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Red Cruise & Windermere Jetty Museum

Enjoy our most scenic half-lake cruise with a visit to this fascinating lakeshore museum.

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This ticket has now ended. Back in 2024.

During our off-peak season, only the Islands (Blue) Cruise calls into Windermere Jetty Museum.

You can see this ticket here.

Make the most of the sights, smells and sounds of life on the lake, at this stunning attraction on the edge of Bowness village.

Windermere Jetty Museum is a spectacular museum on the shores of Windermere. Architecturally stunning, housing one of the world’s most important collection of historic boats, the museum also offers up incredible views across the lake. Best of all, there’s no better way to visit than by boat – combine a scenic cruise around the northern half of Windermere with a visit to the museum for the perfect day out.

Boat arriving at Windermere Jetty Pier with logo superimposed on top

Your day:

Start your day at Bowness, Brockhole or Ambleside and disembark at Windermere Jetty. We drop you within a few steps of the museum; inside, explore interactive galleries and see classic boats both in and out of the water – dating from 1870 to the present day. See boats as they are restored in the live conservation workshop, or simply sit in the lakeside café and enjoy both the good food and great views.

When you're done, simply grab a later sailing back to your starting point on our regular Red Cruise service (from outside the museum)

Your ticket includes:

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Red Cruise

Bowness > Windermere Jetty Museum > Brockhole > Ambleside > Bowness

Our most scenic cruise with stunning views of the Lake District scenery.

Our smaller modern launches stop at Windermere Jetty Museum after leaving Bowness on the Red Cruise, it takes 10 minutes. They are marked in red on our timetables. This ticket allows to you to get off and explore each stop to create a full circuit of the route or simply visit the museum and then just come straight back.

If you're starting this ticket at Ambleside or Brockhole, please note you'll have to change at Bowness to catch the boat to Windermere Jetty.

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A visit to Windermere Jetty Museum

Experience the sights, smells and sounds of lake-life in a stunning location.

Steam launches, sailing yachts, motor boats and record-breaking speed boats are exhibited in the boathouse, on the water, and in the exhibition galleries, whilst a live conservation workshop will be open every day – where you can see the collection of historic boats painstakingly restored.

Additional Information

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/show it on your phone on the day to exchange it for your tickets
Experience the history of Windermere both on and off the water.

Experience the history of Windermere both on and off the water.

Immerse yourself in Windermere's boating heritage by arriving at Windermere Jetty (museum) on the Red Cruise.

Additional Information

Service Status

green

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Tuesday 5 December
(Page updated 9am, Tuesday)

Our services are all back to normal, after the weekend snow. Please note that there is still a lot of snow on the minor roads. Please take extra care when travelling to us today.

Service Status

🔴 RED CRUISE Bowness → Brockhole → Ambleside Waterhead → Bowness
✔️ Services OK
⚠️ Not calling into Brockhole
🟡 YELLOW CRUISEBowness ↔ Lakeside

✔️ Services OK

🔵 ISLANDS CRUISE

Bowness → Windermere Jetty Museum → Bowness

✔️ Services OK
⚠️ Not calling into Windermere Jetty Museum
🚤 MOTOR BOAT HIRE from Bowness
Bowness Beach ↻

✔️ Services OK


🕑: We are now running to our winter timetable | We sail every day except Christmas Day.

Route Map

Load Map

Access & Facilities

♿ Disabled Access

Two different types of vessels operate on this route 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
  • ❌ Modern launches like Miss Cumbria/Miss Lakeland - 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.


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Freedom Of The Lake ®

Freedom Of The Lake ®

Unlimited boat travel for 24 hours on all routes | ⚓ See the full lake on this ticket: Lakeside ↔ Bowness ↔ Ambleside in 🕘 over 3 hours

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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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