Tabitha Twitchit

Tabitha Twitchit’s Bookshop sits in a 17th-century stone building in Hawkshead, a village in Cumbria’s Lake District. The shop opened in 2025 and takes its name from a cat in Beatrix Potter’s stories who runs a business in the same village. Before becoming a bookshop, the building served as a law office in the 19th century. It was also home to the Beatrix Potter Gallery, run by the National Trust, which displayed original sketches and watercolours by Potter. The gallery closed in 2022, but the building remains closely tied to Potter’s life and work. The bookshop’s connection to Beatrix Potter makes it a special place for visitors. Potter first met her future husband, solicitor William Heelis, in this building when it was his office. The National Trust once displayed original illustrations and artefacts here, though these have since been moved for conservation. Some works have been shown in London and New York, while others are occasionally displayed at Hill Top, Potter’s former home. The building itself is Grade II listed, recognising its historical importance. Inside, the shop offers a quiet space filled with second-hand books. The stone walls and wooden beams give the room a warm, traditional feel. Visitors can browse shelves lined with children’s classics and local interest books. The surroundings include Hawkshead’s cobbled streets and nearby attractions like the National Trust estate of Claife. The village itself has a long history, with Hawkshead Grammar School Museum nearby, adding to its charm.