What to do and see in Windermere, England: The Best Historical & Heritage Tours

October 6, 2021 Almeta Stockton

This popular resort town is located just a mile from Windermere Lake, the largest lake in Europe and alleged home of more than one peculiar sea creature. If we've scared you out of skiing, boating and fishing in Windermere Lake, there's always horseback riding and golf. Or you can explore the lake from the safety of a ferryboat, which regularly takes passengers from Hawkshead to Bownes.
Restaurants in Windermere

1. The Yorkshire Dales Tour from Windermere

Mountain Goat Tours, Victoria St, Windermere LA23 1AD, UK Mountain Goat Tours
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5.0 based on 7 reviews

Explores the very best of the Yorkshire Dales in one day! Discover the dramatic limestone valleys and emerald countryside of the Yorkshire Dales National Park tour from Windermere. Travel with ease from the Lake District and visit the quaint villages in Swaledale and Wensleydale (famed for its cheese) and Bolton Castle, in which Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned. See too, Aysgarth Falls and the cobbled streets of Hawes.

Inclusions: Transport in a small mini-coach, On-board commentary in English

Exclusions: Food & drink, Additional Entrance fees, Drivers gratuity (Optional)

Reviewed By X7970JWstevenf

Great Tour and Driver. He knew his Stuff. He was patient and funny. Its Well worth it. I would and will do it again. They are on time. Reliable. Just fantastic Tour. Great views. Highly Recommended.

2. Private Tour: The Brontes: Full Day All-Inclusive Tour with an Expert Guide

English Lakes Tours
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

This tour takes you to: • Drive through the beautiful Yorkshire countryside • Visit the Bronte Parsonage Museum & Graveyard • Guided walk around Haworth, unchanged since the Brontes lived there • Visit romantic gothic ruins of Wycoller Hall, “Ferndean Manor” of Jane Eyre • Private Tour, only your group will participate

Inclusions: Live commentary on board, Knowledgeable guide available throughout the tour, Qualified driver in addition to guide for your safety, Small group size for a more intimate experience, Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation, Entry into the Bronte Parsonage Museum

Exclusions: Food and drinks

Reviewed By H9BJisabellem

We did this ultimate private tour with tour guide Tim. This tour is really worth the money and the convenience of being able to see around Lake district while enjoying our company with Tim. The tour itself was really nice and our tour guide was really knowledgable. He kept us awake throughout our trip and he even took good photos of us. He was friendly and all smiles. The covid restriction was kept in place and there were hand sanitisers inside the van. I have already recommended this to my friends. Well done!

3. Beatrix Potter: Morning Half Day All-Inclusive Tour with an Expert Guide

Windermere LA23, UK English Lakes Tours
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5.0 based on 20 reviews

On this tour you get to see: • Wray Castle where Beatrix spent her 16th birthday and first discovered the Lake District where she was to later make her home. • Near Sawrey village which Beatrix visited often, used as inspiration for her illustrations and where she happily settled and married. • Hill Top, the house which Beatrix bought from the money she made from the publication of Peter Rabbit. • Esthwaite Water where Beatrix fished from her boat. • Hawkshead village • Tarn Hows bought by Beatrix  and regarded as one of the most beautiful places in the Lake District. • Coniston Water with spectacular views of the lake and Coniston Old Man • Yewdale Valley where Beatrix owned farms and land including Yew Tree Farm used in the film Miss Potter.

Inclusions: Live commentary on board, Knowledgeable guide available throughout the tour, WiFi on board, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Food and drinks

Reviewed By H9BJisabellem

We did this ultimate private tour with tour guide Tim. This tour is really worth the money and the convenience of being able to see around Lake district while enjoying our company with Tim. The tour itself was really nice and our tour guide was really knowledgable. He kept us awake throughout our trip and he even took good photos of us. He was friendly and all smiles. The covid restriction was kept in place and there were hand sanitisers inside the van. I have already recommended this to my friends. Well done!

