The towns of Bowness and Windermere are arguably the most vibrant and popular places in whole of the Lake District. They are busy for most of the year with people coming to enjoy the facilities offered by Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake. These include lake cruises to Waterhead in Ambleside and Lakeside at Newby Bridge, sailing, canoeing, fishing and the Windermere car ferry, which runs between Ferry Nab at Bowness and Far Sawrey.

Windermere is a great base for exploring the Lake District thanks to its excellent transport links. Windermere Railway station offers rail connections to Kendal and Oxenholme and it also has direct trains to and from Manchester Airport. Buses also run regularly from Windermere station including southbound journeys to Kendal and northbound journeys to Ambleside, Grasmere, and Keswick.

There is plenty for the whole family to do in and around Windermere including looking round some of the superb shops and visitor attractions such as The World of Beatrix Potter where all 23 Peter Rabbit tales are brought to life in 3D. Other local places of interest include …

Blackwell Arts & Crafts:
House in Bowness which is a superb example of the Arts & Crafts movement;

Hilltop – Near Sawrey:
Take the ferry and visit the writer’s 17th century cottage at the other side of Lake Windermere and see it exactly as she left it complete with her furniture and china.

Lakes Aquarium:
The Lakes Aquarium is located on the Southern shore of Windermere and can be accessed by taking a lake steamer from Bowness to Lakeside at Newby Bridge. Here visitors have the chance to see many exotic and local fish.

William Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage:
Here visitors can visit the home of England’s famous romantic poet at Grasmere. The adjacent Wordsworth Museum displays national treasures of the poet. There is an onsite tea room and gift shop.

The Lake District National Park Visitor Centre:
At Brockhole, situated on the shores of Lake Windermere, ideal family entertainment with interactive exhibitions and adventure playground. Whatever the weather.

For more active visitors there are plenty of walking routes available around Windermere including walks to spectacular viewpoints at Orrest Head and Biskey Howe where you will find breathtaking views of Lake Windermere and as far out as Morecambe Bay on a clear day. Windermere Golf Club is a very picturesque course and here you can relax after your round in the golf club restaurant with great views of surrounding mountains.

To take full advantage of Windermere visitors should look to stay in a luxury Bowness-on-Windermere B&B where you will find the highest quality Lake District bed and breakfast  accommodation.