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简体中文Mixed: depends where you go Our reading of the sources below, not an official rating.
Stations, bridges and harbours from our guide where we hold a photo; each links to the area page that lists it.
Paying for local transport in the Lake District
Stagecoach buses, boats and trains
- The Lake District National Park Authority says Stagecoach runs the main bus network and that "all bus fares are currently capped to £3 per single journey" (as on its page on Oct 25, 2026). It lists day tickets for unlimited bus journeys within one day, combined bus and boat tickets for Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston and Derwentwater, and a Cumbria Travel Pass covering Northern, TransPennine and Avanti trains, Stagecoach buses and Windermere Cruises.Source: Lake District National Park Authority (opens in new tab).
- It adds that Northern runs a direct train from Manchester to Windermere, and that mainline stations such as Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle connect with the rest of the UK.Source: Lake District National Park Authority (opens in new tab).
Without a car
Getting here
By train
West Coast Main Line trains call at Oxenholme (near Kendal), Penrith and Carlisle. Northern runs the Windermere branch line from Oxenholme through Kendal and Staveley, and the National Park Authority says there is a direct Northern train from Manchester to Windermere. Another Northern route follows the Cumbrian coast between Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle. 1
National Rail (opens in new tab) · Northern: Manchester Piccadilly to Windermere (opens in new tab) · Northern: Cumbria Travel Pass (opens in new tab)
By bus
The National Park Authority names the Stagecoach 555 (Lancaster and Kendal to Keswick via Grasmere), the 599 (Bowness to Grasmere) and the X4/X5 (Penrith to Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington). Seasonal shuttles reach Wasdale Head and Buttermere, and an Ullswater Hopper runs from Easter. National Express serves Lancaster, Penrith and Carlisle. 2
Stagecoach: explore the Lakes by bus (opens in new tab) · Traveline (opens in new tab) · Wasdale Explorer (opens in new tab) · Buttermere shuttle bus (opens in new tab) · Ullswater Hopper (SITU Cumbria) (opens in new tab)
By boat
Four lakes have passenger boats with several stops: Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston and Derwentwater. The Authority suggests combining a one-way boat trip with a bus, walk or cycle, and notes that combined bus and boat day tickets are sold. The Windermere ferry carries cars and passengers between Ferry Nab and Far Sawrey. 3
Windermere Lake Cruises (opens in new tab) · Ullswater Steamers (opens in new tab) · Coniston Launch (opens in new tab) · Keswick Launch (opens in new tab)
Once you are there
Buses and the Cumbria Travel Pass
The National Park Authority names the core routes 555, 599 and X4/X5, seasonal shuttles to Wasdale Head and Buttermere, and the Cumbria Travel Pass for trains, buses and boats. It says single bus fares were capped at £3 when we read it on Oct 25, 2026. 4
Wasdale without a car
The Wasdale Explorer runs on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays only. The 2026 service ran from May 2 to August 31 and had ended when we read the page. It reaches Wasdale Head from Ravenglass station, and the page says a car can be left at Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass, Greengarth or Gosforth, or at Nether Wasdale. Valley parking is very limited and there is little or no cell signal in parts of the valley, so download the schedule. Out of season, a car is the only way we found to reach Wasdale Head. 5
Buses and boats link the bases
The 555 and 599 buses link Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick, and boats link towns on Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston and Derwentwater. A day ticket gives unlimited bus journeys, and combined bus and boat tickets are sold. 6
Walk between villages
The Grasmere Trail links Ambleside and Grasmere past Rydal Water, and the National Park Authority lists many shorter lakeshore routes. Weather changes quickly, so check the forecast before a fell walk. 7
Stile-free and accessible routes
The Authority lists 50 Miles without Stiles routes for wheelchairs, strollers and anyone needing an easier path, graded by length, terrain and facilities. 8
Stops near each area
From our area guides (The Lake District): the stations and stops listed for each base. See each area's Getting there page for more.
