Listed today
April 2026
Visitor Experience Assistant (Seasonal)
Application deadline: 11:59pm, Sunday 10 May 2026
Interviews: w/c 18 May 2026
The Wordsworth Trust is looking for a Visitor Experience Assistant to deliver a
fantastic visitor experience across all our front-of-house visitor operations at
Wordsworth Grasmere, our award-winning visitor attraction in the very heart of
Wordsworth Country. This is a varied role, working across Dove Cottage, the
Museum, Café, and Shop. You’ll receive excellent training, the opportunity to
work on your personal development, free entry to events and exhibitions, access
to our state-of-the-art library and archive and discounts in our Café and Shop.
Background
The Wordsworth Trust has been providing a ‘living memorial’ to William
Wordsworth since 1891. We bring together poetry, people, and place in a unique
way – nowhere else can so much of a great writer’s original work still be seen in
the place where it was both written and largely inspired. Through exhibitions,
events, and our work with schools, universities, families, and communities, we
fulfil Wordsworth’s own wish for his poetry to ‘live and do good’.
As a Visitor Experience Assistant, you’ll help bring William Wordsworth’s legacy to
life for over 30,000 visitors annually, creating memorable experiences that
connect people with one of England’s greatest poets. You’ll be responsible for
welcoming all our many visitors to this special site, providing great customer care
in our Café and Shop, and encouraging engagement with Dove Cottage and the
Museum. You will also maintain exceptional presentation and hygiene standards
and do everything possible to maximise sales across all our venues so that profit
can be reinvested in the Wordsworth Trust’s life-enhancing charitable work.
We are committed to addressing the imbalance of equality in the cultural sector.
We particularly welcome applications from candidates who are under-
represented within the sector, including by ethnicity, disability, and socio-
economic background.
Job description
Job title:
Visitor Experience Assistant
Reporting to: Deputy Visitor Experience Manager
Location:
Wordsworth Grasmere (Museum, Dove Cottage, Café, and Shop)
Hours:
Term:
Salary:
37.5 (full time) hours per week. Hours are generally 7.5 each day, 5
days out of 7, between 9.00am and 5.30pm. Some weekend and
bank holiday working will be required.
Fixed term, 15 June until 31 August 2026
£12.71 p/h
Principal duties – operational
• Work seamlessly across our integrated visitor operations, adapting to daily
priorities whilst maintaining consistently high standards.
• Provide an excellent visitor experience through informal conversations and
guided interactions, helping visitors discover personal connections to his
poetry and the surrounding Lake District landscape.
• Proactively engage with visitors and assist with interpretation in the Museum
and Dove Cottage.
• Maintain exceptional standards of presentation across the site.
• Assist with retail duties, such as pricing, stocktake and occasional ordering.
• Assist with the upkeep of the shop, such as tidying, dusting, and restocking.
• Assist in ensuring the safety of the buildings and contents, be aware of
emergency procedures and carry out safe evacuation where necessary.
• Welcome visitors to site on the Front Desk, selling tickets and merchandise,
maximising income through the promotion of Gift Aid, promoting events and
activities happening on site, and help with visitor orientation.
• Assisting with the distribution of surveys.
• Maintain accurate stock records in line with the Wordsworth Trust procedures
and action stock checks as and when directed.
• Assist the smooth operation of the Café, taking orders, serving food and
beverages, and helping in the kitchen with the preparation of food and pot
washing as required.
• Undertake cleaning duties to ensure high standards of presentation and
hygiene at all times.
• Comply with the Wordsworth Trust’s policies and procedures, and particularly
its Food Hygiene Policy, its Health & Safety Policy, and its Financial Control
Procedures.
Principal duties – other
• To undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required.
• To exercise discretion and always respect the need for confidentiality.
• To maintain the Wordsworth Trust’s high standards and reputation at all
times.
Person specification
Essential Desirable
We would like you to have professional experience of
• delivering exceptional standards of visitor
experience
• working as part of a successful team
• working in the heritage or cultural sector
• working in a fast-paced food & beverage or retail
environment
• cash handling and using electronic till based
•
systems
food & beverage best practice including the
production and/or service of high-quality food
and drink
flexible in your approach to the role
We would like you to be
•
• numerate
• an excellent communicator
• able to work confidently with a wide range of
people
• self-motivated
• sales-focussed
• competent in the use of information technology
• a great team player
•
interested in literature, the arts and heritage
We would like you to have
• great enthusiasm and a positive attitude, with the
resilience to maintain high energy levels during
busy periods
• passion for sharing our stories and the ability to
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make everyone feel welcome
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• high standards of cleanliness and hygiene
• an awareness of allergens, Health & Safety
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compliance requirements
• an understanding of commercial drivers in a café
and/or retail environment
• Experience in educational or interpretive roles,
with confidence in making literature and history
accessible to diverse audiences
• knowledge of Cumbria and the Lake District
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Other details
Contract
Fixed term, 15 June to 31 August 2026
Salary
£12.71 p/h
Pension
Defined contribution pension scheme with the People’s Pension.
Hours
37.5 (full time) hours per week. Hours are generally 7.5 each day, 5
days out of 7, between 9.00am and 5.30pm. Some weekend and
bank holiday working will be required.
Holidays
22 days a year, pro rata, plus bank holidays.
Workplace
The Wordsworth Trust’s premises at Wordsworth Grasmere.
Benefits
Discounts in the Wordsworth Grasmere Shop and Café
Comprehensive training including heritage interpretation, food
safety certification, and customer service
Holiday purchase scheme
Free staff parking
Access to Employee Assistance Programme
Opportunity to attend events, exhibitions, and professional
development workshops
Affordable on-site accommodation may be available.
How to apply
Deadline:
10 May 2026, 11:59pm
Interviews:
Expected to take place w/c
18 May 2026
Interviews will take place at Wordsworth
Grasmere.
Please send your application form and
equal opportunities monitoring form to
Caitlin Armstrong, PA to the Director:
c.armstrong@wordsworth.org.uk