Highly recommend! Getting around Windermere via Windermere Lake Cruises is a must do. Taking the train into the area drops you at Windermere station. From there, a short bus ride takes you down to Bowness. Windermere Lake Cruises offers a variety of options for getting around, from the very scenic "Red Cruise" which takes folks from Bowness pier to Ambleside and back (can get off to explore that area and catch a later boat back), to "Yellow Cruise" which goes the other direction towards Lakeside where you can catch the old steam historic train. You can also rent small boats to drive yourself around, and some other options. It's just wonderful to see Windermere lake from directly on the water! Beautiful cruise across the lake with some commentary providing information about various things along the ride. Make sure to check time tables and plan your outing. Last rides around the lake are not that late into the evening so you will want to make sure you make it back to where you want to be before the cruises stop running! read more

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A relaxing, luxurious boat ride across a beautiful lake. They serve drinks all day, and you can sip a cappuccino from a real mug while you listen to a narration about the sights and watch the shore go by. Some of the boats are historic, and the speed is so slow and steady that motion sickness seems unlikely. Great for couples, families, kids. Highly recommend for a relaxing vacation activity! read more

We took a round trip from Bowness and mistakenly got off at Lakeside. Before disembarking, we specifically asked a staff member if we had arrived at Bowness, and he replied yes. Upon further enquiry, we were told it was not Bowness. When we asked if we could go back inside, the staff member responded, "Unless you want to walk." We were travelling with a 2-year-old child, yet were told to rejoin the queue at the very end and had to wait outside in the cold with our baby. This situation arose due to incorrect information provided by staff, and the lack of empathy or basic customer care shown afterwards was extremely disappointing. This is a clear example of ignorance and poor service, especially towards families with young children. read more

Not much to see, just watched the lake side and took some photos, but it made me feel peaceful and relaxed just to sit there. However, I would recommend u to take more clothing , as it was cold on the second floor deck, the wind is very strong. read more

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What an amazing way to see England's largest lake. Our tour group signed up for a combined excursion which included the train ride from the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway which begins in Haverrthwaite and ends right on the dock in Lakeside on the southern edge of Windermere Lake. Lake Windermere is 10.5 miles long and 200 feet deep in places and there are a few old hotels and mansions on its banks. When we arrived in Lakeside on the railway we boarded the Swan, which is a 147 ft. coal fired iron hulled steamer that was originally launched in 1869. The Swan is a very beautiful and comfortable ship with lots of seating, restaurants and gift shop. I sat up on the top in the bow area so I could take lots of photos. I would highly recommend taking a cruise if you are near the border of England and Scotland. read more

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A beautiful town with beautiful scenery, amazing stores, and of course, a wonderful boat tour. Myself and a few other people bought tickets for the boat tour so we could observe the natural beauty of lake country. The cruise was very comfortable and has bathrooms and food, and the weather was absolutely perfect. We rode up front so we could see everything, and it was a very relaxing experience after doing so much walking. 90 minutes, so you get your money's worth. Information was clear, but mostly I just enjoyed being out on the water, since I spend so much time on boats back home. The ride is not bumpy and is very smooth, so I doubt motion sickness would be an issue for anyone. The cruise docks near a variety of interesting stores and eateries, so you can grab a snack after if the food downstairs does not catch your fancy. Great tour. read more

This was our first time to Lake Windermere and Bowness, Bowness is where you get the boats from to tour the biggest lake in the UK! There are several boat trips available but liked the look of Windermere Lake Cruises, with there huge boats and by the looks of things the biggest. The boats are huge with loads of indoor seating downstairs with huge windows and a huge upper deck with bench seating, with open windows to look through at the magnificent views, there is also a small section at the front and back which are open with no cover but great for those summery days. We took the cruise to Ambleside which costs £10 each return and takes around 25-30 minutes each way with the most stunning picturesque views. Ambleside is a lovely little village and its around a 1 mile walk from the pier where you dock, but a lovely walk and well worth touring the little village. There are other cruises available but we didn't have that long there so we took the shortest cruise but all the staff are really friendly if you have any questions about what you want to see. We will defiantly be going back to see the rest of this beautiful part of the country! read more

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We got their 10 mins before the cruise started . Their was no tables left to sit at . We had to sit upstairs on a wooden bench and eat off our knee. This was not what I had in mind. The band was very dated and it would havebeen nice to hear some modern music . We were brought tea / coffee on a tray .... where would you like us to put that ? On the floor? For what we paid it wasn't worth it . Why take bookings if theirs not enough tables? Not what we had in mind !! We didn't even get offered water with our dinner read more

