Term time Thursday mornings from 10.15-11.15am.

These early-years sessions are designed to encourage little ones to be creative and playful. Each themed morning is a mixture of songs, stories and play based learning inspired by William’s poetry, Dorothy’s journal and their lives at Dove Cottage over 200 years ago. For families with children age 0-4yrs.

September Location: The Sensory Garden, Wordsworth Grasmere, LA22 9SH

Autumn/Winter Location: The Learning Space, Wordsworth Grasmere, LA22 9SH

How to book: Free for all families – just turn up! We thank Grasmere School & Nursery for supporting this event.

Thursday 10 September: Sticks and Branches
Thursday 17 September: Favourite Things
Thursday 24 September: Nocturnal Animals
Thursday 1 October: From Cottage to Castles
Thursday 8 October: Moon and Stars
Thursday 15 October: Travel and Transport
Thursday 22 October: Busy, Busy Autumn
Thursday 5 November
Thursday 12 November
Thursday 19 November
Thursday 26 November
Thursday 3 December
Thursday 10 December
Thursday 17 December

Are you ready for a spooky Halloween? Join us for hot chocolate, gingerbread, and Halloween crafts in our cosy Learning Space. Children will have fun dressing up in Georgian costumes while learning about the Wordsworths and hearing some of their writing. At twilight we’ll all head over to Dove Cottage and listen to some spooky Cumbrian stories – perfect for a special Halloween in the Lake District!

For families with children aged 5+ (younger siblings can also be booked onto this session). Children £10, adults £5.

Please note that the fire in Dove Cottage may be lit during this event.

Term time Thursday mornings from 10.15-11.15am.

These early-years sessions are designed to encourage little ones to be creative and playful. Each themed morning is a mixture of songs, stories and play based learning inspired by William’s poetry, Dorothy’s journal and their lives at Dove Cottage over 200 years ago. For families with children age 0-4yrs.

September Location: The Sensory Garden, Wordsworth Grasmere, LA22 9SH

Autumn/Winter Location: The Learning Space, Wordsworth Grasmere, LA22 9SH

How to book: Free for all families – just turn up! We thank Grasmere School & Nursery for supporting this event.

Thursday 10 September: Sticks and Branches
Thursday 17 September: Favourite Things
Thursday 24 September: Nocturnal Animals
Thursday 1 October: From Cottage to Castles
Thursday 8 October: Moon and Stars
Thursday 15 October: Travel and Transport
Thursday 22 October: Busy, Busy Autumn
Thursday 5 November
Thursday 12 November
Thursday 19 November
Thursday 26 November
Thursday 3 December
Thursday 10 December
Thursday 17 December

‘Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?’
― Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

A spellbinding evening of Gothic tales in candlelit Dove Cottage.

Discover the origins of modern horror and fantasy fiction in this bewitching storytelling event. This time the theme is MONSTERS: the human and inhuman monsters of Gothic horror, with a focus on those found in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and The Last Man and the works that inspired them.

The evening begins with a themed tour of Ghost Story! Into the Gothic Imagination. Find out about the monsters and monstrous in the books, manuscripts and artworks in the exhibition, including characters from works by Mary Shelley and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. After exploring the exhibition, gather around the hearth in Dove Cottage for performed readings from some of these terrifying tales.

Your ticket includes seasonal cake and a glass of non-alcoholic hot spiced cordial (Vegan/GF options available). We encourage you to get into the Gothic spirit and dress for the occasion! This special event is designed for adults, with a total group size of no more than 12 people.

Please note that the fire in Dove Cottage may be lit during this event.

If these events sell out we may add an additional date – if you would like to express interest please send us an email at enquiries@wordsworth.org.uk or join the waiting list on TryBooking.

Photo credit: Caroline Robinson

The Dove Cottage Young Poets was set up in 2013 by the Education Team at Wordsworth Grasmere and is a group of young people age 13 to 19 who meet fortnightly online to read, discuss and write poetry with Cumbrian poet Katie Hale. The group looks at a range of contemporary and historical poems each session and creates their own work in response.

In early 2020 and again in 2023 the group created a range of new work in response to Wordsworthian themes and these poems and video clips are now on show in the Museum at Wordsworth Grasmere. Katie Hale provides creative and engaging workshops and guides the young people onto a path of performance and publication, encouraging the young people to attend and perform in a range of events including, the Brewery Poets and Kendal Poetry Festival. This Autumn the group will be working on poetry that builds towards the 2027 ‘Out of Tune’ exhibition at Wordsworth Grasmere which explores the Climate Crisis.

