Windermere in Summer

[Onlyforaday]

I'm guessing it'll be extremely busy. Would you avoid it like the plague or could we enjoy a short break in July/August? Travelling as a couple and staying in Bowness.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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'm back with an update and my thanks to all who've posted. Apparently we are booked into a lovely hotel in Bowness for 2 nights only now. For reasons I can't share here I need to make the trip. I will be taken there and back and, as it's for such a short time, I will make of it what I can. I am going to plan an autumn (term time) visit if I get chance. Thanks again

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.

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.

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.

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!