Windermere in Summer

As others have said, it's easy to get back up to Windemere, and you can get the bus to/from Keswick etc. or a quick train to Kendal from there. If it's a rainy day you can also gaze at the overpriced but naice items in the big Lakeland store. Don't forget to buy local though!

DH and I went in Feb during term time and then again in August with the children. I was dreading it for the same reason but it was fine. Obviously busier but not so bad that I wouldn’t return. We booked the ferry in advance and had a fantastic time.

The buses are cheap (£2 per journey and go from Bowness to all the places I mentioned) so better use those. The first time we went was in August and we didn't have any issues driving around and mostly found places to park. We were driving away from the towns though. I remember walking around Keswick and the traffic at about 4-5pm was pretty bad.

Honestly I love the Lake District so much but I hated Bowness on Windemere. Awful dirty place and just really blah. Keswick, Grasmere, Ambleside etc are gorgeous places to stay though. I am very tempted to move to Keswick in a few years.

Already the weekends are getting busy, there was no parking to be had so we ended up going back to Ambleside which was a little quieter. I don't think we'd try in the summer holidays.
We attempted Ambleside two Saturdays ago against our better judgement and it was a disaster. The first car on the right from Windermere was full, the main town car park was full with cars circling like vultures getting ready for a carcass. No parking at Rydal, none at Grasmere. We eventually got some roadside on the A591.
We couldn't believe how stupid we were to even attempt going when we know better!
I'll stick to my weekdays in term time and at weekends stick to the west and north West lakes!

I’d do somewhere quieter northern or western lakes. As Windermere is mad in summer and not pleasant.

Absolute hell in bowness.

I usually visit the lakes in winter but an old friend wanted to meet up who i haven't seen in ages.

Queues for everything, everywhere was rammed, couldn't be spontaneous at all, book in advance or no chance.

But then we got up on the fells and within half a mile from the nearest car park we had one person in sight.

If you can’t change dates and would like to visit the lakes, visit the western lakes. None of the madness of the tourist honeypot and all of the beauty.

look around Seascale, St Bees, if you like the coast, if you want to be immersed in the lakes try near Bassenthwaite, Wastwater, Boot

Very very different to Bowness though. I think people go to Bowness for the nightlife and shops.

Is that not crowded yet? I might go in May. Not half term obviously.

We're having a long weekend in the lakes at the moment, staying in Coniston but had a run into Windermere yesterday.
Already the weekends are getting busy, there was no parking to be had so we ended up going back to Ambleside which was a little quieter. I don't think we'd try in the summer holidays.

We hired a boat from Ambleside for the day. Floated into Windermere and parked it there for a few hours.

I'd go to Coniston instead.

Lakeland Taxis did a loss leader rate to Bowness from Windermere up to a couple of years ago (last time I went!), about a fiver, but we arrived about 11pm so walking with luggage wasn't really an option

I always found there were very few crowds before about 10:30, if you're going out & about, go then

Buttermere is so beautiful and much quieter

I'm changing my mind!

If you're staying in Bowness, that may be easier as you can walk down to the lake rather than needing parking which fills up so quickly. There is a gorgeous boutique hotel over looking the lake, or the Old England hotel which is on the lake.

If you need to go somewhere in the car, set off early as the roads get busy in the lakes, and they are largely smaller roads.

Maybe with some planning, you can make it amazing. Do your research and book tables for eating in advance, buy tickets for attractions in advance and book for earlier on in the day. It can be done with planning. It's a beautiful place and although busy, still lovely.

If you want any advice, help, please let me know 😊

It's very busy but still absolutely gorgeous 😍 ❤️
We go every summer holidays and still manage to have a wonderful time. (As do clearly lots of other people).
My dad was very poorly in hospital last summer so we just went for a day trip (me, my mam, DS6 and DD3), we parked and went for breakfast, visited the Beatrix Potter attraction and had cake, went down and parked next to the lake (did take us a while to find a space but this was the only problem we had) took a lake cruise across to the Aquarium and enjoyed that, steam railway, back in the lake Cruise to Bowness, fish and chips for tea, ice cream and then home.
It was the best day.

Keswick is still busy but not anything like Windermere and ambleside. I’ve stayed on ambleside a couple of times out of season but a few years ago, it was fine. Staying in Keswick last year, not in school holidays, surprised by how busy it was, thought we’d pop into Windermere, it was dreadful, parking, shuffling along pavements, couldn’t find anywhere not paced to eat. left and went back to Keswick.

As a Lakes lover and regular visitor, I would say avoid Bowness/Windermere in the summer. It will be absolutely heaving!
We have stayed in a lovely cottage just above Bowness a number of times but always at Feb/October.

Would you consider somewhere else? Keswick is a lovely town and although it can be busy, it is nothing like as bad as windermere and bowness. Lots to do around there.

We are staying near Ullswater at Easter - again, lovely and lots to do, but not as busy as other places.

I would also agree with a previous poster about shopping local - we always shop local when we visit. Booths is a great supermarket and there are good independent butchers etc and a market at Keswick.

Are you already booked to stay in Bowness. If you can only July and August for your break would you consider the West coast? It is often less crowded and still have spectacular walks and views?

Aaaaaaah Booths - or Waitrose on steroids as it’s known in this house.

I used to live near there. Please please please do take the train to Windemere, then it's then a 25 minute walk down to centre of Bowness, or you could take the bus. There is far too much traffic there already, getting worse with the massive SUV cars everyone seems to have these days, so every little helps. Thanks.

But, like others have said, Bowness is very busy and there are other places to consider. Keswick is preferable, I think, but again it can be busy too, especially at the weekend - book your restaurant/pub table.

P.S. Also, please don't do all your grocery shopping before coming. Instead please use the local shops and the large Booths supermarket is great, it's right next to the train station.

I love busy! I love the atmosphere of loads of people having a good time. I don't see that as a reason to avoid - the only downside is driving about in bad traffic but otherwise? Good thing is everything is open.

I’d second looking at Keswick. Yes it will be busy but you can access a lot of fantastic walks without a car so don’t need to battle traffic every day.