Windermere & Bowness
- Windermere: Northern. Terminus of the Windermere branch line from Oxenholme, in Windermere village; Bowness is about a mile and a half away
- Bowness piers: Windermere Lake Cruises. Boats call at Bowness, Ambleside, Brockhole, Wray Castle, Ferry House and Lakeside (check the operator for the season)
- Bus 599: Stagecoach. Links Bowness, Windermere, Rydal and Grasmere, according to the National Park Authority; open-top in summer
- Windermere Ferry: Westmorland and Furness Council. Cable ferry between Ferry Nab and Far Sawrey, a shortcut to Hawkshead; passengers can board
Ambleside & Grasmere
- Bus 599: Stagecoach. Runs between Bowness, Windermere, Rydal and Grasmere, up to every 20 minutes in summer with an open-top bus, according to the National Park Authority
- Bus 555: Stagecoach. Lancaster and Kendal to Keswick via Grasmere and Rydal, according to the National Park Authority
- Bus 505: Stagecoach. Regular buses to Coniston from Ambleside and Hawkshead, according to the National Park Authority
- Waterhead pier: Windermere Lake Cruises. Boats call at Ambleside (Waterhead), Brockhole, Wray Castle and Bowness; check the operator for the season
Keswick & Derwentwater
- Bus 555: Stagecoach. Runs from Lancaster and Kendal through the central Lakes to Keswick, according to Stagecoach and the National Park Authority
- Bus X4/X5: Stagecoach. Connects Penrith and Keswick with Cockermouth and Workington, according to the National Park Authority
- Keswick Launch: Keswick Launch Co.. Lake cruise of about 50 minutes with stops at Ashness Gate, Lodore, Hawes End, Lingholm and Nichol End, according to the National Park Authority
Ullswater & Pooley Bridge
- Bus 508: Stagecoach. The National Park Authority names the Ullswater 508 as the bus over Kirkstone Pass; check Stagecoach for the route and times
- Ullswater Hopper: SITU Cumbria. Community bus listed from Easter, linking Aira Force, The Quiet Site, Pooley Bridge and Howtown, with a direct link from Keswick; check dates
- Ullswater 'Steamers': Ullswater Steamers. Boats call at Glenridding, Aira Force, Howtown and Pooley Bridge; check the operator for sailings
Coniston & Hawkshead
- Bus 505: Stagecoach. Regular buses to Coniston from Ambleside and Hawkshead, according to the National Park Authority
- Bus X112: Blueworks Travel. Links Coniston with Ulverston and Barrow-in-Furness, according to the National Park Authority
- Coniston Boating Centre: Coniston Launch. Launch stops at the Boating Centre, Waterhead, Brantwood, Sunny Bank and Lake Bank Jetty; reduced service from November to February
- Windermere Ferry: Westmorland and Furness Council. Cable ferry from Ferry Nab to Far Sawrey, a shortcut toward Hawkshead from Windermere; passengers can board
Wasdale & Eskdale
- Ravenglass: Northern. Station on the Cumbrian coast line between Barrow-in-Furness and Carlisle, beside the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
- Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway: Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway. Heritage railway of about seven miles from Ravenglass to Dalegarth, near Boot; check the operator for the schedule
- Wasdale Explorer: Reays Coaches, for the National Park Authority. Summer shuttle from Ravenglass, Gosforth and Nether Wasdale to Wasdale Head; in 2026 it ran on weekends and bank holidays from May 2 to August 31
No schedules or fares are copied here: check the operator or Traveline for the day you travel. Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate in most towns, but we have no sourced coverage data for rural areas, so do not count on one at short notice.
With a car
By car
For the southern lakes take M6 junction 36 and the A590; for the north take junction 40 and the A66 or A592. The Authority gives average journey times of about 5 hours from London and the south east, 1.5 hours from Manchester, 2 hours from York, 40 minutes from Windermere to Keswick and 1.5 hours from Kendal to Wasdale. Parking is limited in popular valleys. 9
GPS and small roads
The Authority says GPS can mislead on small country roads and suggests planning with postcodes it provides. It also offers a park-and-explore ticket that combines one-day parking with onward bus travel. 4
Electric cars
The Authority says electric car rental is available and lists charging points on its parking lots page. 4
General rules (driving on the left, licenses, roundabouts, speed limits in mph, parking, tolls, EV charging): Driving in Britain. Charge points: Zapmap (opens in new tab).
