Ambleside’s central location and excellent transport links make it a great place to explore the Lake District. This guide will cover all the best things to see and do in Ambleside plus nearby attractions and hikes.
Ambleside used to be a quiet market village, but now it is a popular tourist destination for the Lake District. There are many facilities in town and a few rainy-day options. It’s also easy to reach other attractions in the Lake District.
In this guide we list the top things to see and do in Ambleside, including a museum, cinemas, beautiful gardens, and lakefront cruises. We will also cover the best places nearby. This includes our favourite foodie town, literary excursions, as well as family-friendly adventure activities.
Ambleside: Things to do
Ambleside has a lot of shops and restaurants. However, it’s better to use the town centre as a base from which to explore the surrounding mountains (more on this later in this article). There are a few attractions that are worth exploring.
ARMITT MUUSEUM
This small museum, dedicated to preserving Ambleside’s story, has an eclectic mix that includes Roman artifacts, local photographs and Beatrix Potter’s watercolours. This is a great place to potter on a rainy day.
BRIDGE HOUSE
This charming 17th century building is perched above the river at the heart of Ambleside. You can’t miss this cute photo. The National Trust offers walk-and-talk tours of the Bridge House and Armitt Museum every Thursday at 11:30 am or 1:30 pm costing £9.50.
ZEFFIRELLIS
This independent cinema with live music is a great place to rest your legs after a long day. It has a café and restaurant with an excellent range of vegetarian and vegan dishes. There are a variety of films, musicals, and classical concerts. Check what is on while you are there.
AMBLESIDE CLIMBING WHALL
Ambleside Indoor Climbing Wall provides a great way for the whole family to stay entertained when the rain starts. The Ambleside Indoor Climbing Wall offers a tasting session for beginners, as well as more advanced courses and unsupervised bouldering.
STOCK GHILL FORCE
This 70-foot waterfall can be reached by a short walk from Ambleside. The round-trip hike takes only 30 minutes but the final section of the trail is rough. In spring the waterfall is surrounded with a carpet daffodils.
WATERHEAD PIER
Waterhead is Ambleside’s southern edge, located on the shores Lake Windermere. Cruises and steamers offer spectacular views as they head down the lake from the pier.
There are many different routes that you can take:
- The Red Cruise connects Ambleside and Bowness (35 minute each way).
- The Green Cruise is a 50-minute circular route connecting Ambleside to Wray Castle, Brockhole and the Lake District Visitors Centre.
Most cruises let you hop on and off at any port and continue your trip later. It’s a great half-day or full-day out.
STAGSHAW GARDENS
The National Trust owns this eight-acre woodland and it is free to visit. It’s not a manicured, but instead, rhododendrons are scattered throughout the woodland scene. The paths may be rough and poorly marked, but they are a great place to wander and get lost. Spring is a particularly colorful time.
Take a photo when you enter of the map that is on the board. Otherwise, you might end up wandering around for longer than planned. There is a small parking area (4-5 cars) near the gardens. If you park at Waterhead, it’s only a 12-minute stroll to Ambleside.
Ambleside: Different attractions
Ambleside’s best feature is its proximity to so many different attractions. You can reach many of these attractions without a vehicle, as Ambleside is at the heart of a good public transport network. Here’s a list of our favourite things to do around Ambleside.
WRAY CRASTLE
This stunning Gothic revival (built only in 1840) castle perches above Windermere’s western shore. Run by the National Trust it has rotating exhibitions, a second-hand bookshop, an independent café and waymarked trails that head along the lakeshore and through an arboretum.
You can drive (15 min from Ambleside), and park on the grounds. It’s more fun to enter through the gatehouse after taking the Green Cruise from Waterhead Pier.
BROCKHOLE
Brockhole is home to a Lake District Visitor Centre that’s great for entertaining the whole family. Around the 19th-century Brockhole House and Gardens you can hire motorboats, kayaks or paddleboards and head to Windermere.
You can also test your skills at mini-golf, laser clay and archery. ZipWorld, with its zip line and high ropes course in the trees is right next door. Ambleside is a 7-minute bus ride (599 or 555) or drive away. You can also take the Green Cruise to Waterhead Pier.
RYDAL
Rydal, a small town just north of Ambleside, has some interesting things to see and do. Rydal Mount & Gardens was William Wordsworth’s best-loved family home where he lived from 1813 to his death in 1850.
The house is filled with Wordsworth’s letters, books and pictures. It is still run today by his descendants. Rydal Water can be found just across the road. This lovely lake in the Lake District is one of our favorite spots for wild-swimming.
Rydal caves are a short distance behind the lake. They are one of the most accessible and easily accessible caves in the Lakes. Rydal is only a 45-minute stroll from Ambleside. You can also drive or take a bus in just 5 minutes.
GRASMERE
Grasmere, one of the prettiest Lake District villages, has a few interesting activities. Try the gingerbread made from scratch, visit Wordsworth’s cottage or take a trip on Grasmere Lake.
Helm Crag is one of the most beautiful walks that you can do from Ambleside. Grasmere is a great day trip. It’s only a 10 minute drive from Ambleside, or 15 minutes by bus 599 or 555.
HAWKSHEAD
Hawkshead has a pretty village market with whitewashed houses, set in cobbled streets. With its cosy pubs and independent stores, it has a reputation as a foodie destination.
Some of these include Honeypot, The Little Ice Cream Shop (the pies are amazing), the Chocolate Factory and the craft beers from KITTcHEN. Ambleside is 15 minutes away by car or 20 minutes by bus 505.
