If you dream of living somewhere that blends countryside tranquillity with an active, welcoming community, Windermere is one of the most desirable towns in the Lake District. With world-famous scenery, excellent amenities, good schools and strong transport links, Windermere makes the perfect weekend getaway – but what if getting away is something you want to do more permanently and not just on the weekends?

Here’s our short guide to what life is like in this iconic Lakeland town.

Where is Windermere?

Windermere sits in the heart of the Lake District National Park, surrounded by fells, woodlands and the magnificent expanse of Lake Windermere, England’s largest natural lake. The town lies close to its sister settlement, Bowness-on-Windermere, creating a vibrant combined community with a mix of year-round residents, local businesses and visitors from across the UK and worldwide. Together, the two towns have around 7,700 residents, ensuring excellent services and amenities year round.

Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, Windermere manages to maintain a peaceful residential feel, especially outside the central hotspots. From quiet tree-lined streets to hillside homes with glorious lake views, the area offers a variety of living styles for a variety of budgets, all with nature and outdoor adventure right on the doorstep.

Transport links

There are direct trains from Windermere to Manchester Piccadilly, which takes under two hours, or, for more flexibility you can nip up to Oxenholme and access the west coast train lines to Manchester, Liverpool and south.

Windermere also benefits from sitting on the A591, one of the Lake District’s main arterial routes, connecting to Ambleside, Kendal and Keswick and offering fast access to the M6 at Junction 36.

Schools

Windermere offers strong education options, making it a popular choice for families.

Primary schools include: St Martin’s & St Mary’s CofE Primary School, St Cuthberts Catholic Primary School and Goodly Dale Primary School. There are no primary schools In Bowness-on-Windermere, which sits within the Windermere schools catchment.

For secondary education, children can attend The Lakes School, in nearby Troutbeck Bridge, which serves Windermere and surrounding villages.

There is also Windermere School, a small independent co-educational school that has around 300 pupils for both day and boarding, from ages three to 18.

Amenities

Though compact, Windermere offers an impressive range of amenities for daily life.

The town centre, unsurprisingly as a popular tourist destination, offers a range of independent boutiques, outdoor and walking stores, bakeries and delis, homeware, gift shops and galleries.

There’s also a Booths supermarket, a Tesco Express and a Sainsbury’s Local. Just eight miles away, in Kendal, you will find a Sainsbury’s, an Aldi, a Morrisons and an ASDA Superstore – plus another Booths.

Food & drink

Windermere and nearby Bowness offer a large and varied dining scene, including cosy pubs, cafés, family-friendly restaurants and fine dining, such as the incredible Source at The Gilpin Hotel, The Samling (with its glass box dining room overlooking the lake) and, not too far away in Cartmel, the world renowned three-Michelin starred L’Enclume and sister restaurant, Rogan & Co.

Leisure time

Living in Windermere means never running out of things to do — indoors or out. Windermere is one of the UK’s best places for outdoor enthusiasts, offering walking and hiking routes for all fitness levels, along lakeside trails or up into the fells. On the lake you can enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking and sailing and there are even safe wild swimming spots for those who love a cold water dip – plus the annual Great North Swim for keen open water swimmers. For keen cyclists, there are mapped road cycling routes and mountain-bike trails to take you deep into lakeland, opening up the stunning vistas that so inspired the poet Wordsworth.

Arts, culture & attractions

Another famous writer from the area was, of course, Beatrix Potter, whose works still delight children today, as they enjoy the adventures of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Jeremy Frog and more. Visit The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness to learn all about her lakeside life.

Both Windermere and Bowness are packed independent galleries and craft shops, and at the Windermere Jetty Museum you can explore Windermere’s 200-year-old boating history, and join in each year on their summer Festival of the Lake.

If you enjoy the theatre and cinema, Brewery Arts in Kendal has two cinemas, a drama studio, galleries, a theatre and a restaurant/bar.

Whether you’re drawn by the scenery, the schools or the opportunities for immersing yourself in the outdoor lifestyle Windermere offers a uniquely fulfilling place to call home. Want to learn more? Visit our friends at Hackney & Leigh.