Steamer Swan on Lake Windermere with the Visit England logo

Windermere Lake Cruises maintains top ten popularity ranking

Published: 15th August 2019

This press release was issued on 13 August 2019.

New VisitEngland figures issued today, Tuesday 13 August, confirm that Windermere Lake Cruises has maintained its position as one of England’s top-ten most popular ‘paid for’ visitor attractions in the country, based on passenger numbers.

The latest Annual Visitor Attractions Survey collated by the national tourism body reveals there were 1.63m passenger journeys made on the company’s 16-strong fleet of ‘steamers’, modern launches and wooden launches last year, 2018.

Windermere Lake Cruises is one of only two northern attractions in the top ten nationally, along with Chester Zoo.

A member of staff changing the signs on Bowness Pier

The full top ten ‘paid for visitor’ attractions in England according to VisitEngland, are:

  1. Tower of London
  2. Chester Zoo
  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Gardens
  4. St Paul’s Cathedral
  5. Windermere Lake Cruises
  6. Royal Academy of Arts
  7. Stonehenge
  8. Westminster Abbey
  9. Roman Baths and Pump House
  10. ZSL London Zoo

Nigel Wilkinson, Managing Director of Windermere Lake Cruises, says: “Obviously we’re delighted that so many people choose to experience England’s longest lake with Windermere Lake Cruises and to be ranked alongside nine other world-class attractions from right across the country is welcomed by our team.

Year on year, our passenger numbers consistently show that a cruise on Windermere is a quintessential Lake District experience and we’re so proud to help visitors enjoy this beautiful area all year-round, without them having to rely on their cars.”

Bowness piers with a few of Windermere Lake Cruises fleet at dock

It is further good news for Windermere, which has today also been named as one of the UK’s most incredible sights by Lonely Planet. The lake and surrounding area make the top ten of a list compiled by the leading travel media company, which ranks the top 500 unmissable experiences and hidden gems across Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Channels Islands.

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