Lake District and Windermere Tours
Lake District and Windermere tours include cultural attractions, stunning trips around the lakes and gastronomical tours.
The site of a Roman fort Galava and England’s largest lake define the town of Windermere in Cumbria. The main town is actually half a mile from the lake of the same name but has grown alongside the older lakeside settlement of Bowness-on-Windermere.
If you want to tour Windermere, there is no better way to do it than by embarking on a boat trip from Bowness Bay. Boat tours in Windermere range from a few hours to all-day cruises.
Windermere’s royal past gave it plenty of wealthy Victorian homes – many of which are now lakeside hotels. Tourists first began to flock to Windermere during the Victorian era and many of the houses were built by rich industrialists and businessmen from all parts of England.
No holiday in Windermere is complete without a trip to Dove Cottage Museum. Dove Cottage was William Wordsworth’s home from 1799 to 1808 and it was here that he composed some of his finest works. The Museum regularly organizes events for families, kids and poetry workshops. Don’t forget to take your pen along!
From the highest hill top in the town of Windermere it is less than a twenty-minute walk to the water’s edge. In many ways, the town is indistinguishable from Bowness-on-Windermere, but the two towns remain separate.
Lake District and Windermere Tours
The main attraction for visitors to the area is the lake itself, which is more than ten miles long and the largest natural lake in England. Piers at Bowness provide boat connections to Ambleside and Lakeside. Train connections include the restored railway at Lakeside and surrounding area links to Manchester and its airport as well as the West Coast Main Line. The popularity of Windermere expanded when the Kendal and Windermere Railway added a link.
When planning a tour of Windermere, include Blackwell the arts and craft house, which is a prime example of the architectural arts and crafts movement from the beginning of the 20th century. The house carries a commanding view of the lake. The architect was M. H. Baillie Scott.
The Windermere Steam and Motorboat Museum features a collection of both motor boats and steamboats. The boating heritage of the community is well represented with displays and exhibitions.
The World of Beatrix Potter features 3-D displays of each of her 23 tales. Children can interact with the characters in lifelike settings such as Mr. McGregor’s garden or the kitchen of Mrs. Tiggywinkle. The attraction is located in Bowness-on-Windermere.
Other recommended tours of Windermere include: mountain goat bus tours, lake tours, guided walks and climbs and gastronomic tours of the local pubs and restaurants.
If you are planning to stay in Lake District for a night or two, why not book into a luxury spa hotel in Windermere and make the most of the facilities.