Keswick,
literally "the cheese town", is located in England's beautiful northern lakes
district and boasts a population of just 5,000. Over the centuries, Keswick has gone from
being a market center, to a mining center, to a popular tourist destination. The city was
granted a market charter by King Edward I in 1276, and that market continues to this day.
After the discovery of graphite in the local mines, Keswick became the site of the first
pencil industry. Though the mines are no longer operating, the Cumberland Pencil Company
still exists and runs a museum in town. Situated near the northern edge of Derwentwater, it is not difficult to understand Keswick's current incarnation as a tourist destination. The scenery in the area is breathtaking. There are numerous walks and other outdoor activities available for people seeking to revel in the splendor of the surroundings.
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