Wordsworth Museum
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Visit Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum to immerse yourself in the life and works of William Wordsworth, featuring interactive exhibits and beautiful gardens.
Planning your visit
Wordsworth moved into Dove Cottage in Grasmere in 1799, aged 29, and lived there for eight years — the period in which he wrote most of the poetry he is remembered for, with his sister Dorothy keeping the journal that records the daily life around it, including the daffodils.
The cottage is small, dark and cold, and that is the point: this was a poor household, and the Romantic idea of nature was worked out in it under real conditions.
The museum alongside holds one of the great literary archives — manuscripts, letters, journals and first editions — with Coleridge, De Quincey and the wider circle represented, and it reopened in 2020 after a substantial redevelopment.
Wordsworth's grave is in St Oswald's churchyard a few minutes away.
Grasmere sits in the central Lake District. Allow two hours. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is Wordsworth Museum?
Wordsworth Museum is in Grasmere, United Kingdom. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Wordsworth Museum?
Allow two hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book Wordsworth Museum in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.