Bowness and Windermere Shops
Sure, you’ve come to the Lake District to explore the great outdoors, but you’ll also find a huge range of options for Bowness and Windermere shops, selling everything from unique local gifts to everyday essentials.
Here’s a flavour of what you can expect to find in Windermere and Bowness
This post is part of the Lakeland Retreats guide to Windermere & Bowness >
Where can I buy groceries in Windermere or Bowness?

Booths
The Old Station, Victoria St, Windermere LA23 1QA
You can stock up on groceries, beer, wine, and local delicacies at the large Booths store in Windermere.
Sometimes called the Waitrose of the north, you can find it right next to the station. Handy that.

Co-op
You can find small Co-op branches in both Windermere and Bowness for all your essentials.
They’re open from 7am to 10pm every day – just the ticket if you need to run out for a late-night pint of milk or an emergency bottle of wine.

Sainsbury’s Local
Open every day from 7 in the morning until 11 at night (except Sundays 7am-9pm).
Sainsbury’s in Windermere is well-stocked with food, wine, newspapers and everything else you’d expect to find. And it opens later than the Co-op too.

Tesco Express
4-5, The Royal, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3DB
Slap bang in the middle of Bowness is Tesco Express. Stocking fresh and frozen food, household essentials and lots more, it’s ideal for picking up some last-minute ingredients for dinner or grabbing a meal deal for a day out in the Lakes.
Where can I pick up a prescription in Windermere or Bowness?
If you need to pick up a prescription or stock up on plasters, there are a few pharmacies dotted around Windermere.
Where can I buy pet supplies in Windermere or Bowness?

Lakeland Pet Supplies
28 Main Rd, Windermere LA23 1DY
If you’ve brought your furry friend to one of our pet-friendly cottages, it’s good to know all their needs are catered for too.
Lakeland Pet Supplies in Windermere is an Aladdin’s cave for all things dog and other animals related.

Mabel & Mu
Raining Cats & Dogs, 2 Crag Brow, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3BX
If you want to give your pampered pooch a treat, then Mabel & Mu in Bowness is the place to go.
The dog-mad owners sell designer dog collars and harnesses, along with other doggy accessories.

Oakhill Veterinary Group
Hopefully, you won’t need their help, but should anything happen to your dog while you’re here, it’s good to know that friendly and knowledgeable help is at hand in the form of Oakhill Vets in Windermere.
Where can I buy Windermere & Bowness gifts, souvenirs, and art prints?
As you might expect, there are a plethora of shops selling gifts, souvenirs, arts, crafts and prints in Windermere and Bowness – check out a few of our favourites below.

The Northern Line
4 Crescent Rd, Windermere LA23 1EA
Don’t leave Windermere without a visit to The Northern Line.
If you’re after gifts and souvenirs that avoid the usual cliches, have a peek in this emporium. This family-run shop stocks a wide range of in-house designed Lake District-themed artwork, gifts and homeware from local makers, and lovely prints and posters featuring sport, cycling and music.

National Park Print Shop
25A Crescent Rd, Windermere LA23 1BJ
Prints, prints, prints – and other illustrated bits for the home.
The splendid National Park Print Shop is filled with risograph and giclee art prints from indie artists that celebrate the good stuff – the great outdoors, adventure, food and travel.

Craig Long Gallery and Gifts
56 Main Rd, Windermere LA23 1DX
Filled with gifts, cards, photographs, paintings and prints of the Lake District, the Craig Long Gallery is well worth a visit if you like your souvenirs more on the trad side.
The home of artist Craig Long and photographer Charlie White (one and the same person), if it’s a print or a coaster featuring a vintage tractor or a Lake District jigsaw you’re after, this is the place.

Thuline Studio & Gallery
22 Main Rd, Windermere LA23 1DY
Animal lovers will want to spend some time browsing in the Thuline Studio & Gallery.
Artist Thuline De Cock specialises in contemporary animal portraits, and you can see her work on everything from canvas to cups and cushions to coasters in her Windermere gallery and shop.

Peter Rabbit and Friends
Unit 1, Old Midland Bank, 45 St Martin’s Pl, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3EF
Celebrating Beatrix Potter, one of the Lake District’s most-loved residents, and her wonderful creations, the Peter Rabbit Gift Shop is where you can buy the timeless books and gifts related to Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Jeremy Fisher and the rest of gang.
There’s also a gift shop at the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness.

Love the Lakes
Ash Street, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3EB
If you want to take a bit of the Lake District back with you, then a trip to Love the Lakes in Bowness is in order.
You can buy almost anything Lake District-related there. Everything from food and drink, stuff for the home, things to make you smell nice, and lots more besides.

The Red Gecko
2A Ash St, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3EB
Selling a range of wall art, jewellery, lighting, handbags, mosaics, and much more, this lovely independent boutique in Bowness showcases thoughtfully designed and ethically made products – many of which they design themselves and have made by small family businesses in Bali.

Herdy
1B, Chestnut Tree House, Lake Rd, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3BT
Inspired by the Lake District’s iconic Herdwick sheep, Herdy design and create all their gifts, homewares and accessories from scratch in Herdy HQ.
They also support sustainable, rural community and upland fell farming through the Herdy Fund – so not only will you be taking home a lovely souvenir, you’ll be helping rural communities too.
Windermere Outdoor gear and bike hire Shops

Total Adventure Bike Hire
9 Church St, Windermere LA23 1AQ
Enjoy some of the best views in Great Britain, whilst you explore the stunning trails and mountains of the Lake District with a hire bike from Total Adventure.
Choose from a fleet of high-spec mountain and electric bikes, children’s bikes and children’s transport options, to make your mountain biking holiday unforgettable.

Windermere Canoe and Kayak
The North West’s biggest hire fleet and dedicated paddlesports shop.
With stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and now bikes, come and learn, hire, buy, or have an experience with Windermere canoe and kayak.

Country Lanes Cycle Centre
Windermere Railway Station, Station Precinct, Windermere LA23 1AH
Located outside Windermere station, Country Lanes Cycle Centre is the place to go if you want to hire a bike (including electric bikes) or get your own serviced or repaired.
They can advise you on local routes you might want to try too.
Where can I buy kitchenware in Windermere?
Your cottage should have everything you need for a comfortable stay. If anything you need is missing, please let us know. If however, you’re on the lookout for some top-quality kitchen gadgets, look no further than…

Lakeland
Alexandra Buildings, Thwaites Ln, Windermere LA23 1BQ
A tourist destination in its own right, you can find Lakeland’s flagship store in Windermere opposite the train station.
Packed to the rafters with everything from air fryers to heated airers and bakeware galore, it’s even got a rather good café on the first floor for when you’re all shopped out.
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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