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Freedom of the Lake, Steam Train & Aquarium

Explore the lake and picturesque Levens Valley via boat and train with a visit to the Lakes Aquarium.

This discounted ticket combines a day's worth of boat travel on Windermere with a visit to two top attractions just minutes from Lakeside Pier. It's a great day out for the whole family and combines stunning views from the water, and a fascinating insight into the heritage and wildlife of the local area.

You should allow yourself at least 6 hours to make the most of this combined ticket.

Your ticket includes:

  • Unlimited travel on board any of our boats for 24 hours including the Red Cruise, Green Cruise, Blue (Islands) Cruise and the Yellow Cruise to Lakeside Pier thats convenient for the Aquarium and Motor Museum. This ticket is the most economical way of visiting these attractions by boat if travelling from our Ambleside (Waterhead) PIer.
  • A visit to the fascinating Lakes Aquarium to discover incredible creatures from otters and diving ducks to piranha and pike. There's events on every day including 'meet the creature' sessions. Find out more on their website.
  • A return ticket on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam Railway offering stunning views of the Leven Valley from its historic carriages. Haverthwaite Station has a visitor's centre, gift shop and playground. Lakeside station is a one minute walk from the pier. Find out more on their website.
  • Please note that the train journey can only be taken on the day that the tickets are redeemed. Only the boat travel is valid for the full 24 hours.

How to buy:

  • Book your cruise/combined ticket by entering a date below and following the payment instructions
  • You'll be sent an email voucher after purchase via our safe and secure website
  • Print off the email voucher and bring it to with you on the day to exchange it for your tickets

Standard Ticket Prices (valid from Saturday 23rd March 2024 until Sunday 3rd November 2024)

  • Prices below are return fares
  • Book your tickets by selecting a date in the 'Book Your Cruise' box below.
Adults Children Families
£44.00£24.50£123.00

Additional Information

This ticket is available all year round, but there are some restrictions on travel during some parts of the year:

  • The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway operates only during the peak summer season
  • The yellow cruise to Lakeside Pier, Aquarium & Lakeside Railway Station operates weekends only in January.
  • The Lakes Aquarium charges entry for 3 and 4 year olds.
A full day out to explore the lake and the best of Lakeland heritage.

A full day out to explore the lake and the best of Lakeland heritage.

Enjoy a full day on Windermere and enjoy some great attractions at the south of the lake.

View Photo Gallery and Video

Book Your Cruise

Select a date to view prices and sailing times.

  • Child prices are valid for children aged 5-15 years. Children under 5 travel free.
  • Family tickets are valid for 2 adults and up to 3 children.

Timetable

Our ‘Freedom of the Lake' ticket is valid on all our scheduled sailings (includes blue, red, yellow and green cruises) for a period of 24 hours.We are unable to show all the timetable options for this great value ticket on one page, please refer back to our ‘cruises’ page for details or download a printed version of our brochures.

Additional Information

Service Status

green

Today's Service Status

🔴 RED CRUISE Bowness → W'Mere Jetty Museum →Brockhole → Ambleside Waterhead → Bowness
✔️ Services OK
🟡 YELLOW CRUISEBowness ↔ Lakeside

✔️ Services OK

🔵 ISLANDS CRUISE

Bowness → Bowness

✔️ Services OK
🚤 MOTOR BOAT HIRE from Bowness
Bowness Beach / Bowness Dock ↻

✔️ Beach OK
❌ Dock closed

🚤 MOTOR BOAT HIRE from WaterheadWaterhead (near Ambleside) ↻

✔️ Services OK

🟤 YELLOW CRUISE & STEAM TRAINHaverthwaite ↔ Lakeside ↔ Bowness✔️ Services OK
🟢 GREEN CRUISEAmbleside → Wray Castle → Brockhole → Ambleside✔️ Services OK
🚶 WALKERS TICKETBowness → Brockhole → Wray Castle → Walk ↻❌ Keep checking back
🚣 ROW BOAT HIRE from BownessBowness Beach / Bowness Dock ↻⚠️ Starts 29 March
🚣 ROW BOAT HIRE from WaterheadWaterhead (near Ambleside) ↻⚠️ Starts 29 April

CROSS LAKES SHUTTLE

Bowness ↔ Ferry House❌ Keep checking back
FELL FOOT FERRYLakeside ↔ Fell Foot
⚠️ Starts 25 May

🕑: We are now running to our peak season timetable.

Route Map

Load Map

Access & Facilities

♿ Disabled Access

Three different types of vessels operate on our routes with varying accessibility.

  • ♿ MV Swift - (marked with a green wheelchair icon on our timetables): our most accessible vessel - step-free access from pier to indoor/outdoor seating & accessible toilet
  • ♿ 'Steamers' MV Swan/Teal - (marked with black wheelchair icon on our timetables) - step-free access from pier to indoor/outdoor seating. Toilets down steep steps.
  • ❌ 'Steamer' Tern & modern launches like Miss Cumbria/Miss Lakeland - are not recommended for customers with limited mobility
  • ❌ Traditional launches like Queen of The Lake - are not recommended for customers with limited mobility

Please visit our Accessibility section for more information.

Wheelchair users are strongly advised to call us to confirm which vessel is operating on which service, particularly in poor weather conditions. As on rare occasions, the vessels operating each route can change.


🧑‍🦽 Carer goes free policy

If a disabled adult in your group needs a carer, then the carer travels free. For more information about this scheme and to see all the terms and conditions, please read our company policy for disabled passengers.


☕ On-Board Facilities

  • MV Swift - ☕ 🍺🍷🥪Full bar with hot/cold drinks, draught beer/lager & sandwiches/snacks | 🚾Toilets including accessible toilet | 💺Indoor & outdoor seats
  • 'Steamers' Swan/Teal/Tern - ☕ 🍺🍷🥪 Full bar with hot/cold drinks, draught beer/lager & sandwiches/snacks | 🚾 Multiple toilets | 💺 Indoor & outdoor seats
  • Launches like Miss Cumbria/Miss Lakeland - 🍾 Bottle bar with hot/cold drinks/snacks | 🚾 Single toilets | 💺 Indoor & outdoor seats
  • Traditional launches like Queen of The Lake - 💺 Indoor & outdoor seats

🎫 Conditions of Carriage

Our services are provided in accordance with our Conditions of Carriage.


🚭 No Smoking Policy

For the safety and comfort of all passengers and crew, Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd operates a no smoking policy on-board its vessels, piers and shore premises. This includes electronic cigarettes.


🐶 Dogs

All well behaved dogs are welcome on board and travel for free.


🚲 Bikes

Bikes are welcome on board our larger vessels if space is available. Each bike will cost £1 per journey pier to pier payable on the day of travel.


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Annual Pass

Annual Pass

Unlimited cruising for a whole year. | ⚓ Valid on any daytime cruise every day except Christmas Day 📆 364 days

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