Windermere Transport & Parking
How to get to Windermere and transport around the Windermere area by car, bus, taxi, bike and boat and park once you’re here.
- From Manchester airport to Windermere
- Train and coach from London
- Buses around Windermere
- Windermere car hire
- Taxis in and around Windermere
- Windermere area ferries and boat connections
- Bike hire in Windermere
- Windermere area boat hire
- Windermere parking mega map
Getting to Windermere from overseas
There are no passenger flights into anywhere in Cumbria and the Lake District. If visiting from abroad the airport with the easiest connections is Manchester Airport.
Manchester Airport
: 88 miles from Windermere
By rail: a direct rail connection from a terminal inside Manchester airport to Oxenholme Station just outside Kendal. Change at Oxenholme for the 20 minute rail journey to Windermere Station. Total travelling time from the airport to Windermere Station is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. Check times & fares and book tickets here >>
By car: car hire is available at Manchester Airport. The journey time is around 1 hour and 25 minutes via the M60, M61 and M6. Hire your car here >>
By coach: a direct connection from Manchester Airport to Windermere is available with National Express. Journey time is just over 4 hours. Check times & fares and book tickets here >>
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Train from London to Windermere
The fastest train from London to Windermere Station takes around 3 hours and 6 minutes. Most trains involve only one change, at Oxenholme or Preston. Trains leave London Euston station at intervals of one hour or less from around 5.30 am to 7.30 pm. The two later trains, up to the 11.30 pm departure, are far less convenient and the journey can take up to 9 hours and 15 minutes. Check times & fares and book tickets here >>
Coach from London to Windermere
As of December 2024, National Express does not operate a direct coach service from Windermere to London. Travelers typically take a train from Windermere to a major city like Manchester or Birmingham, where they can connect to a National Express coach bound for London. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it’s advisable to use National Express’s journey planner on their official website or contact their customer service directly. Website: timetables.nationalexpress.com/
Travel around Windermere
There are no standard railway connections in the South Lake District after Windermere Station.
Buses around Windermere
505 : Coniston > Hawkshead > Ambleside > Windermere
516 : (Kendal > Ings >) Windermere > Brockhole > Ambleside > Elterwater > Dungeon Ghyll
555 : (Lancaster) > Kendal > Windermere > Bowness > Brockhole > Ambleside > Grasmere > Keswick
599 : Bowness > Windermere > Brockhole > Ambleside > Rydal > Grasmere
6 : Windermere > Bowness > Fell Foot > Newby Bridge
755 : Morecambe > Carnforth > Milnthorpe > Kendal > Ings > Windermere > Bowness
Cross Lakes : Bowness > Ferry > Hill Top > Hawkshead
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Windermere Car Hire
Co-Wheels Car Club : Pay as you drive electric car hire at Windermere and Oxenholme stations
Windermere Taxis
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- Lakeside Taxis at Windermere 015394 88888 and Kendal 01539 239 239
- Lakes Taxis at Windermere 015394 46777
- South Cumbria Taxis in Bowness-on-Windermere 07835 505697
- Pegasus Taxis & Travel in Bowness-on-Windermere 015394 88888
- Windermere Taxis 015394 42355
- John’s Taxi in Ambleside 07759 143423
- Hilltop Taxis in Ambleside 07979 664472
- Adam’s Taxis Ambleside 07553 835820
- Hawkshead Taxis 015394 36946
- Bluebird Tours in Coniston
- K Cars in Kendal 01539 731000
Windermere area ferries and boat connections
The Windermere Ferry is the only water transport which takes cars. Windermere Lake Cruises, the Coniston Launch and the Steam Yacht Gondola operate lake cruises. You can also jump on and off at different landing stages around the lakes of Windermere and Coniston.
See also :
Related pages:
Windermere parking mega map
Click the icon on the top right to go to full screen map.