The town boasts a fine selection of shopping arcades, can boast two castles, two museums, a host of historical buildings and bridges, fine restaurants, a multitude of public houses.

Kendal is often seen as the Southern gateway to the Lake District, being only around 9 miles from Windermere and around 30 miles from Keswick. The other lakes are all within an hour or two's travelling by car from the town, as are locations for walks and rambles, both gentle and demanding.

Kendal has, at various times in the past, been an important centre for trade and commerce. The town’s traditional trade was in wool, from which the town’s motto “Pannus mihi panis”, literally meaning “wool is my bread” was taken.

There is also a strong link with the footwear industry, Kendal being home to the famous K-Shoes brand up until the factories ceased to operate around 2003. The warehouse on the edge of town now houses one of Kendal’s excellent shopping arcades.

The town’s most famous export must be Kendal Mint Cake. Joseph Wiper came up with the original recipe , and by the time the company was sold to rival mint cake makers Romneys, there were a number of local firms producing their own brands. Kendal’s manufacturing industries all but vanished after the demise of the canal in the 1940’s, with the first few miles of the canal from Kendal onwards being filled in and turned into building land, footpaths and cycle ways.

Today the town is home to a thriving retail sector, with no less than five shopping arcades; K Village, the Westmorland Shopping Centre, Blackhall Yard Shopping arcade, the Elephant Yard and Wainwright’s Yard.

Kendal is home to a number of historically exciting buildings, including the parish church on the river side in Kirkland, a number of houses and office buildings designed and built by renowned local architects, the 14th century Castle Dairy, Kendal Castle and Castle Howe, Abbot Hall Museum, Kendal Museum, a host of churches and chapels and rows of houses built from the 1600’s right through to the present day.

From the Romans, who resided at the camp at Watercrook on the banks of the river Kent, to the Normans who left two castles behind and a church that is only a few feet narrower than the mighty York Minster, to the Elizabethans and the Victorians, who left a wealth of architecture that can only usually be found in larger towns and cities, Kendal is a North Western gem that deserves a visit.

Walking around the town amongst the many building styles can be a seen,which are enjoyed by tens of thousands of tourists and locals alike do so each year.

The layout of the town is characterised by the narrow yards and lanes branching from the main street. It is less than a mile from the boundary of the national Park but is overlooked by the majority of people heading for Windermere and Grasmere.

Kendal Castle, probably late 12th Century, is now a ruin, but worth exploring. From here you can get brilliant views over the town. At Kendal museum an exhibition telling the story of the Castle, its people , and the life of the town. There are displays showing medieval objects, reconstructions of the Castle, computer displays and there are various activities such as coin rubbing.

The Castle was built in the early 1200's as the home of the barons of Kendal. They had a big influence on the development of Kendal. The Parr family is the best known of the baronial families, the most famous member being Katherine Parr, the sixth and last Queen of Henry VIII.

During the Tudor period, the Castle became a ruin, and has remained so ever since. Most of the Castle walls survive along with one of the towers. The manor hall was the most important building in the Castle, and parts of it remain to a significant height. Below are the vaults, two of which stand complete.

In 1897 Kendal Corporation bought Castle Hill for 'public enjoyment', to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. 100 years later, a major project has been carried out involving repairs to the masonry, landscaping, and new information displays on the site and at the Museum.

Castle Hill is a lovely place to walk and picnic, with views in all directions. The lower slopes have wooded walks.