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 December
Estimated hotel price
£167
1 night at 3-star hotel
Windermere in December
Estimated hotel price
£167
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 50m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Windermere, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Windermere to Birmingham takes 1h 59m and costs around £19 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about £42 for a 2h 38m 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

You can travel by bus to Windermere using National Express or FlixBus. From Leeds, the bus ride to Windermere takes 60 miles and will cost you around £8. From Liverpool, the ticket costs about £9 for a journey of 87 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 50m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Windermere, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Windermere to Birmingham takes 1h 59m and costs around £19 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about £42 for a 2h 38m 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

You can travel by bus to Windermere using National Express or FlixBus. From Leeds, the bus ride to Windermere takes 60 miles and will cost you around £8. From Liverpool, the ticket costs about £9 for a journey of 87 miles.

Airports near Windermere

NCLNewcastle upon Tyne
LBALeeds/Bradford
MANManchester

Airlines serving Windermere

KLM
Good (1,434 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,655 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,013 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,617 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,113 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,818 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,058 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,115 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,692 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,444 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,515 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,561 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,337 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (884 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,105 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,625 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,339 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,421 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,152 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (917 reviews)
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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 £115 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £177 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Windermere

Most booked hotels in Windermere

See all
Ambleside Salutation Hotel & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£142+
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Lakes Hotel & Spa
5 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
£149+
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Beech Hill Hotel & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£81+
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The Traveller's Rest
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£45+
View
The Daffodil Hotel & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£83+
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Yha Ambleside Hostel
1 star
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£35+
View

Hiring a car in Windermere

Hiring a car in Windermere costs £48 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 45% more expensive than at Manchester.

Expect to pay £1.37 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 £16.34 and £21.79. 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 Intermediate car hire (Nissan Qashqai or similar) is, on average, 23% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Windermere costs £48 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 45% more expensive than at Manchester.

Expect to pay £1.37 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 £16.34 and £21.79. 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 Intermediate car hire (Nissan Qashqai or similar) is, on average, 23% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Windermere