Windermere: England’s largest lake
Bowness, Ambleside and Windermere station – the gateway to the Lake District.
Windermere is England’s largest natural lake and lies in the south of the Lake District National Park. According to the National Park Authority it is 10.5 miles long, 64 metres (210 ft) deep and has 18 islands; the area around the lake is the best known and busiest in the whole Lake District.
On the east shore lie Windermere town with the railway station, Bowness-on-Windermere with the busiest pier, and at the northern end Ambleside with Waterhead pier. The lake itself is free; you pay for cruises, boat hire and parking.
The National Park Authority gives two conversions for the length: just over 18 km on its area page and 17 km on its facts page; 10.5 miles is just under 17 km.
LDNPA: Explore Windermere and Ambleside (lake, railway, ferry, walks) ↗
In numbers
- Length
- 10.5 miles
- Depth
- 64 m (210 ft)
- Area
- 14.8 km²
- Islands
- 18
- Train from Oxenholme
- about 30 minutes
- Bowness – Ambleside by boat
- 35 minutes
- Ferry
- room for 18 cars
- Entrance
- free
