Oxenholme

Oxenholme is a village in Cumbria, England, located in the South Lakeland district. It sits just west of Kendal along the A6 road, and lies on the southern edge of the Lake District National Park. The surrounding area is rural: agricultural land, small woodlands, and views of the fells.

Oxenholme is best known for Oxenholme railway station, a major stop on the West Coast Main Line. The station provides national services between London and Scotland and acts as a junction for the branch line to Windermere, connecting the village to the southern Lake District. The railway has historically influenced the settlement’s development, contributing to growth in the 19th and 20th centuries and supporting commuting for local residents.

Historically, the area was part of the county of Westmorland and transferred to Cumbria in the 1974 administrative reorganization. Today, Oxenholme remains a small, largely residential community with local services serving residents and travelers, and it serves as a gateway for visitors heading into the southern Lake District.

The name Oxenholme is believed to derive from Old Norse words for oxen and holm, with holm meaning meadow, islet, or island in a lake.