Whitehaven is a place too little spoken of and worse known, which is a great shame. This is one of the 40 ‘gem towns’ of England, with a fascinating history, terrific attractions, and wonderful architecture. There was a small Roman fort just north of the town at Parton, but the important period for Whitehaven was the Georgian era, when the local coal and iron deposits saw boom-times for its deepwater port – the Haig Colliery mining museum, based in a pit that closed in 1986, illustrates part of that story. It was in this period that the Lowther family quite literally shaped so much of the town: Whitehaven remains probably the finest example of a planned Georgian town, built on a grid-iron system that some believe was the inspiration for New York’s own. The links with America don’t end there: John-Paul Jones, great naval hero of the War of Independence either, according to your allegiance, carried out a daring raid on the significant merchant fleet sheltering in the harbour, or brought most of his ship The Ranger’s crew ashore to get hugely drunk in the waterside pubs before staggering back aboard, burning a collier vessel on the way. Another link to that time is that George Washington’s grandmother, Mildred Warner Gale, was from the town and was buried in St Nicholas’s churchyard. The sea was and still is of great importance to Whitehaven: the Beacon Museum near the harbour tells the story of the ships built there and the town’s trading days. One appetising aspect of that trade is the Rum Story told in the elegant Georgian premises of the Jefferson family who were great figures in this business, the English trade in it once centring on Whitehaven – hence the Cumberland rum butter that originated in Whitehaven. There is now an excellent marina in Whitehaven, and the town hosts a tall ships race every other year. The harbour is a good place for a stroll, and can be a great place for fishing, the mackerel biting positively suicidally at some times of year. If you can’t arrive by tall ship or yacht then the roads are good, especially along the coast. It is also a start or end to the C2C cycle route for those so inclined. But a more comfortable and convenient method of reaching Whitehaven is the Cumbrian Coast railway line, running between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, whose route provides some beautiful scenery both north and south of the town.
Attraction
Haig Colliery Mining Museum
Rum Story
The Beacon
Whitehaven Marine Adventures
Budget
Premier Inn Whitehaven *book online*
Care Home
Classes
Club
Council
Dentist
Queen Street Dental Practice
Roper Street Dental Practice
Doctor
22 Irish Street
Catherine Street Surgery
Church Street Surgery
Flatt Walks Health Centre
Lowther Medical Centre
Estate Agent
Bairstow Eves North West
General Accident Property Services
Mitchells Lakeland Properties
Golf Club
Market
Whitehaven Country Market
Whitehaven Market
Performing Arts
Cowper School Of Dancing
Rosehill Theatre
Solway Civic Theatre
West Lakeland Orchestra Society
Whitehaven Male Voice Choir
Pub and Bar
Anchor Vaults
Barra Jacks
Brewers Arms
Captain Senny's
Glasshouse
John Paul Jones
Lion
Puncheon Inn
The Wellington
Vine
Wellington
Welsh Arms
Whittington Cat
Restaurant
Brewers Arms
C J’s Steak Bar
Casa Romana Italian Restaurant
Zest Harbourside
Solicitor
Taxi
A2B Taxis
Ajax Cab Co
C J Taxis
Eddies Taxis
S & L Cabs
White-Line Taxis
Theatre
Rosehill Theatre
Solway Civic Theatre
Vet
Sports Clubs
Kells ARLFC (Rugby League)
West Cumbria (Men's Hockey)
Whitehaven CC (Cricket)
Whitehaven Judo Club (Martial Arts)
Whitehaven RLFC (Rugby League)
Shops
Flowers 4 Ever
Boots
Breeders Choice
Dorothy Perkins
W Fare Ltd
Bates Opticians Ltd
Shooz N Sox Ltd
Charlies Co
Thorntons
Peacocks
Georgian Coffee House
La Venue
Westminster Cafe Bar
The Chicken Shop
Haighs Ltd
Donaldsons Butchers Ltd
Mirehouse Pharmacy
Whitehaven Garden Centre
Home Flair Ltd
Activities
Angling & Outdoor(Fishing)
Places to Stay near Whitehaven
Premier Inn Whitehaven (2.01 miles)
Littlebeck Warren (3.04 miles)
Inglewood Guest House (3.22 miles)
Ennerdale Country House Htl (4.02 miles)
The luxury of this hotel makes it an ideal base both for families and those seeking an enjoyable romantic weekend Whether you are visiting the area on business or pleasure you ... More
Manor House Hotel (4.06 miles)
The Manor House Hotel is situated in the heart of the beautiful seaside village St. Bees. Our location is ideal for walking (the start of the Coast to Coast walk ... More
Rowrah Hall (5.05 miles)
Ellerbeck Manor (5.47 miles)
Hunday Manor Country House Hotel (5.79 miles)
Delightfully situated and enjoying distant views of the Solway Firth. A large garden to relax in. This charming hotel has comfortable rooms that are well-furnished. Some of the spacious rooms have been ... More
Cumberland Lodge (5.93 miles)
Waverley Hotel (6.64 miles)
The Waverley Hotel, Workington, offers quality, exceptional value accommodation with a wide variety of room styles. The Waverley Hotel is situated in the historic coastal town of Workington, Cumbria.
The Waverley Hotel ... More | visit website
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