If you know a young person age 13-19 who lives in (or near) Cumbria and would like to join the Dove Cottage Young Poets please email Zoe McLain to education@wordsworth.org.uk

Are you ready for a spooky Halloween? Join us for hot chocolate, gingerbread, and Halloween crafts in our cosy Learning Space. Children will have fun dressing up in Georgian costumes while learning about the Wordsworths and hearing some of their writing. At twilight we’ll all head over to Dove Cottage and listen to some spooky Cumbrian stories – perfect for a special Halloween in the Lake District!

For families with children aged 5+ (younger siblings can also be booked onto this session). Children £10, adults £5.

Please note that the fire in Dove Cottage may be lit during this event.

Sit down with a cup of tea and talk about poetry in a lively group hosted by poet Polly Atkin.

Share your thoughts and ideas about a selection of classic and contemporary poems inspired by the changing seasons and current events.

These friendly poetry evenings are for poetry enthusiasts and poetry beginners alike.

Discover Poetry currently takes place on Zoom. Email enquiries@wordsworth.org.uk to be added to the mailing list. Joining information is emailed a few days before each meeting.

Are you ready for a spooky Halloween? Join us for hot chocolate, gingerbread, and Halloween crafts in our cosy Learning Space. Children will have fun dressing up in Georgian costumes while learning about the Wordsworths and hearing some of their writing. At twilight we’ll all head over to Dove Cottage and listen to some spooky Cumbrian stories – perfect for a special Halloween in the Lake District!

For families with children aged 5+ (younger siblings can also be booked onto this session). Children £10, adults £5.

Please note that the fire in Dove Cottage may be lit during this event.

‘Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?’
― Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

A spellbinding evening of Gothic tales in candlelit Dove Cottage.

Discover the origins of modern horror and fantasy fiction in this bewitching storytelling event. This time the theme is MONSTERS: the human and inhuman monsters of Gothic horror, with a focus on those found in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and The Last Man and the works that inspired them.

The evening begins with a themed tour of Ghost Story! Into the Gothic Imagination. Find out about the monsters and monstrous in the books, manuscripts and artworks in the exhibition, including characters from works by Mary Shelley and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. After exploring the exhibition, gather around the hearth in Dove Cottage for performed readings from some of these terrifying tales.

Your ticket includes seasonal cake and a glass of non-alcoholic hot spiced cordial (Vegan/GF options available). We encourage you to get into the Gothic spirit and dress for the occasion! This special event is designed for adults, with a total group size of no more than 12 people.

Please note that the fire in Dove Cottage may be lit during this event.

If these events sell out we may add an additional date – if you would like to express interest please send us an email at enquiries@wordsworth.org.uk or join the waiting list on TryBooking.

Photo credit: Caroline Robinson

Step back in time and discover the origins of Gothic horror at this magical Halloween event. This October we’re throwing open our doors after dark and inviting you to do something different on the most haunted night of the year.

Taking inspiration from our current exhibition Ghost Story! Into the Gothic Imagination, we’re bringing the spooky side of Regency England to life, with activities and special tours inspired by the works of writers like Mary Shelley, Lord Byron and Samuel Taylor Coleridge…

• Dove Cottage: Visit this candlelit historic house and discover the origins of one of the earliest vampire stories.
• Museum: Explore our immersive Gothic exhibition with an expert guide and take a deep dive into the stories behind the precious objects on display.
• Library & archive: Take a seat in our beautiful library and be transported to a distant land with Gothic poetry performances.
• Get creative: Drop in to a led creative writing session in the Café and get started on your own Gothic tale – or pop into the Museum galleries and craft your own Gothic accessories.
• Dress up: We invite you to attend in your Halloween best – but you are also welcome to borrow some of our Regency accessories and channel the Gothic writers!
• Café: Visit our Halloween pop-up bar in the Café, where alcoholic and soft drinks will be available as well as light refreshments and seasonal hot drinks.
• Shop: A range of Gothic novels, accessories and gifts will be available for purchase in our Shop.

If you’re looking for an alternative to the usual Halloween events, or perhaps a warm up to get you in a spooky mood, you’re in the right place! The programme for the evening is a combination of drop-in activities and repeating tours and performances, so you will be able to plan your night to ensure that you are able to shape your evening as you choose. This event is most suitable for those over the age of 16, but families with younger teens and children are very welcome to join in the fun.

Access

Wristbands will be issued on arrival, ensuring that you can come and go from different areas of Wordsworth Grasmere at your leisure.

Five free tickets are available for those experiencing financial hardship who would otherwise not be able to attend. This is on a first come first served basis with no questions asked about your situation.

Accompanying carers/personal assistants are admitted free of charge; please select the ‘1 Standard Ticket plus Free Carer/Personal Assistant’ option when making a booking.

Access information for Wordsworth Grasmere can be found here. Please note that the fire in Dove Cottage may be lit during this event.