Visit Derwent Pencil Museum with our Great Savings Guide

Take a family-friendly trip and discover everything there is to know about graphite at this highly educational museum

I love a quirkily named museum, me. 

And up there, along with Scotland’s Devil’s Porridge Museum and the sadly now-defunct Museum of Celebrity Leftovers, is the Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick.

Housed in a low factory-style building (look for the vintage delivery van outside), visitors enter through an atmospherically dim replica mine, emerging to follow the story of the humble pencil from its invention to mass production – and why Cumbria was at the epicentre of its history.

You’ll learn how local shepherds discovered graphite by chance and, disappointed that it wouldn’t burn, used it instead to mark their sheep. Or why this mineral then became more valuable than gold, to the point that its theft and illicit trade created the original ‘black market’. And how local production evolved from cottage industry to factory scale – with over 14 stages of manufacturing for just one pencil.

Most fascinating of all is the story of how one local firm was commissioned by MI6's real-life Q to produce a secret pencil during World War II that concealed a map and compass for British servicemen to use in escapes.

Gallery

There are plenty of quirky exhibits to wonder at, from tiny carved sculptures on graphite tips to the World’s largest colouring pencil and various commemorative souvenirs – including one made for the Queen’s last Jubilee with a crown of 60 diamonds in place of an eraser. 

Visitors get a commemorative pencil of their own, doubling as an entry ticket, and a quiz sheet to complete for further prizes. A bright educational area with tables to work on is available. And not just for children – on my visit I met a honeymooning couple happily colouring their day away.

Between exhibits, old factory machinery and interactive video screens, the walls double as gallery space for framed pencil artwork, much of which is available to buy.

And if you feel inspired to create your own, the well-stocked shop will meet your needs, with everything from pencil sets to how-to-draw-a-dragon books. Even the colourful cafe is pencil themed, and you can pretend you only bought the cake to practice sketching it.

I could write so much more, but I’ve got to draw the line somewhere.

The Derwent Pencil Museum – it's a good point, well made.

Members receive a 10% discount on standard entry with the Great Savings Guide. Find out more here.

Stay at: Borrowdale, Troutbeck Head Club campsites

Please visit camc.com/greatsavingsguide for vouchers, discount codes, and pre-booking where applicable, along with terms and conditions for all offers. Make sure to check the site and attraction opening dates and times before your visit or travel.