Top Family Friendly things to do in Windermere

The Lake District is a great place for families and children, and Windermere is no exception. From boat trips, to little hikes and museum visits, here are some of the best things to do in Windermere as a family… 

  • Camping 

Windermere offers a great selection of family friendly campsites with plenty of space for kids to enjoy ball games and a night under the stars…

  • Low Wray Campsite 

Prices vary during seasons starting at £26 a tent pitch for 2 nights

A National Trust campsite nestled on the western shoreline of Lake Windermere, Low Wray Campsite is a stunning site offering camping options such as tent pitches with waterfront, lake, meadow or woodland views, camping pods, safari tents and space for campervans.

  • YHA Windermere

Camping pitch: £15 per night, private room: £29 per night, bed in a shared room: £13 per night. Contact YHA for prices on glamping extras. 

Overlooking lake Windermere, YHA Windermere is set amongst idyllic countryside around two miles from the town centre. The hostel is perfect for family holidays and is surrounded by large wooded grounds for kids to explore. The site offers shared rooms, private rooms, a fully equipped Airstream, bell tents, tipis and a spacious field for traditional tent and campervan pitches. The hostel has its own bar and restaurant to dine with ease on a night. 

  • Windermere Camping and Caravanning Club 

Prices vary during seasons starting at £10 per person, per night for a basic camping pitch.

Set a few miles from Lake Windermere, this family friendly camping spot is ideal for exploring Windermere and is also close by to Kendal. The peaceful, spacious campsite surrounded by wildlife offers a specific large family camping area complete with a children’s play area and family-friendly pub. The site also offer ‘glamping’ options providing 10 ready made safari tents.

  • Little Walks for Little Legs

Windermere is an ideal place to walk with kids; from lakeside strolls to adventurous woodland trails, these routes have all you need to your little ones occupied and interested along the way!

  • Orrest Head

A little hill with a spectacular viewpoint, Orrest Head is a great walk for older children who can hike unaided.  You can start this walk at Windermere Village Tourist Centre. The hill is easy to navigate and a great way to introduce kids to a bit of incline in preparation for future mountain walks. Little ones will feel rewarded when they reach the top, which has a big trig point for them to touch at the summit to celebrate their achievement!

  • Western Shore of Windermere

This walk combines a castle and boat trip, making this an exciting day for children. To explore the western shoreline of lake Windermere, you can catch a ferry from Bowness to the start point nearby Ferry House. From here, a track leads you to the flat, lakeshore path, which finishes at Wray Castle. At the castle, children can be rewarded with ice cream and fun activities including period costume dress up and a castle building room! Sometimes the National Trust host events in the castle, including Peter Rabbit Adventure rooms!

  • Great Knott Wood trails

Children love exploring and Great Knott Wood on the lakeside of Windermere is an ideal place for a woodland adventure. The ancient woodland sits on the south west shore of Lake Windermere and is a popular place for spotting red squirrels. The waymarked footpaths through the woodland are well maintained by the Woodland Trust.

  • Lakes Aquarium

Situated at Lakeside on the southern end of lake Windermere, the Lakes Aquarium is a fun family day out observing hundreds of different wildlife both local and exotic including species of fish such as Pike, Arctic Charr, Clownfish and Piranhas, mammals including otters and mice, and reptiles such as frogs and axolotl. Colourful groups of fish can be observed swimming over your head by walking through the aquariums glass tunnel; other interesting displays include a high waterfall plunging into a stream of salmon. The centre host regular talks and tours during the day with a special children’s quiz trail!

  • Wray Castle

A historic, Gothic Revival castle sitting on the shores of Lake Windermere, Wray Castle is a must visit Windermere attraction for families. The castle is renowned for being child friendly transforming the castle rooms into kids attractions including fancy dress, a play area room filled with soft building bricks, an arts and crafts room and an interactive Peter Rabbit themed room showing the children’s episodes on a TV screen. For warmer days, there is also an outdoor play area with a wooden fort, climbing frame and big tyre swing. The café also serves cakes, drinks and snacks to fuel your little ones!