The Armitt Museum & Library

The Armitt is a museum, gallery and reference library on Rydal Road in the village of Ambleside. It was founded as a subscription library in 1912 and now tells the story of Ambleside, its people and the wider Lakeland area, from Roman occupation through to the twentieth century. Visitors can see Roman remains from the Ambleside fort, Beatrix Potter's fungi watercolours and a collection of paintings by Kurt Schwitters, who lived in the town in his final years. The galleries are fairly compact, and the exhibitions change regularly, so there is usually something new to look at. Families with younger visitors may enjoy spotting the natural history and local objects on display, and the setting makes an easy stop while exploring the town.