Parking In Windermere – When and Where can I park?
It’s an age-old problem in the Lake District. Where can I park? It’s beautiful here so everybody wants to come. And most people drive. Which means it gets busy, and parking is at a premium and it’s not cheap either (higher than the national average).
But fear not, we’re here to help.
This post is part of the Lakeland Retreats guide to Windermere & Bowness >
Finding a parking space in Bowness and Windermere
If you’re lucky enough to be staying in Windermere or Bowness, chances are there is parking at your holiday cottage. But if you’re travelling from elsewhere in the Lakes or beyond, here’s what you need to know to stop you driving round in circles looking for that elusive parking space.
Oh, and our best tip? Arrive early, especially in the busier moths if you want to get a space.
Windermere
Parking in Windermere
Broad Street Car Park
Managed by Westmorland and Furness Council. You can find it just behind the library.
- 94 general spaces
- 7 disabled parking spaces
- It’s open and chargeable from 8am to 8pm every day
- Arrive before 9am to park all day for £1.10
- Motorcycles can park free
- If you’re staying in Windermere for a while, look into buying a 3- or 7-day pass
Rayrigg Meadow Car Park
A little way out of Bowness, you’ll find Rayrigg Meadow car park.
Managed by the council; the site has a playground, toilets, and walks from the car park. It’s not so handy for the shops but it’s a nice easy way to get out of town.
- 45 general spaces
- 5 disabled spaces
- Motorcycles can park free
- Open and chargeable from 8am to 8pm every day
- 3 and 7-day passes are available
- Picnic tables and play area
- There are public toilets available on site
- Motorhomes can park overnight (there is a separate charge) but must move on in the morning. Enforcement officers will be out bright and early so set your alarm
Booths supermarket
There is a large car park at the Booths supermarket behind the train station.
Strictly speaking, it’s for customers only and you can park free for up to two hours if you’re ‘visiting’ the store, but beware, it’s strictly enforced by numberplate recognition, so if you stay longer than two hours, there may well be a brown envelope waiting for you soon after you get home.
- 100 parking spaces
- Free parking for customers
- Disabled Access
- EV charging is available
Windermere train station
There are 19 parking spaces opposite the train station in Windermere, but they fill up quickly.
It’s open every day and if you are lucky enough to get a space, you can park all day for £8 on weekdays and £7 at the weekends.
- 19 parking spaces
- Open every day
- £8 all day weekdays
- £7 all day weekends
Station Precinct
Windermere
LA23 1AH
On-street parking in Windermere
There is a limited amount of free on-street parking in the centre of Windermere, but it usually only gives you an hour and the traffic wardens take no prisoners if you overstay your time.
While parking on the residential streets away from the village centre is not encouraged, if you do decide to try and find a space, be respectful of the local residents who need to park there and don’t block anybody’s driveway.
There are spaces to be had on:
- Crescent Road
- High Street
- College Road
- Broad Street (Free all day)
Good luck.
Parking in Bowness
Rayrigg Road Car Park
A much closer to Bowness than Rayrigg Meadow, Council-run Rayrigg Road car park offers the easiest access to Bowness’ shops.
- 178 general spaces
- 12 disabled spots – park one hour for free on top of time purchased when displaying a valid Blue Badge and clock disc
- Motorcycles can park free
- open and chargeable every day from 8am to 8pm
- Buy a 3 or 7-day pass if you’re in the area for a few days
- toilets on site
- EV charging available
Rayrigg Road
Bowness-on-Windermere
LA23 3BZ
United Kingdom
Braithwaite Fold Car Park
Unless it’s very busy, you should be able to find a parking space at Braithwaite Fold car park – there are 400 of them. It’s to the south of town but the walk along the lake front offers some lovely views and there’s cafes and shops along the way.
During the peak months a small shuttle runs from the car park to the main lake front jetties.
- 400 general spaces
- 11 disabled spaces
- Motorcycles can park free
- Toilets on site (charge applies)
- Open and chargeable every day from 8am to 8pm
- 3 and 7-day passes available
- Motorhomes can also rock up for an overnight stay (there is a separate charge) but must be on their way sharpish in the morning. The enforcement officers don’t sleep through their alarms so don’t sleep through yours.
Glebe Road Car Park
You can find the council-run Glebe Road car park down by the lake side. Closer to town than Braithwaite Fold car park but, often busier.
- 124 general spaces
- 8 disabled spaces
- 7 free spaces just for motorcycles (although they can park in any space if all the bike spots are taken)
- Open and chargeable every day from 8am to 8pm
- 3 or 7-day passes available
- Overnight parking of motorhomes is not allowed.
- There are public toilets near the entrance, next to the tourist information office.
1 Glebe Road
Bowness-on-Windermere
LA23 3HE
Ferry Nab Car Park
Tucked away behind trees down near the lake, council-run Ferry Nab car park offers a nice lake front walk in to Bowness via Cockshott Point or if you fancy hiring some kit and getting on the lake for the day.
- 120 general spaces
- 9 disabled spaces
- Motorcycles can use any space and park free
- Open and chargeable every day from 8am to 8pm
- 3 or 7-day passes available
- No overnight parking for motorhomes
- Public toilets on site
Quarry Mount Car Park
A small but central car park, Quarry Mount (AKA Windermere Town Parking Place on Google maps) can be found inBowness on Lake Road, next to the Royalty Cinema (now sadly closed).
- 36 general spaces
- 3 disabled spaces
- 1 motorcycle space
- Open and chargeable from 8am to 6pm
- 3 or 7-day passes available
- Public toilet next to the entrance
On-street parking in Bowness
There is some on-street parking on the road into Bowness – usually only for an hour, and it’s patrolled by very keen enforcement officers.
Parking on some residential streets is possible but many are residents only. If you do decide to try and find a space, be respectful of the locals who need to park there and don’t block anybody’s driveway.
Parking and transport options around the Lake District
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Check out these alternate ways to get around or the best places to get parked once you reach your destination town or village.
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Cottages in Windermere & Bowness
Get away from it all in one of our cosy Windermere cottages.
Experience the natural beauty of The Lake District with high-quality accommodation and unique amenities for couples, groups, and families!
Book today
The Lakeland Retreats guide to Bowness & Windermere
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