Take a Beatrix Potter trail of Britain
Hop to it with Peter Rabbit’s top spots around the UK
Who doesn’t love the tales of Peter Rabbit and the wonderful world created by Beatrix Potter? First published in 1902, The Tale of Peter Rabbit went on to sell 45 million copies worldwide and 122 years later, visitors still flock to the Lake District which so inspired her. Here are the top Beatrix Potter spots to put on your wish-list:
Wray
Beatrix grew up in London and would spend summers in the country with her family. When she was 16, they visited the Lake District, staying at Wray near Ambleside. She began to sketch the landscape and met Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, who became her mentor and encouraged her to publish her stories. Owned by the National Trust, the castle is on the shores of Lake Windermere, visit nationaltrust.org.uk
Hill Top
The most famous Beatrix Potter site is Hill Top, which she bought in 1905 after The Tale of Peter Rabbit was a success. In Near Sawrey, it’s here where she based her stories of Tom Kitten, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Samuel Whiskers and Pigling Band. Filled with treasures, it’s run by the National Trust and is extremely popular, so book ahead. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk
Beatrix Potter Gallery
The National Trust also runs the Beatrix Potter Gallery, in the 17th century building in Hawkshead that was formerly the office of Beatrix’s solicitor husband William Heelis. See her illustrations and artefacts here, nationaltrust.org.uk
The Armitt
The Armitt museum in Ambleside is dedicated to the heritage of the Lake District and Beatrix Potter was an early supporter. They have a large collection of her work and this year’s exhibition is Beatrix Potter: Under the Microscope, showing her illustrations of mushrooms. Visit armitt.com
World of Beatrix Potter
Families with little kids will love The World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness-on-Windermere which brings to life her tales, with walk-through scenes, interactive displays and a theatre. Visit hop-skip-jump.com
Yew Tree
One of the many farms owned by Beatrix and her husband was Yew Tree Farm in Coniston. This was the location used as Hill Top Farm in the movie Miss Potter with Renee Zellweger. Built in 1690, it’s still a working farm and you can visit for farm experiences, or stay, yewtree-farm.com
The Lingholm Estate
Beatrix was a regular visitor to The Lingholm Estate, Derwent Water and its walled kitchen garden is said to have inspired Mr McGregor’s garden. The current owners have restored the garden and have holiday homes on the grounds, thelingholmestate.co.uk
Victoria and Albert Museum
When she was young, Beatrix would visit London’s Victoria and Albert Museum to study and copy drawings and now it holds the world’s biggest collection of Beatrix Potter drawings, letters and manuscripts including The Peter Rabbit Picture Letter which features him for the first time. Visit vam.ac.uk