Windermere and Bowness were originally two separate places, however today they tend to blend into one and the same. The older of the two is Bowness, which was the original village on the banks of Lake Windermere, the largest lake in the National Park. Then, in 1847 the railways arrived in Cumbria, and a station was built a mile and a half outside of Bowness. The Lake District had become an increasingly popular destination for the Victorians and the coming of the railway meant that Windermere soon became one of England's most popular resorts. As the number of visitors grew and grew guest houses, shops and restaurants were built around the station in order to cater to their needs - and the town of Windermere was born. Today Windermere is as popular as ever, attracting thousands of visitors each year, not least because it offers the perfect base for exploring the southern lakes.
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