Windermere Town Centre

Windermere Village Guide

Historic gateway into the Lakes, Windermere town sits half a mile inland from Lake Windermere, just north of bustling Bowness on the lakeshore. Windermere offers one of the best choices of beautiful historic B&Bs in the Lake District including many stunning Victorian B&Bs. Originally called Birthwaite, Windermere town changed its name after the lake with the coming of the railway from Kendal in 1847.

Windermere today is a bustling Lake District resort full of Victorian and Edwardian charm and character. The town centre has a tourist information centre, a choice of cafes, restaurants and specialist shops. Spectacular local walks direct from Windermere town centre into the fells include the famous Orrest Head walk from Windermere station, Wainwright’s first walk in the Lake District in 1930.

Windermere – a Gateway into the Lakes

Windermere centre is a major transport hub and gateway into the Lake District National Park boasting extensive bus links plus easy access by road via the fast A591/A590 off the M6 motorway, Junction 36.

For visitors looking to tour the Lake District National Park, Windermere accommodation is one of the best central locations with efficient road networks branching out from the town to Ambleside, Grasmere, Kendal, Ullswater and to nearest neighbour Bowness.

Windermere station offers direct rail links into the town via connections from major West Coast Mainline station Oxenholme (Kendal) which has fast rail links to London and Scotland.

Buses to Windermere, which stop outside the railway station, are extensive with regular bus services running between Windermere, Kendal and Ambleside. Visitors can hire bikes in the town centre which are great for getting around Windermere and Bowness and minibus tours are widely available from companies based in Windermere centre.