"The Lego model of the lake District was on display which was quite impressive!"
"The building has been beautifully designed with vistas inside and out to frame the lake and the surrounding environment."
"Great museum, Swallows & Amazon boat."
"Brilliant, if you like boats, you're in the right place, with a collection of boats to behold."
"The museum is dedicated to preserving and displaying boats and other objects that relate to the history of boating on Lake Windermere."
"Wonderful museum with friendly and knowledgeable staff who have a genuine passion and interest in the exhibits."
"Very interesting place to visit if you like boats. Very good selection of all types of sailing and motor driven craft associated with the lake District waters."
Cons:
"Really lovely museum, not a huge amount to see, but really worth visiting for a look around."
"The museum itself is quite small. It has some lovely wooden boats and a number of other items, but I didn't find the layout and presentation very exciting or engaging."
"A very small and select museum, but interesting."
"It's only small and yes you can get around it very quickly."
"Compared to other places in the area charging the same entrance fee I'd say there is something lacking in terms of range of display items."
"Would have been nice to look around as I enjoy old things but £9 for an entry fee is very expensive."
"The new steamboat museum took a long time to open but it's been well worth the wait. Absolutely fantastic a real nostalgic journey into the past."
"Great place, really nice building! Just doesn’t feel like there’s as much there as there used to be in the old one."
Cafe and Food Options
Pros:
"Good restaurant, hot tasty varied food served promptly, pleasant staff."
"The cafe and the food are nice, good quality and reasonably priced."
"The café was also in a good location with views across the lake and the food very tasty."
"The cafe is very good."
"Great place to spend some time, parking available and refundable if buying food etc in the attached cafe."
"The cafeteria is also nice, really good spot for a break to enjoy the lovely views to the lake."
"Very good cafe, souvenir shop (toys, books, etc ), lake trips on a real steam or historic launch. Take a day trip back into maritime history. ...Recommended!"
"Cafe serving great food plenty of choice, even for gf,and vegan."
Cons:
"Cafe forgot our food order and left us waiting for 30 minutes for our food while other people who ordered after us got our food first. No word of apology for the delay either."
"Stopped to go to the cafe...loved the building and the friendly gentleman working front of house....had the WORST COFFEE EVER, undrinkable but couldn't be bothered with the hassle of complaining."
"The cafe wasn't bad either although the breakfast menu was limited."
"Nice place if you interested in boats. The museum is quite small but staff is really nice and helpful, and some exhibitions I found quite interesting. I love the idea that the ticket is valid for a full year and that there's a student discount that I could use."
"The cafe is nice, went to go on a heritage boat trip but there was no availability at the time."
"Pleasant couple of hours but we thought £4 to park was expensive on top of the £9 each for not a lot to see yet, but the attraction is young and hopefully more exhibits soon."
"The most interesting part of our visit was chatting to the boatbuilder engaged in refurb/conservation work. A lot more could be done in this vein as the rest of the main museum is very much stand and gawp, not much interaction. Expensive entry PLUS a hefty parking charge."
"Fabulous building and a great display of local artefacts and history. I am disappointed however that you have to pay £10 for parking if not using the museum."
Staff and Customer Service
Pros:
"Very friendly and helpful staff."
"The staff were all super friendly and made us laugh with the Lego MiniFig hunt - great fun!"
"Well-designed building that houses some exquisite vessels and artefacts. Glorious examples of craftsmanship covering centuries of boat making on the lake. Well-presented with informative graphics."
"Friendly and helpful staff. My favourite artist exhibiting her work (in picture)."
"The staff couldn't have been more happy and helpful. Finaly, the cafe was truly a shining example to other Museum cafe's, unique high quality and really tasty food without the overblown prices you find at many places nowadays that are attached to Museums."
"Helpful and friendly staff. My favourite artist exhibiting her work (in picture)."
"We visited during in June during school term time, it wasn't very busy and we had lots of space to see the exhibits and read the information boards. It was very well presented and interesting and made a nice hour and a half."
"Lovely place and lovely staff the lady on reception was amazing and the boat ride was fantastic would highly reccomened visiting here, and the cafe offered a range of delights and didnt charge the earth"
Cons:
"Another amazing place, well worth a visit, something for everyone all ages. Cafe serving great food plenty of choice, even for gf,and vegan. Great choice of drinks, toilets very clean. Shop amazing. Museum well laid out, Seating outside for picnics, etc. Plenty of parking. A must see for everyone. You will not be disappointed."
"Only went to the cafe but it was worth the stop. Friendly staff, indoor and outdoor seating with amazing views. Food and drink were lovely and not expensive."
"The staff were all so very friendly and welcoming. Well worth the money and time then in the end you can visit the cafe for a bite to eat outside by the lake."
"The museum is OK with many interesting local stories. If you hear about Swallows and Amazons once you'll hear about it throughout your visit. There was an unusual art installation which I can best describe as prancing women videoed three ways."
"Stopped to go to the cafe...loved the building and the friendly gentleman working front of house....had the WORST COFFEE EVER, undrinkable but couldn't be bothered with the hassle of complaining."
"We were so happy to do that. Amazing staff and the lake shore is just beautiful. A place to spend some quality time with your family."
"It has changed a lot since my last visit over 15 years ago, but for the better I should add. Really glad we made the effort to take the 15 minute walk from the town. When we come again I would like to get out on one of the steam boats."
"I really enjoyed this museum. It contains many interesting exhibits of local lake vessels. The information boards made for fascinating reading and the staff were very helpful. The museum is operating very safely in the current covid circumstances."
Parking and Accessibility
Pros:
"Plenty of parking which is free if visiting the museum."
"Camera registration plate recognition system."
"Parking is free for 4 hours for museum and cafe guests."
"Buy tickets valid for 12 months. Car reg recognition, parking free with code from museum cafe."
"You can choose to just go into the cafe free and a voucher gives you free parking whilst using the cafe."
"Parking is easy and free with your museum ticket."
"Parking is free if you purchase a ticket to the museum, otherwise full parking must be paid."
"Do not be put off when you arrive for the museum. It looks derelict with lots of high dead grasses, it was November but looks awful we nearly drove away thinking this cannot be it! Car park looks expensive £7 but is actually free if you are visiting the museum or café."
Cons:
"Car reg recognition, parking free with code from museum cafe or £7 for the day is not visiting."
"Parking is free for 4 hours for museum and cafe guests."
"Parking available and refundable if buying food etc in the attached cafe."
"Parking is free if you purchase a ticket to the museum, otherwise full parking must be paid."
"The car park looked spacious and was free for visitors to the museum."
"It's a little short, was expecting there to be a lot more. However the information and history on some of the boats is incredible."
"The car park looked spacious and was free for visitors to the museum."
"Stopped to go to the cafe...loved the building and the friendly gentleman working front of house....had the WORST COFFEE EVER, undrinkable but couldn't be bothered with the hassle of complaining."