Windermere Lake Cruises
Windermere Lake Cruises
4.5
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About
Windermere Lake Cruises is a leading tourist attraction in the heart of the Lake District on England's largest lake. Steamers and Launches sail daily throughout the year with Summer season connections for The Lakeland Motor Museum, Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway,Lake Aquarium, the Lake District Visitor Centre at Brockhole, Fell Foot Country park, Wray Castle and Ferry House (with connecting sevices for Hilltop and Hawkshead). Combined tickets are available. Windermere Lake Cruises offer more than a ferry service. We hold private charters, lunch cruises, buffet cruises, corporate hospitality, public sailings and group travel. The perfect all-weather attraction.
Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, England
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Windermere Lake Cruises
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
4,559 reviews
Excellent
3,037
Very good
1,192
Average
202
Poor
65
Terrible
63
Claire W
Darlington, UK364 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
We booked the lake cruise from Windermere to Ambleside on Tuesday morning with a return journey on the afternoon. We booked outdoor seats in the hope we would drop lucky with the weather. On the outbound journey, although the skies were grey it was a pleasant crossing. On the return journey the weather had turned so it was rather a wet trip back. Unfortunately we were unable to move indoors as as your tickets require you to sit in certain areas to maintain social distancing due to covid. In fairness though the journey is only around 25 minutes. The boats are well maintained and the staff welcome you warmly onboard, however we both thought the commentary was somewhat limited as more could be done to point out things along the way or give us a bit more information about the lake and area. The other thing I would mention is you have to arrive 10-15 minutes before departure and queue up prior to scanning your barcode and receiving your boarding cards. The confirmation email simply tells you to present your booking confirmation at the ticket office prior to departure. It may be beneficial to print this information on the confirmation email to save almost everyone asking the staff where they should go.
Written 9 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many Thanks for your review
Our commentary on board has been designed to be informative, but also let passengers sit back and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Windermere
Written 15 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
15Dee78
Doncaster, UK128 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We did the 45 minute tour of Lake Windermere. Booking on line was quite straightforward but there was little information about how arrival works, what to expect etc. I naively assumed that it must be a straightforward process. We arrived ten minutes early as advised on the confirmation email. We queued at the booking office to be told to go to one of the piers “probably 1 or 2” we went to pier 1 was told to get in to queue for the boat. Once there we discovered that boat was going to Ambleside so not our boat. Asked again told Pier 3 (there are 4 in total) ran to Pier 3 as we now had 3 minutes. This is whilst battling against the crowds as the pier was packed with tourists not there for boat trips but just hanging about seemingly not worried about being in massive groups of people. Finally in the right place we got on the boat, the trip was lovely. Everyone wore masks, the seats were distanced and the scenery was beautiful and the talk interesting. Definitely recommend the tour but get there 20 min early to allow to find your boat. I do not recommend visiting Lake Windermere, it packed with people, too crowded and really not safe.
Written 9 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Apologies for any confusion on arrival and you enjoyed the boat trip
Written 11 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SGrierUK
Stevenston, UK284 contributions
Jan 2020
On a short visit to Bowness, my wife and I took the Blue Cruise - Islands whilst we were resting from travelling home from Manchester.
The Blue Cruise is around the central section of Lake Windermere cost £9.00 each and took just under 1 hour. We travelled down past the ferry - which traverses the lake by pulling on a cable. Travelling down the left hand side of the lake was very cold, but the return journey along the right hand coast was significantly warmer.
The boar "driver" commentated throughout the cruise and told us many things about Beatrix Potter, and her desire to stop millionaires from purchasing land and farms along the coast.
We shall definitely be doing this again, we shall be returning to Lake Windermere in the near future.
The Blue Cruise is around the central section of Lake Windermere cost £9.00 each and took just under 1 hour. We travelled down past the ferry - which traverses the lake by pulling on a cable. Travelling down the left hand side of the lake was very cold, but the return journey along the right hand coast was significantly warmer.
The boar "driver" commentated throughout the cruise and told us many things about Beatrix Potter, and her desire to stop millionaires from purchasing land and farms along the coast.
We shall definitely be doing this again, we shall be returning to Lake Windermere in the near future.
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're so pleased you and your wife enjoyed our blue islands cruise- thank you for your wonderful review and five star rating. We look forward to welcoming you both aboard again in the near future
Written 5 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jim F
Rotherham, UK22 contributions
Jul 2020
Tickets are currently not sold from the piers and have to be purchased on line and only one round trip is available but things seem well-organised with timely queuing before each sailing and a scan system for each ticket. Face masks are mandatory and tickets are sold with allocated seating to support social distancing. Hand sanitiser is also available. The sailing itself was very calm and pleasant with some useful commentary. Staff are attentive and knowledgeable and ready to address those passengers not adhering to the rules. Overall, a nice way to spend an hour during any visit to this part of the Lake District.
