Getting There
Trains to Windermere meet the main line at Oxenholme for connections to both Scotland and London. You can obtain information about rail services in the area by calling the railway information line at tel. 0845/748-4950, or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk. Frequent connections are possible throughout the day. To get to Bowness and its ferry pier from Windermere, turn left from the rail terminal and cross the center of Windermere until you reach New Road, which eventually changes its name to Lake Road before it approaches the outskirts of Bowness. It's about a 20-minute walk downhill. The Lakeland Experience bus also runs from the Windermere Station to Bowness every 20 minutes.
The National Express bus link, originating at London's Victoria Coach Station, serves Windermere, with connections also to Preston, Manchester, and Birmingham. For schedules and information, call tel. 0870/580-8080 or visit www.nationalexpress.com. Local buses operated mainly by Stagecoach (tel. 0870/608-2608; www.stagecoachbus.com) go to Kendal, Ambleside, Grasmere, and Keswick. Call for information on various routings within the Lake District.
If you're driving from London, head north on the M1 and the M6 past Liverpool until you reach the A685 junction heading west to Kendal. From Kendal, the A591 continues west to Windermere.
Visitor Information
The Tourist Information Centre at Windermere is on Victoria Street (tel. 01539/446499; www.visitwindermere.co.uk). It's open November to March Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm, and April to October Sunday to Thursday 9am to 6pm and Friday to Saturday until 6:30pm.
