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Just over a mile from England’s largest lake, Windermere, stands Windermere town. While not on the lake shores itself, it combines with the nearby lakeside town of Bowness-on-Windermere to form one urban area.
Windermere enjoys easy access to lake Windermere, whether by foot; car; bike; or bus. This stunning lake, surrounded by rolling hills, offers a serene escape for water activities, leisure boat rides, and lakeside strolls.
Windermere’s rich history is reflected in its historic roots and the growth spurred by the Victorian era. The arrival of the town’s train station in 1847 boosted tourism to the area; today, it is popular thanks to its location, and the abundance of places to eat, drink, and visit.
Indulge in the diverse offerings Windermere presents, from enjoying local food and drink in welcoming establishments to discovering local attractions and experiences. There are excellent accommodation options nearby as well, whether you’re looking for a cosy inn or a luxurious spa hotel.
Built in 1483, this is one of the earliest surviving churches in Cumbria. Its spacious interior with hand-painted biblical texts on the walls and roof beams immediately captures attention. The magnificent east window contains remnants of stained glass from Cartmel Priory (brought here after the Dissolution of the Monasteries) and is believed to be among the oldest surviving traces of stained glass in Britain.
Step into the world of Beatrix Potter in this 17th century farmhouse, which provided the inspiration for 13 of her books including The Tale of Tom Kitten and The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck. It remains much the same as when she lived here, with many of her paintings, furniture and china on view.
The short walk to Orrest Head is well worth the uphill effort, for at the top is an outstanding panoramic view of the lake and surrounding mountains. There are a number of ways of getting to the top all passing through Elleray Woods, noted for its varied bird and insect life (booklet available from the Tourist Information Centre in Windermere).
The gardens at Brockhole, stretching down to the shores of Windermere, were laid out by Thomas Mawson, the internationally acclaimed landscape gardener from Windermere. A wide variety of interesting trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants can be seen against the dramatic backdrop of the lake.
An attractive walk that starts at Ilkley in West Yorkshire and finishes in Bowness-on-Windermere following ancient trackways and riverside paths and passing through many interesting villages on its 80 mile (129 km) route and taking in the best of the natural enviroment along the way.
This 17-acre hillside garden, managed by the Lakeland Horticultural Society since 1971, has been transformed from an abandoned rock garden into a ‘garden for all seasons', with specimen trees, a walled garden with herbaceous borders and displays of alpine plants.
An imposing mock Gothic castle built by James Dawson in the 1840s. Beatrix Potter stayed here in 1882 while on holiday with her parents.
William Wordsworth came here in 1779. His adolescent experience of the natural world had a lasting effect, and was recalled in his poetry of later years.
Beatrix Potter’s traditional Lakeland farm at Hill Top was a special place for Beatrix, and was the inspiration for the setting in many of her books.
In earlier times it was the custom to call for a rowing boat when one was required. One stormy night, a call was answered by a ferryman who rowed across the lake to Bowness only to return in a state of shock. The next morning he developed a rapid fever and died. Thereafter, on stormy nights whenever there were strange calls for a boat from Ferry Nab, no-one would dare go. Eventually a priest exorcised the Crier of Claife to a quarry on Claife Heights, but occasionally the ghostly calls for a boat can still be heard.
Storrs Gate House has a five star grading with Visit Britain. Susann and Glenn welcome you to our…
Zip World Windermere is an award-winning high ropes adventure company with 2 fantastic outdoor…
Tariff type: Multi Tariff. Public toilets on site.
Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house is a rare architectural gem in the heart of the Lake District…
Tranquilly paddle along a beautiful, tree-lined river with the steam train passing on the shoreline…
Cumbrian produce with a French Twist. Set within 7 acres of landscaped gardens, with our expertise…
Welcome to Aquatic Quays Windermere. We are the U.K.s largest importer and distributor for Bayliner…
Anyone Can is an inclusive adventure company. We welcome those with additional needs and those…
The Lyth and Winster valleys form a landscape of unspoilt pastoral delights - damson trees…
A stunning four star hotel set in 17 acres of grounds on the shores of Lake Windermere.
Discover life on Windermere through the lens of award-winning artist Juliet Klottrup. This…
Susannah Clegg is a Lancaster-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her…
Brockhole offers charging for electric vehicles, at a cost of £1 per 30 minutes. The charging point…
Experience a truly indulgent getaway at Windermere Marina Village, where our luxury holiday…
Low Wood Watersports and Activity Centre, with it's large lake frontage and extensive range of…
Cycle route around the Cartmel Peninsula starting and finishing at Fell Foot.