Written 23 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are delighted that you enjoyed your sailing with us
Written 25 July 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
moleadventures
London, UK376 contributions
Aug 2020
Book online in advance and wear a mask. All sensibly organised and reasonably priced for a 45 minute round trip on Lake Windermere. Leave enough time to get from the car park they recommend to the pier (10-15 mins depending on group). Enjoy an ice cream for one of the lovely parlours afterwards. Looked like good hygiene and social distancing.
Written 15 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your great review
Written 16 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nimmy37
Chester, UK885 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
Having walked to Ambleside and walked up-to the waterfall we then went on the boat to Bowness and enjoyed the views and commentary given on board. Currently required to wear masks and seats are pre booked on line with fewer passengers to maintain social distancing. We stayed in Bowness for an hour. Just enough time to grab an ice cream and look round a few shops. Rather cold if you choose outdoor seats even on a sunny day. We got a return ticket as only a few pounds more and
Worth it as you can appreciate each side of the lake.
Worth it as you can appreciate each side of the lake.
Written 3 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are delighted that you had a great day out
Written 4 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
RS99
London, UK48 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We prebooked tickets for the lakeside cruise, went to board the boat to be told we had to exchange our printed ticket for a physical ticket, this meant we had to wait in a long queue to exchange our paper ticket... for another ticket. Good to also note you have to pay for parking, which we were unaware. You can’t pay with card unless you queue up at the ticket desk, when we arrived at least 30 people were in the queue, so not ideal considering the company owns the car park it would have been ideal to let people book online with the boat ticket or at the very least advise of the charge clearly beforehand. The website says online booking only but you can buy tickets at the booth, so was a bit confusing as to why we had to book online to then queue when we could have just bought tickets there. The boat took a lap around a section of the lake, I expected some interesting commentary but we just got a couple of facts. Perhaps on a sunnier day the weather and views would make up for the lack of commentary. I didn’t see any of the ‘enhanced cleaning’ stated on the website and when exiting the boat no social distancing was enforced but people did remain distant for most of the actual boat trip.
Written 30 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review, we are operating online bookings only. This is to prevent very long queues.
The only queuing is to redeem the ticket, which is a much quicker process than booking at the office, therefore reducing socially distanced queues. As you ca appreciate, we have had to implement many new procedures to ensure that we are operating in a Covid19 secure manner.
car parking can only be booked when you arrive, and queuing for the car park ticket, needs to be socially distanced, which we have signage and floor marking, which ask our customers to adhere to
Written 12 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mojoblue717
Manchester, UK3,343 contributions
Sept 2020
Day visit to Windermere, on a cool cloudy September Monday. Booked our trip on line, before leaving home, as pre-booking now mandatory in these difficult times. This time decided to do the return trip from Bowness to Lakeside, and chose the 13.50 trip on Teal, as there was inside seating and we were unsure of what the weather conditions would be. However at the time of the trip, it was reasonably calm and dry and we were pleased that as the boat was only a third full, that the staff allowed us to sit upstairs, in what was deemed the outside section, though it did have a roof cover. We had decided just to do the round trip and not alight at Lakeside, though if you have the time and inclination well worth doing as there is an Aquarium there as well as the Lakeside Railway. The trip itself lasted around 90 minutes and although it wasn't the greatest of days, nevertheless the beauty of the Lake and its surrounds was not diminished. Trip made more enjoyable by some decent commentary from the bridge on the way round. Because of Covid, face masks mandatory, no catering facilities on the boat, everything well organised and Recommended whenever in these parts.
Written 7 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your great review
Written 12 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Harry F
Stafford, UK130 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Visited on the last day of July which was an absolute scorcher glad we pre-booked tickets.
Arrived to a fairly quick moving queue to board the boat and forgettably I forgot my face mask which they deem essential. I know in this climate it’s a silly mistake, however you would think they would maybe offer some to paying customers, not charge for £2 for x2 masks which is incredibly steep!
Moving on to the actual boat tour, in my opinion there’s still to many people on the boat. I’m aware it was the nicest day for a long while however it still feels like cattle class. People were social distancing and it’s clearly marked where you are allowed to sit.
