Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Windermere travel guide

Windermere Tourism | Windermere Guide

You're Going to Love Windermere

With a population of 8,118, Windermere is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Windermere to see all of its attractions.

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Where to Eat in Windermere

If you’re looking for affordable options, Hillthwaite (Hillthwaite Hotel) and The Ryebeck Hotel (Lyth Valley Road) are great picks.

When to visit Windermere

Windermere in February
Estimated hotel price
£170
1 night at 3-star hotel
Windermere in February
Estimated hotel price
£170
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Windermere

Plane

Although Windermere doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Leeds/Bradford Airport (LBA), which is located 62 miles from Windermere. Newcastle Airport (UK) is the most popular, with regular flights from British Airways, Qatar Airways, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Windermere departs from Belfast and takes around 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Windermere, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Windermere to Birmingham takes 1h 40m and costs around £37 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about £36 for a 3h 05m trip. The train station in Windermere is called Windermere, and is located 0.1 miles from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Windermere is to pick up a car hire from Manchester, which is about 68 miles from Windermere. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, among others, in Manchester.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Windermere, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Birmingham, the bus ride to Windermere takes 115 miles and will cost you around £14. From London, the ticket costs about £6 for a journey of 150 miles.

Plane

Although Windermere doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Leeds/Bradford Airport (LBA), which is located 62 miles from Windermere. Newcastle Airport (UK) is the most popular, with regular flights from British Airways, Qatar Airways, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United Kingdom. The shortest domestic flight to Windermere departs from Belfast and takes around 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Windermere, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Windermere to Birmingham takes 1h 40m and costs around £37 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about £36 for a 3h 05m trip. The train station in Windermere is called Windermere, and is located 0.1 miles from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Windermere is to pick up a car hire from Manchester, which is about 68 miles from Windermere. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, among others, in Manchester.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Windermere, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Birmingham, the bus ride to Windermere takes 115 miles and will cost you around £14. From London, the ticket costs about £6 for a journey of 150 miles.

Airports near Windermere

Airlines serving Windermere

KLM
Good (1,423 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,594 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,004 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,539 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,063 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,797 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,677 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,036 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,050 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,422 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,498 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,481 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (874 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,312 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,589 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,072 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,334 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,140 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,410 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (899 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Windermere

From 5-star hotels such as the Linthwaite House to great affordable options like the Elim House, Windermere offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around £101 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £181 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Windermere

Most booked hotels in Windermere

Ambleside Salutation Hotel & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£150+
Lakes Hotel & Spa
5 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
£142+
Beech Hill Hotel & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£100+
The Swan at Grasmere- The Inn Collection Group
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£89+
The Daffodil Hotel & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£89+
Low Wood Bay
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£157+

Hiring a car in Windermere

Hiring a car in Windermere costs £54 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 54% more expensive than at Manchester.

Expect to pay £1.36 per litre in Windermere (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £16.26 and £21.67. The most frequently booked car type in Windermere is Compact (Nissan Juke or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 43% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Windermere costs £54 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 54% more expensive than at Manchester.

Expect to pay £1.36 per litre in Windermere (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £16.26 and £21.67. The most frequently booked car type in Windermere is Compact (Nissan Juke or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 43% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.