The beautiful English spot that's just as pretty as Lake Como but without the crowds

The UK is full of beautiful rural towns and stunning scenery, but one area stands out as a rival to Lake Como. Windermere in Cumbria is a gorgeous part of the country, just half a mile from the famous lake of the same name - the largest in England. While Lake Windermere, which attracts 1 million visitors every year, is often crowded in the summer months, it still presents a less crowded alternative to Lake Como.

Italy's third largest biggest lake draws in 1.4 million visitors each year, with mid-June, July, and August seeing the largest crowds. Windermere, nestled in the Lake District, does not itself touch the lake. It forms one urban area with the older town of Bowness-on-Windermere, which is directly on the lake shore.

It's been a popular staycation destination for over a hundred years, growing in popularity when the railway station and hotel of the same name opened in 1847.

The main attraction of the town is unsurprisingly its proximity to the lake and breaktaking natural natural surroundings. Boats from the piers in Bowness sail around the lake, many calling at Ambleside or at Lakeside where there is a restored railway.

Visitors can also hire self-drive boats, rowing boats, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. For those looking for a more relaxing trip away, luxurious skippered tachting experiences are also available.

Windermere Lake Cruises is also a very popular attraction, consistently ranking among the top "paid for" visitor attractions in England. In 2022, they were the 4th most popular, attracting over 1.3 million visitors, according to Lake District National Park.

This popularity has continued, with the latest figures showing they are still among the top ten most visited paid attractions in the country.

One person wrote on Tripadvisor: "Absolutely beautiful place even in the rain lots to do and very central in the Lake District totally recommend a visit so worth it."

Another commented: "A beautiful place to visit. Amazing views and a nice place to shop. Free on street parking for one hour. Always busy with tourists. A camera is a must!!"

A third added: "A stunning lake with perfect photography spots. A beautiful backdrop of valleys, hills & tree lines.

"Fantastic walks around the area and a fantastic range of activities such as boat trips, paddle boarding and lunch at one of the local cafes/restaurants."