Windermere

Travel Guide
Lake District National Park featuring 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 kilometres) 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 metres) deep and just less than 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) 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-kilometre) journey. London is 280 miles (450 kilometres) 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 RM301 per night from 17 Apr to 18 Apr
RM301
per night
17 Apr - 18 Apr
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Windermere. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
7/10 Good! (382 reviews)
"Enjoyed our stay"

Reviewed on 25 Mar 2024

The Windermere Hotel
Lakes Hotel and Spa
Lakes Hotel and Spa
4 out of 5
Kendal Road, Bowness, Windermere, England
The price is RM872 per night from 16 Apr to 17 Apr
RM872
per night
16 Apr - 17 Apr
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Windermere. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 bars/lounges, and 15 spa tubs. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (774 reviews)
"We had an amazing stay at The Lakes. Will definitely book again."

Reviewed on 25 Mar 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 RM791 per night from 4 Apr to 5 Apr
RM791
per night
4 Apr - 5 Apr
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! (1,004 reviews)
Lovely hotel
"Lovely 2 night break. Hotel was clean and the staff couldn’t have been nicer. We upgraded to a lake view room which I would recommend"

Reviewed on 19 Mar 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.
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 terrace. Popular attractions Windermere Jetty Museum of Boats, Steam ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (142 reviews)
Lovely
"Such a lovely place to stay and in a wonderful location"

Reviewed on 17 Mar 2024

Kotel Windermere
The Mews Boutique Apartments
The Mews Boutique Apartments
4 out of 5
North Terrace, Windermere, England
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Windermere. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and Netflix. Popular attractions World of Beatrix Potter and Old Laundry Theatre ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (26 reviews)
Very nice, but unfortunately uncomfortable sleep
"Had a pleasant 3-night stay, would’ve given it 5 stars had it not been for the uncomfortable double bed. The mattresses are worn and too soft - it appears they are 2 singles put together to make a double. I did contact the number provided to complain and was offered a visit to come and see how it ..."

Reviewed on 8 Nov 2023

The Mews Boutique Apartments
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 Bowness Pier and Old Laundry Theatre ...
9/10 Wonderful! (50 reviews)
Good, spacious apartment
"Nice apartment for my wife and I to spend a couple of nights with our 1 year old daughter. There was plenty of room in the bedroom for the travel cot we brought with us, and they provided a high chair on arrival. The apartment was also dog friendly so our little pooch was able enjoy the trip with ..."

Reviewed on 18 Feb 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

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Reviews of Windermere

4.7
Top destination
5 - Excellent
400
" "5 - Excellent 71.04795737122558%
4 - Good
151
" "4 - Good 26.820603907637654%
3 - Okay
9
" "3 - Okay 1.5985790408525755%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
3
" "1 - Terrible 0.5328596802841918%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
17 Mar 2020

Great location to base from to explore the Lakes

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
14 Mar 2020

Beautiful

4/5 - Good

Brandon
10 Feb 2020

Lovely place to visit i can imagine it would be alot better with nicer weather but it didnt spoil our trip just disappointed with the room considering the price we paid

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
5 Feb 2020

Nice and quiet this time of year. Superb place for relaxing and walking the dogs.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
2 Feb 2020

It’s a beautiful place

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
27 Jan 2020

Perfect for a weekend break