The tour lasts around an hour and the view is incredible of the lake, there is a few facts thrown in every now and then from the skipper however no commentary on the lakes history which is suggested on the site. I enjoyed the tour mostly because of the fantastic weather and the staff were very friendly, I wouldn’t rush to do it again though. Not to say it was a bad experience.
Arrived to a fairly quick moving queue to board the boat and forgettably I forgot my face mask which they deem essential. I know in this climate it’s a silly mistake, however you would think they would maybe offer some to paying customers, not charge for £2 for x2 masks which is incredibly steep!
Moving on to the actual boat tour, in my opinion there’s still to many people on the boat. I’m aware it was the nicest day for a long while however it still feels like cattle class. People were social distancing and it’s clearly marked where you are allowed to sit.
The tour lasts around an hour and the view is incredible of the lake, there is a few facts thrown in every now and then from the skipper however no commentary on the lakes history which is suggested on the site. I enjoyed the tour mostly because of the fantastic weather and the staff were very friendly, I wouldn’t rush to do it again though. Not to say it was a bad experience.
Written 31 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many Thanks for your review, as face coverings are mandatory, we do have these for sale should any passengers have forgotten their own . We are following government guidelines, and have reduced our capacity on board, to ensure that we are operating in a Covid19 secure manner in regards to seating on board.
We are delighted that you enjoyed the scenery
Written 12 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rosanna M
Inverness, UK216 contributions
Oct 2020 • Friends
Friend and I booked one of the new allocated seating cruises that are being trialled due to Covid 19. Online booking and subsequent receipt of tickets at the ticket office was great. Social distancing measures at the office and in the boarding queue were very good and all the seating areas are very clearly marked plus crew give clear directions as to which deck etc you need to go to. Rather surprised though that even though you must wear a face mask at all times on board, there is no distancing between actual seats. That’s why I’ve given 4 not 5 stars. Our cruise wasn’t full so we moved to a seat further back where we felt more comfortable. Reassuring though to see everywhere being well sanitised between each sailing. We were given a 10% off voucher for use in their own cafes which we used twice. Cafes well run in accordance with Covid 19 measures. Lovely warm fruit scone with butter, jam, clotted cream and a cappuccino was £5.15. We also used their own car park which was £7.50 for over 5 hours. All in all a very good experience in line with a previous trip with the same company last year
Written 2 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for a great review, we do have to adhere to the 1m+ on board and our seating is such
Written 12 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Can you hop on and off at different points around Lake Windermere?
Written 29 July 2023
Yes. Windermere Jetty (steamboat Museum), Brockhole (National park visitor Centre), National Trust's Wray Castle and National Trust's Fell Foot
Also, Bowness, Ambleside and Lakeside
Written 1 September 2024
How do you book tickets in advance? Can this be done online?
Written 29 July 2023
Turn up on the day is ok. But remember it's busy at weekend and bank holidays
Written 13 August 2023
Is it necessary to book before going on steamer from Lakeside
Written 16 September 2020
Yes, it needs to be done on-line beforehand. We found it really straight forward & thoroughly enjoyed our trip.
Written 17 September 2020
Hi Thinking of doing the islands cruise with 2 elderly people. Are there a lot of steps involved ? Is inside or outside easier to get to? Thanks x
Written 15 September 2020
Hi. Not sure if the size of the boat for the island cruise but the other boats didn’t have too many steps if you’re downstairs. If you use the chat function on their website they respond straightaway and are really helpful
Written 17 September 2020
Hi is there parking available nearby, thank you.
Written 25 August 2020
Hi, I'm looking at booking the steam train and boat from Hatherwaite to Bowness. When you get to Bowness, is it walkable distance to the centre and the attractions such as Beatrix Potter? Thanks
Written 24 August 2020
Agree with the above. We enjoyed Keswick Centre better for shops and eateries as its pedestrianised and a bit quieter. Not been to Beatrix Potter for many years but have many find memories of it. Definitely book every attraction online and also restaurants. Tip - before you come into Dock on the ferry use the loos as there are not many public loos available in dry land!
Written 27 August 2020
Hi, why weren't we given a ticket or receipt when we paid to go on the exciting land train trip? While we were sat in the car park waiting for the roundtrip to resume my children noticed that people paying there were given tickets .
Written 15 July 2019
Hello - there was two days last week where the Road Train ticket machine was not working properly -this meant that no tickets were printed from the train and only from Braithwaite Fold carpark, Our IT dept did try to resolve the problems as quickly as possible and we're pleased to say everything is working properly again! However you should have received a handwritten receipt- we'll check with our Road Train staff to ensure they follow correct procedure
Written 17 July 2019
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