Unlock the secrets of essential oils as you learn to create your very own blend, uniquely tailored…
We offer 7 different glamping options at Park Cliffe so you’ll find one that perfectly suits your…
Nestling in the hills of the Troutbeck Valley, a place for walkers and pilgrims to pause, reflect…
New Year. . . same problems! It is the end of term and Godber's hilarious comedy masterpiece has…
Join us as we welcome Leon Knight to The Swan for a special performance from 6pm – 8pm on the 22nd…
Located down a quiet country lane close to Windermere village. Personally owned by Richard & Lisa…
Evie is a singer-songwriter from the Lake District. Evie has built up a vast repertoire of songs,…
St Peter’s was built in 1874 designed by well known Lancashire firm of Paley and Austin and won an…


The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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Number of results: 290
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Newby Bridge
A half day's experience learning the core skills of bushcraft and survival with our expert instructors, including fire, shelter, water sourcing and more.
A591, Windermere
Zip World Windermere is an award-winning high ropes adventure company with 2 fantastic outdoor experiences, Treetop Trek and Treetop Nets. If you’re looking for an unforgettable day out with friends or family, there is an outdoor adventure for…
Lakeside
A spectacularly located site on the quieter western shores of Windermere, England’s largest lake and with stunning views our Lakeside site has it all in spades. Each of our yurts here have stunning lake views and are a hop, skip and a splosh away…
Windermere
Choices Health Club Windermere is a unique experience in the Lakes. A large gym, indoor swimming pool, luxury spa and fitness classes all under one roof. Bring the whole family down for a swim, use us to keep up with your home fitness routine whilst…
Nr Ulverston
The Lake District is England's only true mountain area. It has the most beautiful scenery in the land, with its bewitching mix of rugged mountains, deep gylls, shimmering lakes, bouncing waterfalls and attractive stone-built villages. Our solos…
Bowness-on-Windermere
Whether you’re keen to try outdoor activities or just want to relax and unwind in a stunning location, you'll enjoy every moment spent on a holiday at Fallbarrow Holiday Park.
Newby Bridge
Guess who's back… back for good!✨
Our Summer Spa-rtys have returned — and this time it's all about Robbie Williams & Take That. No support acts, no warm-ups… just pure 90s & 00s pop perfection.
Join us on 18th September, 6–9pm for a night that'll…
Whether you would like to rent an Electric Bike or join a Bike Tour or Holiday, we organise everything and provide self-guided tours with tailored routes to suite you.
Cumbria
The towns of Windermere and Bowness back onto a lovely little group of fells that extend east towards Staveley and Crook. None of the summits have a particularly memorable shape and only a few exceed the 250m contour. Regardless of their modest…
Bowness-on-Windermere
*WORLD PREMIERE
From Tom MacRae, the writer of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, comes a brand-new original musical based around classic Victoria Wood songs.
Peggy is recently divorced and lost in life, when a chance meeting with her childhood best…
Windermere
Step into the world of James Herriot on the All Creatures Great and Small Tour, set against the stunning backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This tour takes you deep into Herriot country, where you’ll discover the charming villages and…
Windermere
Join Green Man Survival in our private woodland on the shores of Windermere to discover the ancient art of archery. We will learn a little about the history of this primitive skill and have the chance to experience how tricky it must have been for…
Windermere
Enjoy a superb traditional afternoon tea at Lindeth Fell which includes a selection of delicious home made sandwiches and sweets along with a selection of leaf teas. Licensed bar. Wi-Fi. Parking.
Bowness-on-Windermere
Hardwicke Circus - Live in Concert @ The Royalty (Bowness)- 21 March 2026
Get ready for one of the most exciting live bands in Britain today. Hardwicke Circus bring an irresistible mix of energy, soul, and swagger — drawing comparisons to The E…
Lake Road, Windermere
Hill of Oaks occupies a prime position on the shores of Windermere, making it extremely popular with people looking for lakeside holiday homes. The park is nestled in an ancient woodland of mature oak trees, offering over a mile of private…
Newby Bridge
Susannah Clegg is a Lancaster-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her work with indie-rock band Sidley Park and bluegrass group The Long Nights Band. As a solo artist, she blends powerful vocals, thoughtful lyrics, and…
Far Sawrey, Ambleside
Pure Lakes is an award-winning natural skincare company based in Far Sawrey, near Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top in the heart of the English Lake District.
Inspired by their surroundings, they create sustainable skincare using the highest-quality natural…
Newby Bridge
We're looking forward to welcoming Tom Woods to The Swan on the 26th June for an evening of live music.
Enjoy the longer evenings with Tom's soulful sounds, an acoustic singer and guitarist known for his lively classics.
Join us for a night to…
Newby Bridge
We're looking forward to welcoming Reuben Tighe to The Swan on the 17th July for an evening of live music.
Reuben Tighe fingerpicks his way through an eclectic mix of blues, foot stomping folk and original music, delivering a euphonious delight to…
Newby Bridge
Evie is a singer-songwriter from the Lake District. Evie has built up a vast repertoire of songs, with a special interest in jazz 'n' blues. Her soulful vocals and jazzy piano styles make her live performances a great experience.
We're looking…
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL