Windermere Jetty Museum, winner of Cumbria Tourism’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2026, is a family-friendly museum on the shores of England’s largest lake, just a 12-minute walk from Bowness Pier.
Discover over 200 years of Windermere’s boating heritage through historic vessels, interactive displays, hands-on activities, and a fascinating collection of objects, oral histories, and curiosities connected to the lake.
Experience Windermere from the water aboard beautifully restored heritage boats, explore a year-round programme of family events and exhibitions, or simply take in the spectacular lakeside setting.
Continue exploring across our lakeshore site, home to the Conservation Workshop, where our heritage boats are actively cared for, and the Wet Dock, where vessels from our collection are kept afloat.
Visitors can also enjoy the Lakeshore café, serving seasonal food alongside panoramic views across Windermere and the surrounding fells.
‘The most beautiful boat shed in Britain.’ Jonathan Morrison, The Times
What can I see at Windermere Jetty Museum?
Galleries and Boathouse
Get up close to motorboats, steam launches, sailing yachts and record-breaking speed boats in our amazing interactive galleries, built right over the water. Discover the stories behind the boats in our collection.
Temporary gallery
Our temporary gallery space is transformed throughout the year with different imaginative exhibitions and displays which celebrates Windermere’s heritage and culture. From Saturday 18 July, Embodied: The Making of a Windermere Skiff will be on show in this space.
Conservation workshop
Windermere Jetty is a working conservation space. Conservation is an integral part of our work. Our dedicated workshop allows you to see our team of expert boatbuilders at work, watch live conservation through the large workshop windows, learn about the six-step process for restoration in our displays, or speak to a member of our team to have your questions answered.
Boat Yard and wharf
The boat yard and wharf is another place you can see live conservation. We regularly bring boats from the conservation workshop outside for restoration. Here, you’ll be able to get even closer to our collection boats, as they’re restored or put onto the water.
The Jetties
Our four jetties give visitors access to beautiful Windermere. The working jetty is used for getting boats on and off the water. The heritage boat jetty is used for daily and exclusive trips on our restored wooden boats. The visiting boat jetty is for those who want to visit via the water. The north jetty is used for both visiting boats and where Windermere Lake Cruises drops and picks up passengers.
Boating pond and Old Fire Station
Set sail to your own miniature boat on our model boating pond! Anchored in history, our pond is neighboured by the beautifully restored pavilion and the iconic 1890 Windermere Fire Station, a historic gem relocated from Brook Road. When it’s time to dock, relax and refuel either under the elegant shelter of our pavilion or in the cozy picnic area by the pond.
Lakeshore café
Our lakeshore café and outdoor terrace is the place to stop for a coffee or a bite to eat when you are in the Lake District. With extraordinary views across the water and towards the Coniston fells, our café serves delicious seasonal dishes using the best local ingredients.
Captured by CaRo Studio.
Opening times
Museum and Cafe
2 November 2025–27 March 2026
Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–4pm
28 March–1 November 2026
Open daily, 10am–5pm
Cafe information:
Food from the Kitchen is served until 3pm.
Last orders for hot drinks and tray bakes is 15 minutes before closing.
Windermere Jetty Museum will be closed on
Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Please note that the café stops serving main meals at 3pm. Last orders for tea/coffee and tray bakes is 15 minutes before closing.
Heritage boat trips
The museum extends to Windermere where visitors can explore England’s largest lake on a fully conserved heritage boat.
28 March – 1 November: Daily trips, subject to weather. Exclusive hire available.
2 November – 27 March: Pre-booked exclusive boat trips only.
Admission
Price
Adult
£12
Student
£9
Child (15 and under)
£6
Child (4 and under)
Free
Lakeland Arts Members
Free
Family (1 adult + up to 3 children)
£20
Family (2 adult + up to 3 children)
£30
Art Fund National Art Pass
50% off
Boat trips
Enjoy our daily 30-minute Heritage boat trips from 28 March to October, subject to weather and availability. Year-round, exclusive trips for up to 12 people last 75 minutes.
Price
Adults
£16.50
Child (5-15)
£8
Child (under 5)
Free
Family (2 adults + up to 3 children)
£35
Penelope exclusive trip
£250
Osprey exclusive trip
£320
Steaming up experience
£375
Groups
12 or more people booking together
Adult
£8
Child
£4
Windermere Jetty Museum + Blackwell
£12
Windermere Jetty Museum + Blackwell + Abbot Hall
£16
How to get here
By car
From the south
Exit the M6 at junction 36, taking the first exit on the slip road roundabout. Follow signs for the South Lakes and Windermere and continue onto the A591. When you reach a small roundabout, take the first exit onto Rayrigg Road / A592, following signs for Bowness Bay and The Lake. Continue for 1 mile and Windermere Jetty Museum will be on the right.
From the north
Exit the M6 at junction 39 for A6 / Shap / Kendal. When you reach a T-Junction, turn left onto the A6 and continue along the A6 for 12 miles. Follow signs for Windermere, Bowness and the A591. Once on the A591, take the first exit at a small roundabout onto Rayrigg Road / A592, following signs for Bowness Bay and The Lake. Continue for 1 mile and Windermere Jetty Museum will be on the right.
Sat Nav Information
Our address is Windermere Jetty Museum, Rayrigg Road, Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1BN
There is coach parking for visiting groups and we have two spaces for pre-booked coaches to drop-off near the museum entrance. Please contact us to book.
Parking
During the peak summer holidays (18 July – 30 August), there is a charge for parking.
Parking prices
Up to 2 hours: £5.00
2 – 4 hours: £7.00
End of day: £12.00
Our usual offer of 4 hours complimentary parking when spending £5 or more in the café or museum is temporarily paused. This offer will return from Monday 31 August, when our standard parking arrangements resume.
Lakeland Arts members get 4 hours free parking all year. Find out how you can become a member here.
Please pay close attention to the signage in the car park to understand the rules and ensure you are not caught out.
Car park hours:
-
April – October: 10am–5:15pm
-
November – March: 10am–4:15pm
-
There is strictly no overnight parking on site.
Parking spaces are limited, so we encourage visitors to arrive by bike, on foot or by public transport where possible.
All profits support our charitable work, inspiring communities through art, conservation, craft and heritage (Charity no. 1153001).
By train
The nearest mainline railway station is Oxenholme. A connecting train will bring you to Windermere Railway Station. From here, catch a taxi or a local bus to Bowness Pier. Windemere Jetty Museum is 2 miles from the station. Plan your journey by train.
By boat
Arriving with Windermere Lake Cruises
During summer, sail from Bowness to Windermere Jetty Museum and continue on the Red Cruise (Brockhole – Ambleside – Bowness) until 30 October, from 31 October you will need to request a stop off at our museum using the Islands (Blue) Cruise. Plan your journey with the Windermere Lake Cruises Timetable.
Please note that if you park at Windermere Jetty Museum you must collect your vehicle before the car park and museum gates close at 4pm (Nov-Mar) and 5pm (Apr-Oct). Any vehicles not collected will be locked in. There is a fee to release vehicles, operated by an external security company.
Find out more and purchase tickets
Arriving by private boat
We can accommodate a small number of private boats if you wish to visit the museum or cafe. Skippers are to dock on the south side of our most northerly jetty during opening hours. Moorings are allocated on a first come first serve basis.
Terms and Conditions
- Mooring is permitted for 4 hours maximum in one day with no return
- All boats must depart by 5pm (4pm in the Winter months) at the latest, regardless of arrival time
- Strictly no overnight mooring
By bus
The 508 bus runs from Bowness to Penrith stopping outside Windermere Jetty Museum. There are other local bus services that run throughout the lakes to Bowness Pier. Windermere Jetty Museum is a 12-minute walk from Bowness Pier. Plan your journey by bus.
On foot
It’s a 12-minute walk from Bowness Pier. Head towards the ‘Macdonald, The Old English Hotel & Spa’ and walk up the hill through the town centre. Pass ‘The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction’ continuing out of Bowness-on-Windermere on Rayrigg Road. Windermere Jetty Museum is on your left.
By bike
Windermere Jetty Museum has dedicated bike racks for visitors arriving by bike. We ask that cyclists bring suitable footwear before entering the museum.
Taxis
Local taxis
- Ace Taxis: 015394 45445
- Bowness Taxis: 015394 46664
- Lakeside Taxis: 01539 239239
- Lakes Taxis: 015394 46777
