Explore Windermere
Choose your boat:
Choose your boat:
A perfect day for families
This great value combined ticket includes a scenic half-lake cruise on Windermere, a nostalgic journey on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Steam Railway and entry to the popular Lakes Aquarium all just a short walk from Lakeside Pier. It’s the perfect mix of relaxation, exploration and family fun in the heart of the Lake District.
You should allow at least 4 hours to make the most of this flexible experience.
Your adventure begins with a return Yellow Cruise from Bowness to Lakeside, sailing along the southern half of Windermere, the longest lake in England. Along the way, enjoy stunning views of woodland shores, historic houses and landscaped gardens, all brought to life with informative onboard commentary. The cruise takes approximately 40 minutes each way or 90 minutes for a full, non-stop round trip.
Once at Lakeside, your ticket includes a return journey on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Steam Railway and entry to the Lakes Aquarium, both located just a one-minute walk from the pier.
*You can start from Haverthwaite Station - just book an e-ticket from Lakeside and show at the station. You'll just need to scan at Lakeside before crossing over to the awaiting boat. Please arrive early at Haverthwaite to ensure enough time for car parking.
The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway offers a relaxed and scenic way to explore a quieter corner of the Lake District. Steam locomotives pull 1950s style carriages along a short heritage line through the peaceful Leven Valley, arriving at Lakeside Station, just a 2 minute stroll from our Lakeside Pier, where you can step straight onto a Windermere Lake Cruise.
It’s an easy and enjoyable day out for all ages, with the option to combine two classic Lake District experiences in one trip.
Planning your visit:
Children under 3 travel for free.
Dogs are welcome at the station and can ride the train for free.
Only a 2 minute walk from our Lakeside Pier, ideal to combine with a lake cruise!
Find out more:
For train times and more information, visit the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway website.
The Lakes Aquarium is home to hundreds of amazing creatures, showcasing both local wildlife from the Lake District and exotic species from around the world.
Just a short stroll from our Lakeside Pier, the aquarium invites you to discover fascinating animals up close, from playful otters and curious monkeys to frogs, lizards, snakes, tortoises, ducks, and a dazzling variety of fish.
Planning your visit:
Entry charges apply to all visitors aged 3 and above
Only a 2 minute walk from our Lakeside Pier, ideal to combine with a lake cruise!
Find out more:
Visit the Lakes Aquarium for opening times, ticket prices, and further details.
Explore our full gallery for more stunning images.
Traditional Launch
Jetty at Wray Castle
Bowness Bay
Modern launch
Explore our full gallery for more stunning images.
It was a crazy day with Windermere Lake Cruises! Booked the Lakeside cruise, Haverthwaite steam train, and Lakes Aquarium visit, and it was a perfect adventure. The cruise offered stunning views of Windermere’s lake, the steam train ride through Leven Valley was nostalgic and scenic, and the aquarium was a fun. It’s worth visiting, though booking ahead is wise for peak times. Highly recommend this for a memorable Lake District experience. ~ Nikitha. Google Reviews.
An amazing day out! We chose the package to do a boat trip, visit the aquarium and ride on the train. The staff suggested the best order to do the trip and made sure we knew the last times for the boat to return to the car. The package was brilliantly priced, the staff at each part were extremely helpful, friendly and full of enthusiasm. The whole trip ran so smoothly, there was no stress about timings due to the helpful staff. The children (and us) absolutely loved the day and we will definitely be back again. Thank you so much for a brilliant day out! ~ Rachel. Facebook.
It was a crazy day with Windermere Lake Cruises! Booked the Lakeside cruise, Haverthwaite steam train, and Lakes Aquarium visit, and it was a perfect adventure. The cruise offered stunning views of Windermere’s lake, the steam train ride through Leven Valley was nostalgic and scenic, and the aquarium was a fun. It’s worth visiting, though booking ahead is wise for peak times. Highly recommend this for a memorable Lake District experience. ~ Nikitha. Google Reviews.
An amazing day out! We chose the package to do a boat trip, visit the aquarium and ride on the train. The staff suggested the best order to do the trip and made sure we knew the last times for the boat to return to the car. The package was brilliantly priced, the staff at each part were extremely helpful, friendly and full of enthusiasm. The whole trip ran so smoothly, there was no stress about timings due to the helpful staff. The children (and us) absolutely loved the day and we will definitely be back again. Thank you so much for a brilliant day out! ~ Rachel. Facebook.
From a full day of adventure on Windermere to exploring exciting events on and off the water, see how you can make the most of your Lake District adventure.
21 November 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
28 November 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
5 December 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
12 December 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
13 December 2025
Enjoy a festive morning filled with fun, games, and a hearty breakfast with Santa himself.
19 December 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
24 December 2025
From every weekend from 14th November experience the joy of meeting Santa in his charming Grotto.
26 December 2025
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
2 January 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
9 January 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
16 January 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
23 January 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
30 January 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
6 February 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
13 February 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
20 February 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
27 February 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
6 March 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
13 March 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
20 March 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
27 March 2026
Local people enjoying their retirement in The Lake District can get some amazing discounts at Windermere Lake Cruises and other local attractions.
Make the most of your time on Windermere by upgrading your cruise. Combine your trip with a visit to a local attraction, or enjoy unlimited travel all day with Freedom of the Lake.