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Current Service Status: amber
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Yellow Cruise, Motor Museum & Aquarium

A great day out for the whole family at the southern tip of Windermere

This discounted ticket combines a beautiful half lake cruise on Windermere with a visit to two top attractions - Lakes Aquarium right next to Lakeside Pier and Lakeland Motor Museum that's a 15 mins drive away. This ticket is great for the whole family and combines stunning views from the water, and a fascinating insight into the heritage and wildlife of the local area. You should allow yourself at least 4 hours to make the most of this combined ticket, but you don't have to visit Lakeland Motor Museum on the same day - its valid for 5 days after your cruise & Aquarium visit.


Your ticket includes:

  • A return Yellow Cruise from Bowness to Lakeside along the southern half of England's largest lake offering stunning views of woodlands, historic houses and beautiful gardens. A commentary is provided in either direction and the journey can be broken with a visit to Bowness village - home of numerous shops, pubs and restaurants. (Cruise takes 40 minutes one-way, a circular non-stop takes 90 minutes)
  • A visit to the fascinating Lakes Aquarium to discover incredible creatures from otters and diving ducks to pirahna and pike. There's events on every day including 'meet the creature' sessions. Find out more on their website.
  • A visit to the Lakeland Motor Museum - home to a collection of over 30,000 cars, motorcycles, scooters, cycles and auto memorabilia. Highlights include a Campbell Bluebird exhibition, Vincent motorcycle display and an Isle of Man TT display. There's something for the whole family with a riverside cafe, local heritage and period shopping displays. Find out more on their website.

Five days to visit the museum

  • You have to visit the Aquarium and do your cruise on the same day, but you can visit Lakeland Motor Museum 5 days after if you keep your e-ticket.
  • You will require your own transport to travel between Lakeside Pier and Lakeland Motor Museum. You don't have to visit on the same day - you can visit the museum within 5 days of your cruise.

    Directions >

Standard Ticket Prices (valid from Monday 4th November 2024 until Friday 4th April 2025)

  • Prices below are return fares
  • Book your tickets by selecting a date in the 'Book Your Cruise' box below.
Adults Children Families
£33.50£21.00£96.00

Additional Information

  • The Lakes Aquarium is a 2 minute walk from Lakeside Pier.
  • The Lakes Aquarium charges entry for 3 and 4 year olds.
  • Yellow cruise does not operate Monday to Friday in January, service only runs at weekends.
A great ticket that includes a scenic cruise and fascinating exhibits from the natural and industrial world.

A great ticket that includes a scenic cruise and fascinating exhibits from the natural and industrial world.

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Book Your Cruise

Select a date to view prices and sailing times.

  • Child prices are valid for children aged 5-15 years. Children under 5 travel free.
  • Family tickets are valid for 2 adults and up to 3 children.

Timetable

This ticket can be used to start from either Bowness or Lakeside and is valid on all scheduled Yellow Cruise departure times and not time specific.

Image(s) shown above may not represent the vessel which operates this service.

Today's sailings from Lakeside

Depart LakesideArrive BownessVessel type
09:4510:25Launch
11:2012:00Launch
13:0513:45Launch
14:5015:30Launch

Today's sailings from Bowness

Depart BownessArrive LakesideVessel type
10:3011:10Launch
12:1512:55Launch
14:0014:40Launch
15:3516:15Launch

Additional Information

Service Status

amber

Warning Image

🍃 WINDY WEATHER - Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 December (page updated -21/12/25 9:40am)

Strong winds are forecast for this weekend. As a precaution, we have suspended all cruise and self-drive bookings.
Winds are getting stronger this afternoon, so services are closing earlier today - see details below.

Please keep checking back as weather conditions can change.

Today's Service Status

🔴 RED CRUISE Bowness → Brockhole → Ambleside Waterhead → Bowness

⚠️ Services OK this morning
Last boat Bowness → Ambleside at 14:15
Last boat Ambleside → Bowness at 14:30

🟡 YELLOW CRUISEBowness ↔ Lakeside

⚠️ Services OK this morning
Last boat Bowness → Lakeside at 14:00
Last boat Lakeside → Bowness at 13:05

🔵 ISLANDS CRUISE

Bowness → W'Mere Jetty Museum → Bowness

✔️ Services OK
🚤 MOTOR BOAT HIRE
Bowness Beach only

⚠️ Just turn up today. 1 hour bookings only.
Last hire is 13:00 →
14:00

🕑: We are now running to our off-peak season timetable (autumn/winter/spring).

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Load Map

Access and facilities

♿ Disabled Access

Four different types of vessels operate this services with varying accessibility.

  • ♿ MV Swift - (marked with a green wheelchair icon on our timetables): our most accessible vessel - step-free access from pier to indoor/outdoor seating & accessible toilet
  • ♿ 'Steamers' MV Swan/Teal - (marked with black wheelchair icon on our timetables) - step-free access from pier to indoor/outdoor seating. Toilets down steep steps.

Please visit our Accessibility section for more information.

Wheelchair users are strongly advised to call us to confirm which vessel is operating on which service, particularly in poor weather conditions. As on rare occasions, the vessels operating each route can change.


🧑‍🦽 Carer goes free policy

If a disabled adult in your group needs a carer, then the carer travels free. For more information about this scheme and to see all the terms and conditions, please read our company policy for disabled passengers.


☕ On-Board Facilities

  • MV Swift - ☕ 🍺🍷🥪Full bar with hot/cold drinks, draught beer/lager & sandwiches/snacks | 🚾Toilets including accessible toilet | 💺Indoor & outdoor seats
  • 'Steamers' Swan/Teal/Tern - ☕ 🍺🍷🥪 Full bar with hot/cold drinks, draught beer/lager & sandwiches/snacks | 🚾 Multiple toilets | 💺 Indoor & outdoor seats

🎫 Conditions of Carriage

Our services are provided in accordance with our Conditions of Carriage.


🚭 No Smoking Policy

For the safety and comfort of all passengers and crew, Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd operates a no smoking policy on-board its vessels, piers and shore premises. This includes electronic cigarettes.


🐶 Dogs

All well behaved dogs are welcome on board and travel for free.


🚲 Bikes

Bikes are welcome on board our larger vessels if space is available. Each bike will cost £2 per journey pier to pier payable on the day of travel.

Upgrade your cruise

Did you know that you can make more of your cruise by upgrading it? Why not combine your cruise with a local attraction, or enjoy a full day on Windermere with a Freedom of the Lake ticket, allowing you unlimited travel for 24 hours.

Freedom of the Lake, Motor Museum & Aquarium

Freedom of the Lake, Motor Museum & Aquarium

Spend a day exploring the lake and visit two local attractions | ⚓ Unlimited boats + 🐠 Aquarium + 🚗 Museum 🕑 5 hours +

Upgrade Book Now