Top 5 Windermere Tickets & Passes: Find Your Perfect Lake District Adventure

Lake Windermere, the crown jewel of the Lake District, beckons with its shimmering waters and verdant fells. If you are figuring out the best way to drink in all that beauty, you might find yourself looking over various tickets and passes. That is, to get around and enjoy the area’s attractions. This guide is meant to shed a light on five options, helping you make the wisest choice for your wanderlust, almost like choosing what sort of hiking boot feels the comfiest for your trek!

1. Windermere Lake Cruises: The “All Lakes” Ticket

Okay, picture yourself gliding across Windermere on a classic steamer. Now, imagine the ability to hop on and off at various charming villages and lakeside spots. Sounds pretty great, right? The Windermere Lake Cruises “All Lakes” ticket, that tends to be your magic carpet. It gives you access to unlimited travel on all three Windermere Lake Cruises routes: Red, Yellow, and Green. With this ticket, you could be exploring Ambleside, Bowness-on-Windermere, or Lakeside, all in a day! This one is really aimed at folks who want the flexibility to explore a bunch of different parts of the lake. Plus, they want to do it at their own pace. You know, kind of like setting off on your adventure.

You might be thinking about what kind of perks this ticket has? This “All Lakes” ticket gives you the ability to connect to various attractions and activities around the lake. You could easily combine a cruise with a visit to the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, the Lakes Aquarium, or even a leisurely walk around Brockhole, the Lake District Visitor Centre. Actually, this is like buying a key that unlocks many of Windermere’s best bits.

Who is this perfect for? Families who want a relaxed way to see the lake’s sights, or maybe those who don’t want to worry about driving and parking. Likewise, if you plan on hitting multiple attractions around the lake, this ticket could actually save you some pennies.

Read our full review: Windermere Lake Cruises Full Review and Details

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Windermere Lake Cruises)

2. The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway and Lakes Aquarium Combo Ticket

Fancy stepping back in time and into the depths of aquatic life? Okay, this combo ticket is one ticket. The ticket gives you a ride on a charming steam train followed by a visit to the Lakes Aquarium. That does give you a double dose of family-friendly fun. This pairing links together two totally different, yet complementary, experiences. That’s just made to keep everyone entertained. In a way, it’s like offering a history lesson and a wildlife documentary all wrapped into one.

Begin your adventure with a nostalgic trip on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. As it chugs along, this line does snake its way through countryside to Lakeside. That does provide that nostalgic trip, too. The train is one with preserved steam engines. Next, stroll over to the Lakes Aquarium, right next to the Lakeside station. You get to meet otters, diving ducks, and a bunch of fish species. You get the chance to walk through underwater tunnels! In fact, it’s like exploring a different kind of land, underwater, of course.

Who might this appeal to, too? Families that want something with activities that include both, the train, and the Aquarium. Also, train buffs might find joy with this combo!

Read our full review: Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway Full Review and Details

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway)

3. National Trust Touring Pass: Lake District Adventures

Are you yearning to delve into the heart of the Lake District’s historical and natural treasures? That is, getting access to a number of attractions? Then the National Trust Touring Pass could become your ideal companion. It grants access to National Trust properties throughout the Lake District. The pass enables visits to historic homes, gardens, and areas of stunning natural beauty. It does offer a gateway to discover, too, the region’s heritage, without purchasing individual tickets for each spot. Actually, this one can work well for folks interested in exploring more properties!

Okay, so what sort of treasures can you expect to find? At Hill Top, step into Beatrix Potter’s beloved farmhouse. Now, wander the lovely gardens at Sizergh Castle, or discover Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage and Allan Bank. The grounds are the perfect settings to soak up the peace, and maybe snap the perfect photos, too.

Now, who could enjoy this option, also? Nature-lovers and history buffs who enjoy exploring at a chilled-out pace. It’s aimed at anyone that wants to take in what the Lake District has to offer, culturally and scenically speaking!

Read our full review: National Trust Lake District Full Review and Details

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (National Trust Lake District)

4. The “Mountain Goat” Adventure Sightseeing Tour

Okay, so let’s just say, you have the urge to see it all but don’t feel so eager to deal with driving on narrow country lanes. Is that right? You might really want to hop onto a Mountain Goat tour. The company is actually famed for tours of the Lake District. Those tours take you to spots bigger coaches just can’t get to. They take folks all around the Lake District with knowledgable local drivers. You are in comfort on a smaller vehicle.

Basically, these tours cover a wide scope of sites, including tarns, viewpoints, and picturesque villages. Usually, the drivers do give you tons of stories about the local area and its history. Very often the local guide will know all the secrets and the best places to snap pictures. The vibe is one that makes it easy to see some remote vistas. I mean, it does all depend on the tour itself. Still, they all seem to want the passengers to make the most of their tour. Also, not driving gives one a real opportunity to take photographs!

Well, who is this designed for then, anyway? Tourists that just want to relax and let somebody else do all the planning and the navigating. And possibly folks who like little group environments too, that does help to soak up some stories of the Lake District, and snap photos!

Read our full review: Mountain Goat Tours Lake District Full Review and Details

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Mountain Goat Tours Lake District)

5. Windermere Ferry Ticket

The Windermere Ferry is really more of a functional “ticket” that works to move one from point to another, in short, crossing the lake! Now, that makes it super handy for cyclists, walkers, and drivers that just need a quick way of linking the East and West shores without needing to take a huge detour. This crossing provides quick access and connects, too, with hikes or biking routes on different sides of Windermere.

Actually, this ferry goes from Bowness to Sawrey. The village Sawrey, by the way, is handy to visit Beatrix Potter’s house. The ferry has, anyway, been moving people for over five centuries! A ferry trip does actually save tons of driving time for the drivers out there. Also, it works as a shortcut for walkers eager to strike out on lakeside trails. This can work like some magic portal, helping to move between sections, or get you closer to hiking spots! You just purchase tickets on-site.

Okay, who does it help, or target, anyway? Cyclists and walkers seeking out new loops without doubling back. Really, those who stay in a location one side of Windermere, wanting quick access to attractions over the other side! This also works if you’re on the West, needing a quick trip to Bowness’ shops and boat services. Or maybe, one wants to take photos of a lake from different perspectives!

Read our full review: Windermere Ferry Full Review and Details

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Windermere Ferry)