Dove Cottage & William Wordsworth Trust - Lake District

Welcome

William Wordsworth is Britain's best-loved poet whose thoughts and writing about man, nature and society are so current they could have been written yesterday.

Discover Wordsworth's amazing life by visiting Dove Cottage and exploring the riches of the Wordsworth Trust collection in the Museum.

In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl who wrote Frankenstein

This exhibtion making the bicentenary of Frankenstein's publication, based on the book by Fiona Sampson, explores how Mary Shelley became the person who wrote the famous novel.

Have a look at our exhibition page to find out more

Dove Cottage

A former inn called 'The Dove & Olive Bough', Dove Cottage was Wordsworth's first family home. He moved in with his sister, Dorothy in 1799.

Step inside to get a sense of that time: stone floors, dark panelled rooms, glowing coal fires and the family’s own belongings. Little has changed in the house since the Wordsworths lived here.

Reimagining Wordsworth

We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded a grant of £4.1 million to our project Reimagining Wordsworth.

With their help and that of many other generous funders, including the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund, Wordsworth’s story will be brought into the 21st century.

Have a look at our project website to find out more.

What's on

Worldmakers: Sarah Corbett, Emily Hasler, Alice Miller

Poetry events 26
May 2018

Family Yoga

The Foyle Room, opposite Dove Cottage

Family activities 29
May 2018

Outdoor Explorer Thursdays

The Family Room in The Wordsworth Museum

Family activities 31
May 2018

Must-see when you visit

The Jerwood Centre

The Jerwood Centre is where our collection is stored under controlled conditions and cared for. If you would like to be shown around please phone before you arrive to check that someone is available.

Dove Cottage garden

Stroll around the Wordsworths' 'domestic slip of mountain'

Wordsworth's skates

Wordsworth enjoyed skating on the frozen lakes of the county in the depths of winter. Two very different pairs of his skates survive and can be seen during your visit.

Wordsworth's tea caddy

Tea was so precious that it was kept in a locked box like this one and Dorothy Wordsworth wrote that it was used at least twice. See if you can find it on your visit.

Become a Friend

Become a Friend of the Wordsworth Trust and enjoy free entry, free parking, special events and priority booking.

Gifts inspired by Wordsworth

Dove Cottage by Stephen Hebron

£19.95

Buy now

Wordsworth Trust

Welcome to Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum