Windermere is a town and
civil parish in the
South Lakeland District of
Cumbria, England. It has a population of 8,245 increasing to 8,359 at the 2011 Census, and lies about half a mile (1 km) away from the lake,
Windermere. Although the town Windermere does not touch the lake (it took the name of the lake when the railway line was built in 1847 and the station was called "Windermere"), it has now grown together with the older lakeside town of
Bowness-on-Windermere, though the two retain distinguishable town centres. Tourism is popular in the town owing to its proximity to the lake and local scenery. Boats from the
piers in Bowness sail around the lake, many calling at
Ambleside or at
Lakeside where there is a restored railway.
Windermere Hotel opened at the same time as the railway.