About the area
Nestled on the shores of Lake Windermere, Bowness-on-Windermere is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Lake District. This is a haven for lovers of outdoor pursuits and you’ll find lots of opportunities for sailing and water sports in the town. There are plenty of shops and tea rooms too.
Also in Bowness you’ll find the World of Beatrix Potter Experience. There are displays showing some of her most famous creations, as well as interactive exhibits that bring the farmyard characters and animals to life.
Windermere is England’s largest lake and there are lots of things to do for visitors in the area. You can hop on a steamship or a cruiser or see the lake under your own steam by hiring a kayak or canoe. The western shore is particularly good for cycling, with family-friendly routes.
At the northern tip of Lake Windermere is Ambleside, a small town that’s big on activities. There’s a cinema here as well as a number of restaurants and shops. You can take a ferry at Waterhead Pier across the lake, or even hop on a horse-drawn carriage if you’re here in the summer months.
Blackwell Arts and Crafts House was designed as a special holiday retreat for a Manchester businessman in the Victorian era. The house still displays many of the original features and also hosts exhibitions throughout the year.
Take a short journey to Grasmere and you’ll be following in the poet William Wordsworth’s footsteps. He thought this was one of the loveliest spots of England, and made his home here at Dove Cottage. The cottage is now a museum and still contains many of William and his sister Dorothy’s possessions.
Another famous writer who lived in the Lake District was John Ruskin, whose former home, Brantwood, is now a museum to the arts. There are lots of treasures from Ruskin’s time, as well as quizzes and activities for the children to enjoy.
There are many choices for dining in the area such as Angel Inn, Villa Positana and House of Siam a popular Thai restaurant all in Bowness which is only one mile away from Birkdale House. Hooked fish restaurant in Windermere and Zeferellis vegetarian restaurant in Ambleside both come highly recommended.