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Yellow Cruise, Motor Museum & Aquarium

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

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Yellow Cruise is weekends only in January/early February

The Yellow Cruise (Bowness ↔ Lakeside) does not operate Mondays-Fridays between 6 January and 7 February 2025. It only operates on Saturdays and Sundays.

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£99.00

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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Additional Information

Service Status

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Today's service status

🔴 RED CRUISE

Bowness → Ambleside Waterhead → Bowness

✔️ Services OK

🟡 YELLOW CRUISE

Bowness ↔ Lakeside

❌ Weekends only until 7 February 2025

🔵 ISLANDS CRUISE

Bowness → Bowness

✔️ Services OK

🚤MOTOR BOAT HIRE

Bowness Beach ONLY

✔️ Services OK

🕑: We are now running to our off-peak season timetable (autumn/winter/spring). More routes and services available after 4 April 2025.

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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.