Windermere Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Windermere which includes café lifestyle, heritage architecture and signage
Lake District National Park which includes rainforest and a river or creek
Windermere
Windermere showing heritage architecture, signage and street scenes
Lake District Visitor Centre at Brockhole which includes forest scenes and a lake or waterhole

Ride a boat around the islands of this scenic lake and visit the charming villages where some of England’s greatest writers lived.

Windermere is England’s largest lake, with spectacular views of the surrounding green hills and valleys. Pleasant villages with museums dedicated to the Lake District’s treasured writers surround the lake, which is 11 miles (17 kilometers) long. Rent a boat to visit some of the lake’s 18 islands.

Cycle along the lake’s perimeter and enjoy the serene ambiance. Find a spot for a picnic with a view of the water. Choose one of the many romantic cruises that take you around the lake. North of the water is Brockhole, the Lake District Visitor Centre, which has wildlife trails and intriguing displays.

Visit some of the quaint villages lining the shores. AmblesideOpens in a new window on the northern side has rows of charming boutiques and cafés in Tudor buildings. Stroll through Bowness-on-WindermereOpens in a new window to find the The World of Beatrix Potter™ AttractionOpens in a new window, where the rooms and gardens depict scenes from her children’s books.

Northwest of the lake lies the village of GrasmereOpens in a new window, formerly home to one of England’s greatest poets, William Wordsworth. See his former family houses at Dove CottageOpens in a new window and Rydal MountOpens in a new window and take a trip to the Wordsworth Museum.

Learn about the many world speed record attempts on the lake. Sir Henry Segrave broke the record in 1930 but later capsized and died of his injuries.

Expect fairly wet and mild weather in Windermere, with August the warmest month. April is the driest time of the year, while snow covers parts of the region in winter. The lake is up to 219 feet (67 meters) deep and just less than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) wide.

The area is in the southeastern part of the Lake District National ParkOpens in a new window in the county of CumbriaOpens in a new window. Ride a 1-hour train south from Carlisle or drive the 50-mile (80-kilometer) journey. LondonOpens in a new window is 280 miles (450 kilometers) south. Get around the lake via passenger ferries and steamers.

Enjoy a Windermere trip with a mixture of relaxing cruises, island visits and strolls through quaint villages.

The Windermere Hotel
The Windermere Hotel
3.5 out of 5
Lake District National Park, Kendal Rd, Windermere, England
The price is NZ$195 per night from 6 Aug to 7 Aug
NZ$195
6 Aug - 7 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Windermere. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
7.2/10 Good! (669 reviews)
Older style hotel in central location.
"Older style hotel in central location. Friendly helpful staff. Basic but clean room."

Reviewed on 4 Jul. 2025

The Windermere Hotel
Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa
Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa
4 out of 5
23 Church Street, Windermere, England
The price is NZ$442 per night from 16 July to 17 July
NZ$442
16 July - 17 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Windermere. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,001 reviews)
Beautiful spot
"The most wonderful stay, was unaware there was a pre-planned surprise awaiting us to celebrate our engagement. Staff were totally professional and I was none the wiser, room was beautiful as was the view!"

Reviewed on 9 Jul. 2025

Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa
Lakes Hotel and Spa
Lakes Hotel and Spa
5 out of 5
Kendal Road, Bowness, Windermere, England
The price is NZ$404 per night from 16 July to 17 July
NZ$404
16 July - 17 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Windermere. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 15 hot tubs. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,076 reviews)
"Beautiful hotel with lovely cocktail bar with sunset outdoor seating. Separate bar and restaurant, spa , our room with an outdoor hot tub and view was a lovely surprise.The welcome by Lauren was exceptional, very attentive bar staff, a perfect stay."

Reviewed on 14 Jul. 2025

Lakes Hotel and Spa
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Kotel Windermere
Kotel Windermere
4.5 out of 5
Lake road, Windermere, England
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Windermere. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Lake Windermere and Windermere Jetty ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (228 reviews)
"Really nice stay"

Reviewed on 15 Jun. 2025

Kotel Windermere
Hapimag Burnside Park Apartments
Hapimag Burnside Park Apartments
4 out of 5
The Lodge, Kendal Road, Windermere, England
Stay at this 4-star golf aparthotel in Windermere. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a health club. Popular attractions Lake Windermere and Bowness Pier are ...
"My family and I had a lovely stay here. We will definitely be back as we enjoyed the location and facilities. Staff was also very helpful"

Reviewed on 5 Jan. 2025

Hapimag Burnside Park Apartments
Rayrigg Villa Windermere
Rayrigg Villa Windermere
4 out of 5
Ellerthwaite Square, Windermere, ENG
Stay at this 4-star villa in Windermere. Enjoy laundry facilities. Popular attractions Lake Windermere and Orrest Head are located nearby.
8/10 Very Good! (154 reviews)
"It was excellent! !"

Reviewed on 25 Jun. 2025

Rayrigg Villa Windermere
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Windermere

4.8
Top destination
5 - Excellent
32
5 - Excellent 76%
4 - Good
10
4 - Good 24%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Jayne

Beautiful location, abundance of restaurants less than 5 minutes drive away

5/5 - Excellent

Kim

Absolutely loved our stay here, so picturesque and peaceful. Will definitely return for a longer stay in the future and do some hikes around the countryside.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Great base location to visit the Lakes District.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Keswick is worth a visit on market day. At high season Bowness and Ambleside are very busy. Get to the pubs early if you want a seat and any food.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Effective combination of nature based tourism and commercial interests.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Must do if visiting Great Britain

Cities near Windermere