The Entrance to the Lake District

Windermere is a town in Cumbria, England, in the historic county of Westmorland. It lies about one kilometre away from the lake of the same name.

The town of Windermere grew around the railway station, about a mile and a half from the lake. The village was originally called Birthwaite, but the railway company decided to call the station after the lake. Lake Windermere, the largest and most beautiful lake in England. The railway is an ideal way to arrive in the Lake District if public transport is to be used.

Bowness-on-Windermere is a tourist town on the shore of Windermere, about halfway along the 12 mile length of the lake between Waterhead at the North end, and Lakeside at the South end. Windermere railway station offers train and bus connections to the surrounding areas, Manchester airport, Manchester, and the West Coast Main Line.

Windermere boasts many high class homes and private yacht basins. Many of the Victorian mansions were adopted by the National Parks Authority and have now been made into visitor centres or museums.

The largest inland Marina in Northern England, Windermere Marina Village provides a sheltered and safe location to keep your boat all year round.

The South Windermere Shopping Centre is a multi-building strip mall located at Windermere Blvd and Folly Road. The best shopping in Windermere can be found around Lake road and Queens Square. There are several specialty shops in Windermere offering a great sample of the local cuisine like some of Lake Districts famous Kendal Mint cake, Cumberland Sausage, Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding, Hawkshead Relish.

Windermere has a variety of quiet country pubs and traditional inns, as well as a few lively bars. The majority of these hold themed nights or organize regular live music and events.

The World of Beatrix Potter in Windermere is a magical indoor attraction that brings to life all 23 Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit tales. You can meet Peter Rabbit in Mr. McGregors garden, discover Jemima Puddle-duck in the woodland glade and visit Mrs Tiggy-winkle in her kitchen.

Belle Isle is a wooded island in Lake Windermere, landscaped in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The island is one mile long the longest in the lake.

Windermere Steamboat centre is a unique and historic collection of steam and motor boats as well as a Swallows and Amazons exhibition. The centre can offer exciting seasonal events and steam launch cruises and private charters.