You can Telephone 00 44 (0) 15395 52106
Fax 0870 7623826
Email: sales@lakedistricttours.co.uk
Use the booking form on our Contact us page. We will then confirm availability, and email an invoice that you can pay securely online to confirm your reservation. Once payment is received you will receive your tour voucher by email.

Virgin trains operate a direct service from London Euston to Oxenholme Lake District station that takes just under 3 hours. To join a Tour A on your day of arrival you need to arrive at Oxenholme for 1108 to take advantage of our transfer service.

This means that the Lake District is now well within reach for a day excursion from London. So why not exchange the noise and bustle for the fresh air and peace of the Lake District for a day!

You can also travel to Windermere station by changing trains at Oxenholme. If you are short on time, or are planning a morning tour on the same day as your arrival, we do not recommend this option. If you miss your connection you may well miss your tour and no refund would be available.

When joining a tour from other parts of the UK you can purchase tickets and view the latest timetables at trainline.

Yes this is possible - though our tours are very popular and we do recommend booking in advance to guarantee availability. At weekends and holiday periods Bank Holiday and Easter you should book tours and accommodation well in advance to avoid disappointment. Many guests enjoy their tour so much that they join a second tour on the following day your driver/guide can assist with this when space is available.

This is a local Lake District initiative that invests in local projects that will help to promote and support sustainable tourism or which can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is a great opportunity for Lake District Tours and their customers to make a positive contribution towards tackling the problem of climate change by acting locally. Projects include investment in cycle routes, woodland planting and maintenance and peat bog restoration.

How does it work?

When you make a reservation you have the option of donating £1 to this fund. For every £1 you donate we will match with £1. In this simple way we are all helping to minimise our carbon footprint on the Lake District.

Book now to make your donation

Back to top of page

In the unfortunate event that you have to cancel your tour please advise us as soon as possible.

If you have to cancel a tour 50% of the tour cost will be refunded. If you need to change your tour date we will make every effort to meet your request without incurring cancellation charges.
There will be no refunds for cancellation on the day of the tour.

There are no hidden costs in our tours – entrance fees and cruise fares are excluded from the tour price except on Tour C which includes entry to Holker Hall and Gardens. Discounted cruise tickets on Lake Windermere are available when booked with your tour. You will need money for lunch and should you wish to visit inside Dove Cottage on Tour D - discounted entry tickets (£6.50) are available for our guests.

Back to top of page

Your guide will have a sign for Lake District Tours and will be waiting near the Trekkers Cabin cafe as you exit the train at Oxenholme station. At Windermere we will meet you off the train or at the waiting area.

Our minimum group size is 4 persons, though when available tours will operate for two persons on payment of a small group supplement of £10 per person. If you are joining a day trip from London we guarantee your tour for only two persons. This means that you can book ahead in the confidence that your tour will run.
Our maximum group size is 16 with an average group size of 6-8 persons.

Tours operate daily subject to availability throughout the year except Tour C Garden Tour that operates from May to October.

It is important to note that Hill Top Farm is closed from 28 Oct to 14 Feb and on Fridays throughout the year. At these times we provide complimentary entry to The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness.
For detailed opening arrangements visit their web site here.

Yes we arrange pick up from either your guesthouse or at clear meeting points in Bowness and Windermere as shown on the tour descriptions – whichever is the most convenient for you.

No as a courtesy to fellow passengers. We do allow time for refreshments and comfort stops on our tours.

Yes - we have a detailed knowledge of the Lake District and over 10 years experience in operating tours. Tours can be arranged at times and durations to suit you and we can arrange special tours with or without accommodation to meet the needs of your group.We recommend private tours for families with young children for a more relaxed and child orientated tour experience. We arrange hiking, garden and special interest tours. In short we are open to any suggestions and will work closely with you to design the best program for your group.

Back to top of page

Absolutely! The Lake District is a year round destination where each season offers something special for the visitor.

The Spring months of April to June bring blossom covered hillsides, rhododendron blooms and the famous white damson blossom of the Lyth Valley that can be seen on Tour C. May is also the time to see the woodlands carpeted in bluebells and the famous daffodils of William Wordsworth.