To and from other regions
Straight-line distance from our region centers, and the fastest train time that National Rail publishes on its destination pages (not a schedule; it may include a change). Where we found no figure we say so. The full table is on getting between regions.
| To or from | Straight line | Fastest train (National Rail) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | 346 km (215 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Bristol | 336 km (209 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Cambridge | 329 km (204 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Cardiff | 331 km (206 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Cornwall | 487 km (303 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Edinburgh | 166 km (103 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Glasgow | 173 km (108 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Liverpool | 117 km (73 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| London | 383 km (238 miles) | 2 h 40 min 10 | The time is London Euston to Oxenholme (Lake District) "in as little as" 2 hours 40 minutes; Avanti says the average journey is around 3 hours 10 minutes with extra stops. You then change for the branch line to Windermere or continue by bus. |
| Manchester | 122 km (76 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Northern Ireland | 238 km (148 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Oxford | 325 km (202 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Portsmouth and Southampton | 420 km (261 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Stratford & Warwickshire | 264 km (164 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| The Cotswolds | 298 km (185 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| The Jurassic Coast | 424 km (263 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| The Peak District | 159 km (99 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| The Scottish Highlands | 325 km (202 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| Wales | 245 km (152 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
| York | 141 km (88 miles) | No official figure found. Check National Rail (opens in new tab) | — |
Figures retrieved Oct 25, 2026 for the intercity data. Schedules change.
Stations in our data
26 stations and stops (The Lake District)
OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via the Photon geocoder (Komoot), because the Overpass API mirrors were unreachable from this network; operators from the National Park Authority travel page and Wikipedia. Fetched 2026-10-25. This is the list behind the near-me page, not a complete list of stations.
- Windermere (rail), Northern
- Staveley (rail), Northern
- Burneside (rail), Northern
- Kendal (rail), Northern
- Oxenholme Lake District (station)
- Penrith (North Lakes) (station)
- Ravenglass (rail), Northern
- Drigg (rail), Northern
- Seascale (rail), Northern
- Bootle (rail), Northern
- Silecroft (rail), Northern
- Millom (rail), Northern
- Foxfield (rail), Northern
- Kirkby-in-Furness (rail), Northern
- Ravenglass (R&ER) (heritage), Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
- Muncaster Mill (heritage), Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
- Murthwaite Halt (heritage), Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
- Miteside Halt (heritage), Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
- Irton Road (heritage), Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
- Eskdale Green (heritage), Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
- Fisherground Halt (heritage), Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
- Beckfoot (heritage), Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
- Dalegarth (heritage), Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
- Lakeside (heritage), Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway
- Newby Bridge Halt (heritage), Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway
- Haverthwaite (heritage), Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway
Official links
- Lake District National Park (opens in new tab): the National Park Authority
- Getting to and around the Lake District (opens in new tab): trains, buses, boats and driving
- Visit Lake District (opens in new tab): the regional tourism site
- National Rail Inquiries (opens in new tab): train times and fares
- Northern: Cumbria Travel Pass (opens in new tab): trains, buses and Windermere cruises
- Stagecoach: explore the Lakes by bus (opens in new tab): bus routes and schedules
- Traveline (opens in new tab): journey planner
- Windermere Lake Cruises (opens in new tab): boats on Windermere
- Ullswater Steamers (opens in new tab): boats on Ullswater
- Keswick Launch (opens in new tab): boats on Derwentwater
- Coniston Launch (opens in new tab): boats on Coniston Water
- Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (opens in new tab): heritage railway to Eskdale
More on the Lake District: The Lake District guide · how to get there
Questions people ask
Can I get around the Lake District without a car?
The main valleys are served by buses, boats and trains, and several are well connected. Some places, notably Wasdale, are not: the Wasdale Explorer runs only on weekends and bank holidays in season, and valley parking is very limited.
Do I need to check a driving zone in the Lake District?
We found no charging or low emission zone for the Lake District in the official pages we read. Check the council site before you drive in.