Visiting UK

Lake District Bus

Lake District Bus Guide

If you don’t plan to drive in the Lake District, using the buses is the best way to get around Cumbria.

There is a large network of Lake District buses that are operated by Stagecoach.

Stagecoach buses in the Lake District generally run two or three times an hour throughout the peak season, and less frequently during the off season.

Lake District buses run between major towns like Windermere and Keswick, as well as to smaller towns like Grasmere.

Lake District Bus Guide Magazine

There is a good bus guide magazine called The Cumbria & Lakesider that shows all Lake District bus timetables. Copies are available at most hotels in the Lake District as well as at tourist offices in Cumbria.

Lake District Bus Tickets and Passes

Lake District bus tickets can be purchased from the driver.

Lake District bus fares vary depending on where you are going and for how long you would like your ticket to be valid.

There are also Lake District bus passes that can be purchased by visitors that plan to take the bus frequently over a period of a few days or a week. The passes are called Megarider passes. A Megarider Gold pass, for example, is valid for 7 days on all buses in Cumbria and Lancashire. It costs 24 GBP and can be purchased from the bus driver.

Bus to Keswick

Buses from Windermere to Keswick operate daily throughout the year.

The bus numbers for this service are 554, 555, and 556.

Buses depart from the Windermere train station and arrive in the centre of Keswick on Crow Park Road.

Buses run two to three times an hour throughout the day in the summer, and slightly less frequently during the off season.

The journey on buses from Windermere to Keswick takes around 1h40m if there is no traffic.

The buses that travel on this route are run by the Stagecoach bus company.

Stagecoach buses are double-decker buses. Try to get a seat in the front on the top level for the best views of the Lake District en route.

You can purchase tickets for buses from Windermere to Keswick on the bus.

During the peak summer months, there is a small ticket booth in front of the bus stop in Windermere where you can buy bus tickets from an attendant.

To save money on buses from Windermere to Keswick, consider buying a Megarider Gold bus pass, which allows the user 7 days of unlimited Stagecoach bus transport in Cumbria and Lancashire for 24 GBP.

Windermere Train Station

Trains from Windermere to Manchester Airport run all throughout the day. They leave from Windermere train station in the Lake District and arrive at the Manchester Airport train station.

Trains depart Windermere for the Manchester Airport train station around once an hour.

Return trains from Manchester Airport to Windermere to run every 1 – 1.5 hours.

Some trains from Windermere to Manchester Airport require a change or two en route, usually at Preston and/or Oxenholme Lake District train station. Other trains on this route are direct.

Train journey time from Windermere to Manchester Airport varies depending on which train you take and if it is a direct train or requires changes. The journey time can take from 1h56m – 2h37m.

Standard class train tickets from Windermere to Manchester Airport can cost from 9 GBP for a single if you purchase train tickets online before you travel.

Ticket prices go up if you travel at peak commuting times, buy train tickets at the Windermere train station, or purchase tickets on the date you travel to the airport.

Discounts on tickets for trains from Windermere to Manchester Airport can be had if you buy train tickets online ahead of time or if you book using a railcard.