4. York & the Lake District: Small-Group Tour from London (5-days)

Mercure London Kensington Hotel, 1A Lexham Gardens, Kensington, London W8 5JJ, UK GO-tours
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5.0 based on 4 reviews

Join this five-day adventure exploring York and the Lake District from London, where you'll savour beautiful scenery in the Lake District and visit Stratford-upon-Avon and Cambridge as you travel through the heart of Britain. This small-group tour will you'll take you on a journey of spectacular scenery, literary legends and historic cities... • Enjoy the stunning landscapes of the Lake District and historic cities like York and Cambridge • See the homes iconic literary figures William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter • See the Magna Carta in Lincoln Castle, take-in the imposing York Minster and visit King's College Chapel, Cambridge • Small-groups with a maximum of 16 passengers, starting & finishing in London • Includes: 4-nights accommodation, Tour Leader and minibus transportation

Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, 4-nights en-suite accommodation, Driver/guide, Transportation in air-conditioned minibus, Small-group tour (max. 16 passengers)

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Gratuities

Reviewed By murrellge

A fantastic tour around the beautiful Cotswolds, visiting places steeped in history and character. Our tour guide, Glenn, was very knowledgeable on the area, offering this information in a friendly and engaging way. A great day out for all ages, made even better without the stress of travelling and parking, highly recommend and look forward to being on another tour in the future!

5. The Brontes, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre

Windermere LA23, UK English Lakes Tours
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5.0 based on 11 reviews

This tour takes you to: • Drive through the beautiful Yorkshire countryside • Visit the Bronte Parsonage Museum & Graveyard • Guided walk around Haworth, unchanged since the Brontes lived there • Visit romantic gothic ruins of Wycoller Hall, “Ferndean Manor” of Jane Eyre

Inclusions: Live commentary on board, Knowledgeable guide available throughout the tour, Qualified driver in addition to guide for your safety, Small group size for a more intimate experience, Air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board

Exclusions: Food and drinks

Reviewed By H9BJisabellem

We did this ultimate private tour with tour guide Tim. This tour is really worth the money and the convenience of being able to see around Lake district while enjoying our company with Tim. The tour itself was really nice and our tour guide was really knowledgable. He kept us awake throughout our trip and he even took good photos of us. He was friendly and all smiles. The covid restriction was kept in place and there were hand sanitisers inside the van. I have already recommended this to my friends. Well done!

6. Stunning Lake District 6 Hour Tours!

Bowness Pier, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3HQ, UK Home James Private Lake District Tours
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

This tour is a beautiful tour day, full of beauty and natural wonder, out but is rough guide to your days travel, as customers may amend the tour to suite there needs or wish list. Please contact Simon to alter your tour. Thank you.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Bottled water and sort drinks will be a at any point on your tour!

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Reviewed By LaurenH0305

We went out for a four hour tour with Simon today and he was a star! He was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We are visiting the Lake District for the first time and were nervous to explore too far on the curvy narrow roads on our own. We asked Simon to show us to all the places we wouldn’t be able to find on our own. He took us to so many great places and gave us recommendations on where to explore on our own later along the way. I’d recommend Simon unequivocally. Thanks for the memories!

7. William Wordsworth: Morning Half Day Tour with an Expert Guide

Windermere LA23, UK English Lakes Tours
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

This tour takes you to: • Grasmere Village where William Wordsworth lived. • Church Stile the former inn where William Wordsworth, his brother John and fellow poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge stayed for several days during their Lake District tour in 1797. • Grasmere Gingerbread Shop where Sarah Nelson invented the world famous "Grasmere Gingerbread" in 1854. • The Wordsworth family graves. • St Oswald's Church where the Wordsworth family worshipped. • Dove Cottage where William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy lived from 1799 to 1808. • Views of Grasmere, the beautiful lake the Wordsworths knew so well. • Rydal Mount William Wordsworth's best loved family home from 1813 to his death in 1850. • Rydal Hall Gardens where Wordsworth admired the waterfall from the "grot" viewing house. • Rydal Church built on the site chosen by William Wordsworth which also inspired two of his poems. • Dora's Field bought by William Wordsworth in 1826. • Views of Rydal Water, one of the smaller lakes.