In the Summer months of July/August the Lake District hills and pastures are a lush green. This is the warmest time to visit when the sun sparkles off the lakes and the cooling breeze of a Tour A lake cruise is most welcome. The warm days and balmy evenings make this a pleasant time to stroll through the villages and towns of Lakeland.

The Autumn months of September to November are always a popular time of year for visiting The Lake District. The area provides an impressive display of natural splendour, as the leaves turn from greens to golds, reds, oranges and yellows, all reflected in the mirror stillness of the lakes. Windermere, Coniston, Grasmere, Derwentwater and Tarn Hows, near Hawkshead, are just a few of the many places to see this kaleidoscope of Autumn colours. The best time to enjoy the colours is when the sun is low in the early morning at Tarn Hows on Tour D.

In Winter the days shorten and the air can be crisp and cold. At this time the mountains often look their best with a dusting of snow set against a deep blue winter sky. The air is clear and the reflections in the still waters of the lakes can be breathtaking.

Remember in the Lake District there is no such thing as bad weather - only inappropriate clothing!

Warm clothes and a windproof jacket can make your stay more comfortable and means you can sit outside to enjoy the views from the open deck on the cruise. A small umbrella can also be handy.

Back to top of page

There are many restaurants and cafes in Bowness and Windermere including traditional fish n chips, Italian, Greek, Thai, Cantonese and Italian. You should expect to pay around £8 – 10 for a main course in most restaurants. In Windermere The Lamplighter pub is popular with locals and visitors alike as it offers good value and a varied menu. In Bowness for lunch and homemade cakes and coffee we recommend the Bowness Kitchen. For a traditional afternoon tea the Old England Hotel has a beautiful setting alongside Lake Windermere, or for something more substantial the Angel Inn is highly recommended.

There are many interesting individual shops selling souvenirs and specialist shops such as Peter Rabbit and Friends. The timing of our tours allows time for exploring these shops before catching your onward train.

We recommend that you visit The World of Beatrix Potter www.hop-skip-jump.com attraction in Bowness - this is also a good place to visit if it is raining.
The more active can take a 2 hour guided hike above Bowness for some peace and quiet with superb panoramic views.
In good weather you can hire a rowboat or take a cruise on the lake. You will have taken a cruise from Ambleside to Bowness as part of Tour A, but you can also take a 45 minute blue cruise of the islands or a 90 minute yellow cruise to the south-eastern tip of Lake Windermere. You may even wish to return to Ambleside on the red cruise to explore the many shops and parks with views of the hills and lake.

In the evening we recommend taking a stroll along the lake, walk past the Tourist Information Centre for views along the lake to the mountains.

A map or guidebook to the area can add to your knowledge and help with planning on where and when to visit - a great selection can be purchased from our Lake District Store.

On arrival pay a visit to the Lake District tourist information centres at:

Bowness Bay Tourist Information Centre
Glebe Road, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere, Cumbria
Tel: 015394 42895
bownesstic@lake-district.gov.uk

Windermere Tourist Information Centre
Victoria Street, Windermere
Tel: 015394 46499
windermeretic@southlakeland.gov.uk

The National Trust own and manage many properties in the Lake District and throughout the UK. It makes sense to join and save on entrance fees and benefit from free parking in most National Trust car parks.

 

Back to top of page

There are many guesthouses in Bowness and Windermere. Our selection is based on value for money, quality of breakfast, cleanliness of rooms and the friendliness of guesthouse owners.

For a general description visit our Accommodations page.

Yes when taken with a tour or you can book direct from our accommodation page

Back to top of page

The answer is both! This can be confusing as the village of Windermere is approx twenty minutes walk from the lake of Windermere. The village of Bowness on Windermere is next to the lake and if you are staying in Windermere there is a regular shuttle bus service connecting the two villages.

You can change money at the post office in Windermere and also at branches of Barclays, HSBC and Natwest bank. There are four cashpoints in Windermere and two in Bowness.

There is internet access at the Tourist Information Centre in Windermere.

Back to top of page