Lake Windermere
Lake Windermere: Hours, Address, Lake Windermere Reviews: 4.5/5
Lake Windermere
Lake Windermere
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
More than ten miles in length, Windermere is England's largest lake that offers a wide variety of summer recreation including cruises, fishing, boating, sailing and scuba diving.
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Top ways to experience Lake Windermere
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
156 within 5 kms

Boardwalk Bar & Grill
493
0.1 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Bar • British • Grill

Folk Tap
283
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Brew Pub • Bar • Cafe

Jackson's Bistro
2,348
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • European • British • Vegetarian Friendly

The Easy Breeze Piano Bar & Restaurant
264
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Bar • Pizza • International

Hole in t' Wall
1,670
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Bar • British • Pub

Porto Restaurant
2,616
0.4 km₹₹₹₹ • European • British • Contemporary

The Country Hut
335
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Cafe • International • British

Villa Positano
1,800
0.4 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Italian • Pizza • Mediterranean

Graze
337
0.6 km₹ • Cafe • Contemporary • Fusion

Shahib's
1,697
0.5 km₹₹ - ₹₹₹ • Indian • Asian • Fusion
Attractions
73 within 10 kms

St Martin's Church
73
0.4 kmChurches & Cathedrals

The Lakes Gallery
26
0.4 kmArt Galleries

The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction
2,820
0.5 kmSpeciality Museums • Children's Museums

Old Laundry Theatre
77
0.5 kmTheatres

Brant Fell Above the Bustle
166
1.2 kmHiking Trails

Windermere Jetty, Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories
186
0.9 kmSpeciality Museums

Blackwell - The Arts & Crafts house
832
2.2 kmHistoric Sites • Art Museums

Orrest Head
1,720
3 kmHistoric Walking Areas • Lookouts

Claife Viewing Station
173
1.7 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Holehird Gardens
471
4.1 kmGardens
Contribute
Popular mentions
4.5
4,098 reviews
Excellent
3,016
Very good
867
Average
154
Poor
33
Terrible
28
Footprints823830
Manchester, UK11 contributions
Jan 2022
Stayed over new year. In February I went on a cloud free sunny day and it was stunning to see it crystal clear with the Langdale Pikes in the background
Written 24 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
robnh61
Stockport, UK1,555 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
We took the cruiser from lakeside to Bowness which meanders up the lake at a leisurely pace. There is some stunning scenery, as well as some fabulous houses to see.
There are also some lovely walks from various points
There are also some lovely walks from various points
Written 14 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Wayne T
Chorley, UK27 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Lovely views and well worth the visit but watch out for the pay and display car parks the pay machines are a nightmare, 10 mins stood waiting to get a ticket! Make it simple Windermere council!!
Written 5 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
steve H
1 contribution
May 2022 • Couples
Was too busy and couldn't get parked as it was about 12.30 recommend you go very early to get parked
Written 2 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Shail P
Chicago, IL134 contributions
May 2022
We took a boat ride from Bowness-on-Windermere to Ambleside that allowed us to see the natural beauty of the lake as well as the towns and settlements surrounding it. Ambleside is a quaint town with many historic sites, stores and restaurants. Definitely worth it!
Written 1 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jennifer L
Manchester, UK3 contributions
May 2022
Great bus tour with Lisa at Mountain Goat, and amazing views of the Lakes, need to go again! Not much veggie options in Windermere, hope to to try out Bowness restaurants next time.
Written 31 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
PTW7
201 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Such a vast lake and so beautiful. There’s so many places to eat, drink, relax and take in the views. Lots of watersports activities too. Can’t wait to visit again.
Written 25 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Hong
Birmingham, UK16 contributions
May 2022
Been to this lake many times, walking, sailing, boating, all have a wonderful experience.. langdale seen on the lake like sleeping beauty lying by the lake
Written 24 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
GPTLebu
Droitwich, UK1,208 contributions
May 2022
We visited on the 3rd Tuesday in May .The scenic views over the lake and from the very pleasant walks around it are simply hard to beat One of the best Lakes for me ,if not the best!
Written 24 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Annabel
2 contributions
Me and my friend are coming to Lake Windermere and the surrounding area for a few days. We enjoy hiking but i have back injury at the moment so not looking for anything to intense! We also are interested in the villages and other things local to the area! Any suggestions?
acocallis
North Shields, UK63 contributions
It is flat around the lake so no problem walking, the shops are pretty flat as well. We were only there for the day so can't help you with the hills
I'll be staying 2 hours away from Windermere and want to make sure I have time to get there, explore, and get home before it gets too late. How long does it take to explore this area?
Amanda H
Youlgreave, UK27 contributions
There is more than enough to occupy you for a week depending on your interests! I suggest you contact Windermere tourist information centre website and select 1 activity that makes your fancy. Can't go wrong with a boat trip though.
lorilou-190
Macclesfield, UK59 contributions
Can you take dogs on the motor boats?
yes, dogs are welcome aboard our self drive motor boats but we do advise you to keep them on a short lead at all times

