Kendal lies just outside the Lake District National Park about ten miles south of Windermere and is the southern gateway to the Lake District. Built largely of grey stone, Kendal received the nickname 'the auld grey town' and was the home of Catherine Parr, the last of Henry VIII's wives. Kendal was granted its market charter in 1189, and it relives those days each year during spring bank holiday when a medieval market with pageantry, music, and entertainment takes over the streets with strolling players, jugglers, and jesters.The town's old cobbled lanes and byways branch off the attractive main street and are peppered with quaint antique and speciality shops. You will also find a number of high street stores in the main pedestrianised shopping area.The 12thC stone ruins of Kendal Castle sit on a hill on the western edge of the town, offering views over the town and the surrounding hills. The town also boasts the largest parish church in Cumbria - Holy Trinity. Set beside the River Kent, this town has much to offer in the way of shopping and restaurants, and its historic buildings, galleries, and museums give depth and meaning to any visit.