From the imposing white façade of the Belsfield Hotel to the busy shops in the town centre, much of Bowness reflects its rise to prominence during the Victorian era. It was then that the town’s position on Windermere first made it a magnet for visitors, transforming it from a sleepy village to the hugely popular destination it is today.
Many use Bowness as a base for further travels throughout the Lake District, but the town itself is worth exploring. Visit World of Beatrix Potter, dedicated to the life and work of the renowned children’s author, the 15th century St Martin’s Church and Blackwell, an outstanding example of Arts and Crafts architecture.