Windermere

Travel Guide
Lake District National Park showing rainforest and a river or creek
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. Ambleside on the northern side has rows of charming boutiques and cafés in Tudor buildings. Stroll through Bowness-on-Windermere to find the The World of Beatrix Potter™ Attraction, where the rooms and gardens depict scenes from her children’s books.

Northwest of the lake lies the village of Grasmere, formerly home to one of England’s greatest poets, William Wordsworth. See his former family houses at Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount 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 Park in the county of Cumbria. Ride a 1-hour train south from Carlisle or drive the 50-mile (80-kilometer) journey. London 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
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ¥14,273 per night from Jun 3 to Jun 4
¥14,273
per night
Jun 3 - Jun 4
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Windermere. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7/10 Good! (405 reviews)
"Need more veggie options for breakfast"

Reviewed on May 8, 2024

The Windermere Hotel
Lakes Hotel and Spa
Lakes Hotel and Spa
4 out of 5
Kendal Road, Bowness, Windermere, England
The price is ¥24,496 per night from May 23 to May 24
¥24,496
per night
May 23 - May 24
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Windermere. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 15 spa tubs. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (826 reviews)
Beautiful hotel
"Lovely little touches such as welcoming you by name through your cat numberplate and Prosecco and a tour of the hotel on arrival. Fabulous staff. Only negative was charging for the car park if you don’t book directly through the hotel."

Reviewed on May 8, 2024

Lakes Hotel and Spa
The Belsfield Hotel
The Belsfield Hotel
4 out of 5
Kendal Road, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere, England
The price is ¥32,958 per night from May 23 to May 24
¥32,958
per night
May 23 - May 24
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Windermere. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,002 reviews)
cracking hotel
"lovely old mr hotel with large public spaces. Lovely old style lift Efficient friendly check in. Conmfortabe bed and catering good"

Reviewed on May 3, 2024

The Belsfield Hotel
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.
Rayrigg Villa Windermere
Rayrigg Villa Windermere
4 out of 5
Ellerthwaite Square, Windermere, England
Stay at this villa in Windermere. Enjoy housekeeping. Popular attractions World of Beatrix Potter and Lake Windermere are located nearby.
8/10 Very Good! (142 reviews)
"What more could you ask for than a property where the supermarket (and many eateries) are around the corner and the bus stop is opposite the front door. Rayrigg is perfectly located, with a bus every 20 mins to take you to the railway station (about a 10 minute walk) or to other towns in the District. ..."

Reviewed on May 5, 2024

Rayrigg Villa Windermere
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 World of Beatrix Potter and Lake Windermere ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (152 reviews)
"Can’t fault the place, our new go too place"

Reviewed on May 7, 2024

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 World of Beatrix Potter and Lake Windermere ...
9/10 Wonderful! (49 reviews)
"We had a great stay here! The property was clean and had everything we needed (hoover, toaster, cutlery etc). It was nice and warm too. Very comfortable bed (no footboard so great for taller guests too). Very pleasant and helpful staff at reception and easy to check in/out. Location is great - walkable ..."

Reviewed on Feb 12, 2024

Hapimag Burnside Park Apartments
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

Things to do

Reviews of Windermere

4.5
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
32
" "5 - Excellent 53.333333333333336%
4 - Good
26
" "4 - Good 43.333333333333336%
3 - Okay
2
" "3 - Okay 3.3333333333333335%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Wendy
Feb 8, 2020

Beautiful, romantic villages with lots of cute places. It is probably crazy crowded in summer so I am happy to see it in the off season. The locals were so friendly and I would recommend a trip there to anyone.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Nov 4, 2019

The region is beautiful, but the towns are more densely developed and populated than we expected

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Oct 11, 2019

Too crowded even in October.

4/5 - Good

George
Sep 5, 2019

Nice small town with plenty of small stores and restaurants

4/5 - Good

SuperMax
Jul 30, 2019

very nice area, amazing lake, a bit overcrowded with tourists

4/5 - Good

Geoff
May 29, 2019

Bank Holiday- a little overcrowded

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