Fred Appleton-Kerry-Eed
Serbia
Nothing to do with the lake itself but there is a frequent debate in my household as to if water is wet? What is your opinion? Please debate in the answers, many thanks. Looking forward to finally solving this argument
Cumpston
Kendal, UK480 contributions
Just google the question and you get this answer 😉
Answer 1:
Being a liquid, water is not itself wet, but can make other solid materials wet.
Wetness is the ability of a liquid to adhere to the surface of a solid, so when we say that something is wet, we mean that the liquid is sticking to the surface of a material.
Whether an object is wet or dry depends on a balance between cohesive and adhesive forces. Cohesive forces are attractive forces within the liquid that cause the molecules in the liquid to prefer to stick together. Cohesive forces are also responsible for surface tension. If the cohesive forces are very strong, then the liquid molecules really like to stay close together and they won't spread out on the surface of an object very much. On the contrary, adhesive forces are the attractive forces between the liquid and the surface of the material. If the adhesive forces are strong, then the liquid will try and spread out onto the surface as much as possible. So how wet a surface is depends on the balance between these two forces. If the adhesive forces (liquid-solid) are bigger than the cohesive forces (liquid-liquid), we say the material becomes wet, and the liquid tends to spread out to maximize contact with the surface. On the other hand, if the adhesive forces (liquid-solid) are smaller than the cohesive forces (liquid-liquid), we say the material is dry, and the liquid tends to bead-up into a spherical drop and tries to minimize the contact with the surface.
Water actually has pretty high cohesive forces due to hydrogen bonding, and so is not as good at wetting surfaces as some liquids such as acetone or alcohols. However, water does wet certain surfaces like glass for example. Adding detergents can make water better at wetting by lowering the cohesive forces . Water resistant materials such as Gore-tex fabric is made of material that is hydrophobic (water repellent) and so the cohesive forces within the water (liquid-liquid) are much stronger than the adhesive force (liquid-solid) and water tends to bead-up on the outside of the material and you stay dry.
Answer 2:
To answer this question, we need to define the term "wet." If we define "wet" as the condition of a liquid sticking to a solid surface, such as water wetting our skin, then we cannot say that water is wet by itself, because it takes a liquid AND a solid to define the term "wet."
If we define "wet" as a sensation that we get when a liquid comes in contact with us, then yes, water is wet to us.
If we define "wet" as "made of liquid or moisture", then water is definitely wet because it is made of liquid, and in this sense, all liquids are wet because they are all made of liquids. I think that this is a case of a word being useful only in appropriate contexts.
Anthony s
Chester, UK4 contributions
Hi I visit Bowness-on-Windermere and the other surrounding attractions on a regular basis . I on my last 3 visit been very disappointed in the attitude of some of the hotels and businesses in the Bowness-on-Windermere area . On my last visit I was shocked when I saw security persons who were intimidating and rude , the site of these arrogant bouncer was stop anyone entering the pup restaurant to go to the toilet.i saw a large number or persons with children refused entry to the toilet unless they purchased a drink and food before, I can see a point the some pubs restaurant do not want the public to use there toilets yet the expect customers from all over the world to spend there money . My question it why when so may people visit the Bowness-on-Windermere area is there not additional toilet facilities provide. There is only one public toilet I know of the was locked out of order , I the it about time the businesses , council , and locals started treating multi cultural people in a respectful way , before in turns out like Blackpool, so my question is why on a busy weekend is the public toilet not working and why do business treat customers so bad, they sell products food drink , but don’t allow person young old and disabled to use a toilet how bad dose that look to all visitors, I was also shocked when asking the boat staff where the nearest toilet no one knew or could be bothered . The council should take notes and show more respect to visitors
Jim & Bea
Southern Pines, NC930 contributions
Our experience is that the availability of loos in general are limited in certain parts of the UK. So, we are always on the lookout for a local Tesco, Sainsbury, etc. where we KNOW there will be toilets. Do your research first. We don't mind going to a pub for a drink just to have access to their toilets. I do agree that local councils should be more proactive in meeting the needs of tourists, especially in high trafficked areas such as the Lake District.
poyinchung
Hong Kong, China4 contributions
I am traveling from Hong Kong.
I am planning a short trip of 2-4 days in the Lake District in early September this year & will be driving to the region. I am interested in the scenery of the lakes. However, I and my wife are not keen on trail walking.
Would anyone suggest the best base and the duration of the trip?
Thanks!
Po
Hello - obviously we're going to say come to Windermere!! But for easy car-free transport, range of cruises and option to visit other attractions, we offer a broad and frequent service. Have a look at our website for more info! enjoy your visit!
from manchister.. pls can i go there with a train?? how can i do pls??
AV H
Liverpool, UK107 contributions
I agree with Mark B. However please be aware that Windermere Town And Station are 1- 1.5 miles from Lake Windermere. The nearest access point on the Lake to the station is Bowness on Windermere.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Windermere
- Lake Windermere is open:
- Sun - Sat 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
- We recommend booking Lake Windermere tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 30 Lake Windermere tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Lake Windermere:
- 8 Lakes and Magnificent Scenery - Afternoon Half Day Tour (From ₹ 6,311.69)
- Lake District Rail Day Trip from London (From ₹ 23,525.38)
- Private Tour: Ultimate Full Day Scenic Tour visiting 10 Lakes (From ₹ 46,123.02)
- The Lake District from Manchester (From ₹ 5,534.42)
- Film & TV Locations - Full Day - Up to 4 People (From ₹ 33,985.34)
- Hotels near Lake Windermere:
- (0.04 km) Cozy Room with Double bed close to Lake Windermere_7
- (0.14 km) Ruskin's
- (0.35 km) Bay House Lake View
- (0.39 km) Bowness Bay Suites
- (0.39 km) New Hall Bank
- Restaurants near Lake Windermere:
- (0.13 km) Boardwalk Bar & Grill
- (0.17 km) The Ship Inn
- (0.09 km) The Lakeview Restaurant
- (0.17 km) The Bluebird Cafe on the Bay
- (0.10 km) Driftwood Fish and Chips
- Attractions near Lake Windermere:
- (0.04 km) Bowness Bay Marina - Windermere Boat Hire
- (0.12 km) Windermere Lake Cruises
- (0.13 km) Lakeland Adventures
- (0.25 km) Sail 'N' Dine
- (0.14 km) Windermere Boat Hire