Explore Windermere
Choose your boat:
Choose your boat:
Enjoy a relaxing journey aboard our scenic sightseeing cruises – ranging from quick jaunts to all-day explorations with a Freedom of the Lake ticket.
Or embrace the freedom of being your own captain with our popular motor boat and row boat hire.
Windermere Lake Cruises offers unforgettable ways to explore the iconic Lake District landscape.
Enjoy a perfect day out by taking the boat to some fantastic local attractions. Look out for our combined cruise and attraction tickets.
Choose your boat:
No matter where you start your journey, from Ambleside (Waterhead) in the north, to Lakeside in the south, you'll be treated to magnificent views of mountain scenery, secluded bays and the many wooded islands from England’s largest lake.
Stunningly scenic trips on Lake Windermere, departing daily from Ambleside, Bowness, Brockhole or Lakeside piers.
Or make a day of it with a Combined Cruise and add one or two attractions to your cruise.
Sit back, relax and take it all in. Here's a sneak peek at the stunning views, memorable sights, and breathtaking beauty you’ll see from on board.
Bowness Pier is the bustling heart of our operation. Most of our cruises depart from this location.
Quiet electric boats for hire for one or two hours.
Experience the finest Lake District views from the outer decks of our vessels.
MV Swift operates on the Red Cruise connecting Bowness, Brockhole and Ambleside (Waterhead)
Sit back, relax and take it all in. Here's a sneak peek at the stunning views, memorable sights, and breathtaking beauty you’ll see from on board.
Explore Windermere with ease and enjoy a fun, safe day out for the whole family in our modern electric motor boats. Simple to operate and available from Bowness Beach, Bowness Dock, Waterhead, and Lakeside, they're perfect for discovering the lake's beauty.
Hire from £44
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Explore Windermere's beauty in a uniquely romantic way aboard a traditional clinker-design rowing boat. These classic vessels, available from Bowness Beach or Waterhead, have graced the lake's waters since the 1800s and carefully maintained ever since.
Hire from £26
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As a family of four we had a fantastic time on the boat. Easy to use and lots of friendly and helpful people showing you everything plus the weather was brilliant so couldn’t have gone any better. Would highly recommend this and cannot wait to come back now thank you very much. ~Liam. Google Reviews.
Great trip on the lake in the boat. Very careful about safety instructions and spotlessly clean and well looked after boat. Highly recommended! ~Fi M. Google Reviews.
Highlight of our visit was taking a boat out around the lake. The staff were super friendly, informative, helpful and they were great with our dog who was even allowed on board! Beautiful way to see the lake and thankfully we were blessed with the weather. Would 100% recommend. Laura McNamara. Google Reviews
Fantastic time hiring a boat for an hour. Third year in a row we have done it and it's always excellent. Book online as it does get fully booked. Easy, swift service once we arrive and great staff. Highly recommend! ~Morgan Ditchburn. Google Reviews.
As a family of four we had a fantastic time on the boat. Easy to use and lots of friendly and helpful people showing you everything plus the weather was brilliant so couldn’t have gone any better. Would highly recommend this and cannot wait to come back now thank you very much. ~Liam. Google Reviews.
Great trip on the lake in the boat. Very careful about safety instructions and spotlessly clean and well looked after boat. Highly recommended! ~Fi M. Google Reviews.
Highlight of our visit was taking a boat out around the lake. The staff were super friendly, informative, helpful and they were great with our dog who was even allowed on board! Beautiful way to see the lake and thankfully we were blessed with the weather. Would 100% recommend. Laura McNamara. Google Reviews
Fantastic time hiring a boat for an hour. Third year in a row we have done it and it's always excellent. Book online as it does get fully booked. Easy, swift service once we arrive and great staff. Highly recommend! ~Morgan Ditchburn. Google Reviews.
From a full day of adventure on Windermere to exploring exciting events on and off the water, see how you can make the most of your Lake District adventure.
14 November 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
Explore England’s largest lake
