Windermere, Natural lake in Cumbria, England

Windermere is a natural lake in Cumbria that stretches 11 miles (17.7 km) in length and reaches depths of 64 meters (210 feet), making it the largest natural lake in England by volume and surface area. The body of water divides into a wider northern basin and a narrower southern basin, separated by a cluster of wooded islands in the middle.

The arrival of the Kendal and Windermere Railway branch line in 1847 established this body of water as a main destination for Victorian holidaymakers. This connection brought travelers from the industrial cities of the north and transformed the shoreline into a leisure area for the growing middle class.

The name likely derives from the Old Norse personal name Vinandr, with the Old English 'mere' meaning lake; it was recorded as Winandermere until the 19th century. Locals long called it Windermer Watter rather than a lake. Since 2005 a speed limit of 11 knots has been enforced on the water.

Regular passenger ferries connect Lakeside railway station to Waterhead Bay, offering transport services across the full length of the body of water. Walkers and cyclists can use the shore paths that are publicly accessible at several points, offering different views of the water.

This body of water contains eighteen separate islands, with Belle Isle standing as the largest at one kilometer in length. A round 18th-century mansion sits on this island, one of the few circular residential buildings in England.