Fun cruise of Lake Windermere. Beautiful scenery, and a comfortable ride. The weather was lovely, so we rode up front, but if it's cold you can ride inside. There is food and drink for sale. We took the longer ride- believe it was 90 minutes- to Ambleside and back. I could hear the commentary just fine- but mostly was enjoying the day, watching the other boats, imagining having a lake house here... Bring a windbreaker- it is windy on the lake, even if it's sunny on shore. You might also want binoculars- those would be really helpful to pick out details on the shore. Wish I'd had some. read more

Perfect way to explore the Lakes and take in all the scenery. Quite romantic too, as we went from Lakeside rather than Windermere, and first thing in the morning, so very few kids about. Just blown away by all the beauty around us. read more

Windermere Lake Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Windermere, CMA

The perfect way to relax and take in the beautiful views. Get a Freedom of the Lake ticket and you can enjoy as many of the cruises as you like within a 24 hour period. We loved it and will definitely cruise the lake again. You won't be disappointed. read more

Windermere Lake Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Windermere, CMA

A lovely boat cruise along Lake Windermere, we went on the Yellow Route and I thought it was a bit pricey for what it is. You can't hear the captain talking as the boat is too loud and the speakers aren't high enough volume, there isn't too much to see down the like, expensive houses and a couple of historic parts but not a lot. It is a lovely little cruise to go on, something you must do when there! read more

Windermere Lake Cruises - Boat Charters Near Me - Windermere, CMA

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Lake Windermere is the biggest lake in the Lakes District and it is quite simply a thing of beauty. The Lake Cruises are a great way to hear about the lake and see it from a different view point. There are a number of different routes taking different lengths of time and going to different locations - some stop of at different towns and one just does a circular cruise on the water. It's a wonderful way to take in the scenery. Simply stunning. read more

I absolutley loved doing this day trip. We went from Windermere to Lakeside and back again on a boat. You can get off at Lakeside and visit the aquarium and steam railway and you can combine your boat trip tickets with entry to these attractions to save money. Although it seemed a bit expensive it was definitely worth it to see the stunning scenery around the lake. Fantastic. read more

Cruising on Windermere is one of the great ways to experience the Lakes at their best. We had a great fun time seeing the world from the centre of a lake. If it's a cold day you can always sit in doors but out on the top is our favourite place to be feeling the wind on our faces. There are great views of all the famous national park mountains and scenery. This is one of those trips not to be missed - unless it is pouring with rain or foggy! Parking can be a bit of a problem if you don't like paying to park your car - but that's not really their fault! There are plenty of trips and plenty of departure times to choose from. read more

A great way to spend a wet summers day. £25 per adult gets you a 40 minute cruise to bowness, then a 30 minute steam train ride, which stops in the middle of nowhere, there is however a station cafe styled on the 1940's, or just not modernised ? The food though is fantastic and very fairly priced, they do great homemade scones(huge) and a selection of tea. Then a return steam journey and a visit to the aquarium which has an amazing glass tunnel that runs through a huge tank with all variety of fish siwimming over and around you. Then a return steamer to Ambleside. Worth every penny. read more

This is a great way to spend a day, especially if you have children to entertain. If you have a day to spare, buy the ticket that includes the boat, steam train and acquarium and you have a great day out. The boat starts from Ambleside and goes to Lakeside via Windermere. At Lakeside you disembark and get the steam train. You can then either get off the steam train for some lunch or tea in an old style railway cafe (very good home cooked food and not expensive) or return straight away to Lakeside. The acquarium is here and well worth a visit with lots of exotic, and not so exotic fish as well as a glass tunnel to walk through so that the fish are swimming all around and over you! The scenery is fabulous and all in all, a very good day out. read more

We have been on so many of these lake cruises over the years- ambleside, lakeside and over to Hill Top to see Beatrix Potter's house. It's great the boats are clean and the staff friendly. There's nothing like sitting inside the boat on a freezig day witha hot chocolate looking at the magnificent scenery!! read more

One of the most beautiful little tours I have ever taken. Be prepared for changeable weather. Pure pleasure. One can also hop off and on to hike a hill or visit another village. Get a round trip ticket. Enjoy the scenery. The ship itself is a marvel in that it was brought to the lake in various parts and re-constructed. read more