Stations, airports and arrival routes for Windermere

Getting to Windermere: Arrival and Transport

By Rail

Windermere Railway Station is the natural entry point for visitors arriving without a car, and one of the few railway stations in the Lake District National Park. It sits less than 300 metres from the town centre — a short, flat walk to the bus terminus, nearby shops and the start of the main walking routes including Orrest Head.

The station is served by local trains from Oxenholme Lake District, which lies on the West Coast Main Line. From Oxenholme, trains call at Kendal and Staveley before terminating at Windermere. Services operate at least hourly from Oxenholme during the day, operated by Northern Trains. Visitors travelling from London, Manchester, Glasgow or Edinburgh can connect at Oxenholme. There is also a separate route along the Cumbrian coastline, though this does not serve Windermere town directly.

National Rail describes Windermere station as having level platform access at the main entrance, tactile warnings on all platforms, 16 parking spaces (including 1 accessible space), and drop-off and pick-up provision. Pre-bookable parking near the station is available through third-party providers. For current timetables, connections and fares, check National Rail or Trainline.

No Passenger Flights

There are no passenger flights into Cumbria or the Lake District. All air travellers to the region arrive by ground transport, typically from Manchester Airport, Leeds Bradford Airport or other regional airports, connecting onward to Oxenholme by rail or direct to Windermere by road. Visit Cumbria confirms this explicitly for the region.

By Bus from the Station

The bus terminus is immediately adjacent to Windermere railway station, making rail-to-bus connections straightforward. Source cards identify the following routes operating from or near the station:

• Route 505 (Coniston Rambler) — Windermere to Ambleside, Hawkshead and Coniston. Also links to Grasmere.
• Route 555 — Windermere to Ambleside and Grasmere.
• Route 599 — Windermere to Bowness-on-Windermere (with panoramic views of Lake Windermere), continuing to Ambleside and Grasmere. The Stagecoach website describes this as a scenic journey in its own right.
• Route 508 — links Windermere station to Ullswater.
• Route 6 — Windermere south to Bowness, Fell Foot Park, the Lakeland Motor Museum and Barrow-in-Furness.
• Route 755 — Heysham to Morecambe, Carnforth, Kendal and Bowness-on-Windermere (operated by Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire).

Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire operates several of these services. Good Journey, which promotes car-free travel to the region, notes that buses from Windermere station provide access to boat museums, walking routes and scenic areas across the Lake District without needing a car.

By Car

Car access to Windermere is straightforward via the Lake District road network. Car parks are available around the town and lake area. Roads can become congested during peak summer periods, particularly on weekends and school holidays. Pre-booking parking through third-party providers is possible; current charges and availability should be confirmed locally before travelling.

Practical Notes for Car-Free Visitors

Windermere is a viable base for visiting significant parts of the Lake District without a car. The combination of train, named bus routes and the vehicle ferry from Bowness (operated by Westmorland and Furness Council, crossing to Far Sawrey on the western shore) means that walkers, cyclists and day visitors can access Ambleside, Grasmere, Coniston, Ullswater, the western shore and the ferry crossing without private transport. Visit Windermere's transport page notes bus stops at Windermere train station, Troutbeck, Waterhead, Ambleside, Lakeside and Newby Bridge.

Current timetables, seasonal frequency changes and fare information should always be checked directly with operators. WorldTownGuide does not publish live schedules.

Official sources: National Rail – Windermere Station | Stagecoach Cumbria Bus Routes | Lake District National Park – Getting Here | Bus Times – Windermere