important ancient monument.

With opportunities to see so much of interest from the past it is not surprising to find visitors are making their way to Workington for its growing status of a resort town with easy access to many other attractive places of interest. Workington offers an excellent choice of accommodation, historic inns, restaurants, excellent shopping facilities including atmospheric antique centre's and picture galleries. Wordsworth House, birthplace of poet William Wordsworth at Cockermouth on the edge of The Lake District is within reasonable driving distance, as are many charming villages and golden sandy beaches.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Workington

Maryport Lighthouse	(5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction N)	Pictures
Wordsworth House	(7.1 miles, 11.5 km, direction E)	Pictures
Cockermouth Castle	(7.4 miles, 11.8 km, direction E)	Pictures
Lorton Vale	(8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction E)	Pictures
St. Bees Lighthouse	(9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction SW)	Pictures
St Bees Head	(10.4 miles, 16.7 km, direction S)	Pictures
Ennerdale Water	(10.6 miles, 17.0 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Crummock Water	(11.2 miles, 18.1 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Trotters World of Animals	(12.9 miles, 20.7 km, direction E)	Pictures
Whinlatter Forest Park	(13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction E)	Pictures
Derwentwater	(16.2 miles, 26.1 km, direction E)	Pictures
Lees Scar Lighthouse	(16.4 miles, 26.4 km, direction N)	Pictures
Derwent Island House	(16.5 miles, 26.6 km, direction E)	Pictures
Skiddaw Forest	(16.9 miles, 27.2 km, direction E)	Pictures
The Bowder Stone	(17.2 miles, 27.7 km, direction SE)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Workington

Maryport, in the county of Cumbria (5.3 miles, 8.6 km, direction N)
Today, first and foremost Maryport is a splendid resort town on the beautiful Solway coast, it is steeped in the maritime history of two thousand years of sea.
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Whitehaven, in the county of Cumbria (6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction S)
This attractive, historic Cumbrian resort owes much to the ingenuity of the Lowther family, who developed Whitehaven as a port for shipping and the export of Cumbrian coal.
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Cockermouth, a Historic Market Town in the county of Cumbria (7.1 miles, 11.5 km, direction E)
Cockermouth is ideally placed to be used as a centre for touring the Lake District National Park. It has a High Street seemingly unaltered, and is ringed by some of the finest scenery in England.
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Loweswater, in the county of Cumbria (9.7 miles, 15.5 km, direction SE)
Loweswater is centred in a landscape of grandeur, it is surrounded by Mellbreak Fell, Carling Knott Fell and Burnbank Fell, all excellent climbing and walking country giving views of a mountainous landscape reflected in sun-kissed pewter waters.
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St Bees, in the county of Cumbria (10.6 miles, 17.0 km, direction S)
St.Bees, the most westerly coastal village on the wild cumbrian coast, is a vision of loveliness.
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Buttermere, in the county of Cumbria (12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction SE)
Even when swirling mist rolls in over the stark fells surrounding Buttermere, the little hamlet remains serene in its simplicity and beauty.
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Bassenthwaite, in the county of Cumbria (14.3 miles, 23.0 km, direction E)
This is the most northerly of all the lakes, it resembles beaten silver nestling between the sun dappled heights of soaring fells...
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Silloth, in the county of Cumbria (16.8 miles, 27.1 km, direction NE)
Silloth lies at one of the widest points along the estuary, it was established as a harbour for coastal shipping during the 19th-century.
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Wasdale Head, in the county of Cumbria (16.9 miles, 27.1 km, direction SE)
Vast, lonely landscape of towering fells, jewel like streams and tarns situated at the head of the Wasdale Valley with the mighty Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain and Great Gable forming an almost uniformity range of mountains in the distance.
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Grange in Borrowdale, in the county of Cumbria (17.0 miles, 27.4 km, direction SE)
A picturesque village in the Borrowdale valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in England.
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Keswick, in the county of Cumbria (17.0 miles, 27.4 km, direction E)
Keswick is a pretty Market Town that nestles between the spectacular Skiddaw Mountains and the northern end of the serene...
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Nether Wasdale, in the county of Cumbria (17.1 miles, 27.6 km, direction SE)
Nether Wasdale lies opposite Wasdale Head at the western fringe of Wast Water.
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Seatoller, a Picturesque Village in the county of Cumbria (17.6 miles, 28.3 km, direction SE)
Seatoller, set in one of the most beautiful and exciting landscapes to be found in the lakes, gains its prosperity as a centre for climbers and walkers.
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Castlerigg, in the county of Cumbria (17.8 miles, 28.7 km, direction E)
Castlerigg is a favoured destination for tourists, it is easily accessible from the market town of Keswick and is within easy reach of the snaking waters of the pretty River Greta, picturesque becks and fells.
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Rosthwaite, in the county of Cumbria (17.9 miles, 28.8 km, direction SE)
Small as Rosthwaite may be, it has magic and serenity coupled with some of the most unforgettable sights in the Lake District National Park
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Nearby travel help

Workington Station	(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)
Harrington Station	(2.4 miles, 3.8 km, direction S)
M6 Junction 41	(30.3 miles, 48.7 km, direction E)
M6 Junction 42	(30.6 miles, 49.3 km, direction NE)
Isle of Man Airport	(58.4 miles, 93.9 km, direction SW)
Blackpool Airport	(63.5 miles, 102.2 km, direction S)
Workington to London	(259.2 miles, 417.1 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Workington

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Workington center
Waverley Hotel	(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)
Hunday Manor Country House Hotel	(2.0 miles, 3.2 km, direction SE)
The Melbreak Country Hotel	(2.8 miles, 4.5 km, direction E)
Broughton Craggs Hotel	(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction E)
Shepherds Hotel	(6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction E)
Allerdale Court Hotel	(7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction E)
Ennerdale Hotel	(9.3 miles, 15.0 km, direction S)
Armathwaite Hall Hotel	(12.7 miles, 20.4 km, direction E)
The Castle Inn Hotel	(14.2 miles, 22.9 km, direction E)
Highfield Hotel & Restaurant	(16.4 miles, 26.5 km, direction E)
All hotels in Workington