Located in the heart of the Lake District National Park, Bowness-on-Windermere is the perfect base to discover more about the heritage and culture of Lakeland.
The popular town of Bowness also offers a lively atmosphere with lakeside attractions, diverse dining options and a range of accommodation. Thanks to its waterfront location, it provides easy access to boat rides on Lake Windermere, England’s longest lake.
This beautiful Arts & Crafts house sits in a stunning location overlooking lake Windermere and the Lake District fells. It is a rare architectural gem, built in 1900 as a holiday home for the Holt family. Designed by MH Baillie Scott, an influential architect and artist, it retains many of its original design features.
Venue Details:
Opening Hours: Open all year except for two weeks in January for collection care. Check website for opening times.
Entrance Fees: Group rates available.
Parking for Coaches: Free coach parking for pre-booked groups. Guides visit free.
Contact: Tel: 01539 637940 or email groupbookings@lakelandarts.org.uk
Website: lakelandarts.org.uk/blackwell
Facilities: Café, toilets and gift shop.
Road Links: J36 of the M6 follow A590/591 to Windermere and then follow signs for Bowness-on-Windermere.
Blackwell is located south of the village on the A5074 (Lyth Valley Road).
SATNAV: LA23 3JT
Set within award winning architecture, this museum offers Lake District history through displays on land and water. There is an internationally significant collection of boats, heritage boat trips and direct lakeshore access.
Venue Details:
Opening Hours: Open all year except for two weeks at the start of January for collection care. Check website for opening times.
Entrance Fees: Group rates available.
Parking for Coaches: Free coach parking for pre-booked groups. Guides visit free.
Contact: Tel: 01539 637940 or email groupbookings@lakelandarts.org.uk
Website: lakelandarts.org.uk/windermere-jetty-museum
Facilities: Café with Lake District views, toilets and gift shop.
Road Links: J36 of the M6 follow A590/591 to Windermere. Windermere Jetty Museum is conveniently located on the A592. SATNAV LA23 1BN.
Established in 1992, and set in an old laundry, this intimate little theatre shares a building with The World of Beatrix Potter. It offers a lively programme of live theatre, music, lectures and film.
Opening Hours: Check website for programme details.
Entrance Fees: Check website for ticket prices.
Parking for Coaches: No.
Contact: Tel: 01539 637940 or email groupbookings@lakelandarts.org.uk
Website: oldlaundrytheatre.co.uk
Facilities: Café and toilets.
Road Links: J36 of the M6 follow A590/591 to Windermere and then follow signs for Bowness-on-Windermere.
National Trust’s Hill Top is a time capsule of Beatrix Potter’s life. Full of her favourite things, the house appears as if Beatrix has just stepped out for a walk. Beatrix used the house and surroundings as the inspiration for the setting of many of her tales, including the well-known ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’.
Please note that there is no coach parking at Hill Top and mini buses must be booked in.
Venue Details:
Entrance Fees: Pre-book tickets via National Trust website
Parking for Coaches: Mini buses only. Larger groups will need to arrange mini bus transportation from Bowness-on-Windermere or Ambleside.
Contact: Tel: 015394 36269 or Email: hilltop.groups@nationaltrust.org.uk
Website: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/hill-top
Facilities: Toilets and gift shop.
Cumbria Tourism is the official Local Visitor Economy Partnership for the Lake District, Cumbria and is here to help you find the right accommodation for your customers, locate new experiences, secure guides and more. Our team will also help with introductions to contacts and suppliers who are happy and keen to work with the travel trade. We can also provide the travel trade with free access to our extensive library of images and video footage of which we own the copyright.
For further information email Francine Bult: fbult@cumbriatourism.org or sign up to receive our travel trade e-newsletters at www.cumbriatourism.org/traveltrade.
The Let’s Go Culture project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is supported by Westmorland & Furness Council. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus