A small town on the shores of Windermere lake and the Lake District's most popular visitor destination.

The Windermere Ferry is a vehicular cable ferry which crosses Windermere, the largest lake in England and located within English county of Cumbria. The ferry route forms part of the B5285 road and crosses the lake at about its midpoint, from Ferry Nab in Bowness-on-Windermere to Ferry House at Far Sawrey, a distance of some 490 metres (540 yd). The ferry is owned and operated by Westmorland and Furness Council. The ferry operates all year, with services every 20 minutes from early morning to mid-evening. Each crossing can carry up to 18 cars and over 100 passengers and takes less than 10 minutes. A toll is charged. If the ferry is not operating, the alternative is a road journey of approximately 15 miles (24 km) around either the head or foot of the lake. The historic county boundary between Lancashire and Westmorland runs down the western shore of the lake and also along about three miles (5 km) of the southern section of the eastern shore. Anyone crossing the lake from east to west on the Windermere Ferry thus travels from the historic county of Westmorland to that of Lancashire.

Windermere Jetty has a stunning collection of steamboats that hold history to the Lake District World Heritage Site. There are 40 vessels which tell the story of boating on Lake Windermere from 1780. Everything at Windermere Jetty links back to the lake. If you have done the museum, don’t forget what is most important, food. Make sure you visit their brand new lakeside café which offers spectacular views (whatever the weather). The working steamers and the conservation workshop supply the smells, sounds and sights of life on the lake, and their exhibitions tell the many stories of south Lakeland’s boats, builders, owners and users. Finally, don’t forget to take a trip out on the lake with their Heritage Boat Trip to finish off your trip!

The Lake District’s natural beauty and abundant wildlife inspired Beatrix Potter to write her much-loved stories. Come and explore this wonderful landscape where the tales are brought to life.