Inclusions: Entry into Rydal Mount, Entry into Dove Cottage, Live commentary on board, Knowledgeable guide available throughout the tour, Air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board

Exclusions: Food and drinks

Reviewed By H9BJisabellem

We did this ultimate private tour with tour guide Tim. This tour is really worth the money and the convenience of being able to see around Lake district while enjoying our company with Tim. The tour itself was really nice and our tour guide was really knowledgable. He kept us awake throughout our trip and he even took good photos of us. He was friendly and all smiles. The covid restriction was kept in place and there were hand sanitisers inside the van. I have already recommended this to my friends. Well done!

8. Private Hire: Lake District from Liverpool

World Museum, William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EN, UK The Mountain Goat
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

This private tour gives you an incredible day in the Lake District National Park, from Liverpool. It’s an ideal way to see amazing landscape associated with this stunning National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit beauty spots such as Tarn Hows, enjoy lunch in a quaint medieval town and visit Coniston famed for Donald Campbell's Bluebird. This private tour is the perfect way to experience and explore everything the Lake District has to offer. Travel from Liverpool with your own personal driver guide in comfort and style. Mountain Goat's drivers are all incredibly knowledgeable about our beautiful national park and will be on hand to answer any questions and help you get the most out of your trip. As it is a private trip customers can also request additions and changes to the itinerary and we'll do our best to include them.

Inclusions: Private transportation, Lake cruise included, Onboard commentary , Knowledgeable and friendly driver guides, City centre hotel pick ups

Exclusions: There are plenty of places to stop on your private tour of the Lake District to enjoy lunch, teas and coffee., Entrances, unless specified

Reviewed By thuyn1207

Got a unique experience with 2 amazing tour guides, Mike and Gary. Windermere Lake Cruises was ok. The best part of the trip was when we took the off-the-beaten tracks to Sticklebarn, the view was breath-taking. Both tour guide and driver were very nice and knowledgeable. Worth every penny spent!

9. Private Tour: 8 Lakes and magnificent scenery - Afternoon tour

English Lakes Tours
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

• Lake Windermere, views of the largest lake in the lake district. • Kirkstone Pass • Brothers Water • Patterdale • Glenridding • Ullswater • Glencoyne • Scenic drive along the shores of Ullswater. • Castlerigg Stone Circle • Ashness Bridge • Surprise View looking out over Derwent Water with spectacular views towards Bassenthwaite Lake • Thirlmere • Dunmail Raise the low-level mountain pass and legendary burial place of King Dunmail. • Grasmere one of the smaller lakes of the English Lake District. • Rydal Water

Inclusions: Knowledgeable guide available throughout the tour, Live commentary on board, Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation, WiFi on board, charging points for most mobile devices at all seats

Exclusions: Food and drinks

Reviewed By H9BJisabellem

We did this ultimate private tour with tour guide Tim. This tour is really worth the money and the convenience of being able to see around Lake district while enjoying our company with Tim. The tour itself was really nice and our tour guide was really knowledgable. He kept us awake throughout our trip and he even took good photos of us. He was friendly and all smiles. The covid restriction was kept in place and there were hand sanitisers inside the van. I have already recommended this to my friends. Well done!

10. Lake District Highlights Day Trip from York with Lake Cruise

Duncombe Place, Duncombe Pl, York YO1, UK Mountain Goat Tours
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4.9 based on 15 reviews

Visit one of the UK's most breathtaking areas, the Lake District National Park. Arriving in the Lake District you will explore the central and northern Lakes, enjoy views of the UK's largest lake, Windermere, visit the famous town of Grasmere, renowned for William Wordsworth and its gingerbread. Explore Keswick and Castlerigg Stone Circle, thought to be older than Stone Henge itself, and visit Surprise View, famed for its incredible vistas.

Inclusions: Live commentary on board, Driver-guide, Lake cruise

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Drivers gratuity (optional)

Reviewed By angelcat2017

Excellent day tour of Yorkshire Dales in comfortable (Covid-safe) minibus with friendly and knowledgable local guide Lee. Got to see so many places that would have been impossible without a car, lots of time to take photos, grab a coffee and have a walk at multiple stops. Great National Park, stone walls, tales of castles and abbeys. Very peaceful and tranquil stops, waterfalls galore! Even a stop at the Wensleydale Creamery to buy local cheese and have a relaxing bite to eat. We even managed a quick stop in the 3rd smallest city in the UK, Ripon, with its medieval cathedral. Breathtaking scenery and the highlight of our week's holiday in York.

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