GRIZEDALE FORREST
Grizedale Forest is a great place for mountain biking. All levels of MTB experience can enjoy the trails, which have been carved out of the forest floor. Beginners will enjoy the 17-kilometre Hawkshead Moor Trail, while experts can take on the steep 1-kilometre Black Trail.
Bikes can be hired from Bike Treks located right next to the visitors centre. Grizedale Forest has also some great walking trails, and a Go-Ape adventure centre. The visitor center was upgraded a few years ago, and Cafe Ambio has a nice atmosphere.
The forest can be reached by car in 25 minutes, but it is difficult to reach using public transport.
HILLTOP
Beatrix Potter bought Hill Top Farm using the proceeds from her Peter Rabbit novels. She was a scientist, an artist, a farmer, and a conservationist who took a keen passion for the unique hilly terrain of the area.
Hill Top still contains her personal belongings, original artwork and the house with its rambling gardens is a delightful tribute to the characters in her books.
The cute signs bring to life stories about Tom Kitten, Jemima Puddle Duck and Jemima Puddle Duck. Hill Top, which is only 20 minutes away from Ambleside by car, can be difficult to get to using public transport.
Walks near Ambleside
We have selected seven walks in the area of Ambleside. The first three walks are from the centre of the town, while the remaining four require a quick drive or bus ride. All are excellent.
LOUGHRIGG
Loughrigg has a small mountain with a big view. It is located in the middle of several beautiful valleys. Although it is only about 335 metres high, it offers a wide range of views.
But the real highlights of Loughrigg are its slopes. There are zigzagging stone walls and heather-covered hills, bobbling mounds of grazing grass, and paths that lead over wooden stiles to shimmering lakes.
The best walk is a medium-length one from Ambleside. Allow 2 hours to complete this loop, stopping at Rydal Caves and Rydal water en route.
FAIRFIELD HYRESHOE
The Fairfield Horseshoe ridge walk can be started from the heart of Ambleside.
It starts with a gradual ascent to Rydal. Then, the hard work begins – a steady climb up a grassy slope to Heron Pike. Once you reach the top, the rest is a walk along an excellent ridge.
Fairfield (2864 ft), which is located about halfway around the loop, is the highest point. After Fairfield, there are four more summits. The views are spectacular the entire way, even though the ups and the downs are cumulative.
The steep descent to Ambleside can be hard on your toes. The hike is about 10 miles long and takes 6-7 hrs.
WANSFELL PIKE
If I had to pick two hikes I would choose Loughrigg or the Fairfield Horseshoe. Wansfell Pike is a great alternative. The path starts out in woods, before rising up to grassy slopes. The ascent is 1,500 metres and the distance to the top is 2.5 miles.
The summit provides a great view of Windermere as well as Troutbeck and Kentmere. Unfortunately, the best route back is to follow the same path you took. Allow 3 hours for the round trip.
TARN WHATS
Tarn Hows, a family-friendly and dog-friendly walk, takes only one hour to complete. The easy-to-follow trails allow you to circumnavigate the tarn. The grassy slopes of the banks offer plenty of space to enjoy a picnic, with views that stretch up to the rugged Langdale Pikes.
The National Trust is responsible for the area. This means that there are toilets in the area, a van with snacks and supplies, and guides to give advice on different routes. Parking can be difficult in peak summer, but if your visit is later in the afternoon, you’ll find it a perfect spot for an evening picnic.
Tarn Hows Car Park in Ambleside is 17 minutes by car and open from dawn till dusk. There is no easy way to get there by public transport.
HELM CRAG
Helm Crag’s summit is an oddly shaped mountain, with a finger-like rock reaching upwards. The path is like the trail of Mordor. It winds through narrow cracks, around rocky towers and along a track made up of rocks and stones.
The views from the summit of Mount Everest are breathtaking. The hike begins in Grasmere. It is a 10-minute drive away from Ambleside, or 15 minutes by bus 599 or 555. Allow just over two hours to hike to the top from Grasmere and back.
LANGDALE PIKES
The Langdale Pikes are among the most recognisable peaks of the Lake District. The best way to explore the Langdale Pikes is by walking from the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.
The path rises steeply for an hour up to Stickle Tarn, a beautifully positioned lake sitting under the towering craggy face of Pavey Ark.
The walk continues on to the four other summits. They may look rugged from below, but from the top they are nothing more than small hillocks.
It’s then a steep descent to the New Dungeon Ghyll. This is a great place for a hearty beer. The path begins at the Old Dungeon Ghyll pub which is a 20-minute drive from Ambleside or 30 minutes on the 516 bus. The hike takes about 4 hours to complete and climbs 870 metres.
SCAFELL PIKE
Scafell Pike offers a variety of great hiking routes. The most challenging and longest route starts from Great Langdale. The first half mile is easy walking, with a patchwork pattern of fields.
It then steepens and in just under a mile ascends over 1,000 ft up rocky Rossett Gill. The next section is over a grass shelf (with two descents and ascents) to Esk Hause, where it joins a very rocky path (requiring a bit of easy scrambling/boulder hopping) up and down over Broad Crag to the summit.
Return the same way you came, or take a detour to Esk Pike and Bowfell. It is a challenging, but rewarding hike that takes at least eight hours and climbs 1,100 m.
Where to Stay
What is the best place to stay in Ambleside. Here are a few options that offer good value.
- Ambleside Townhouse – A popular townhouse on the main road in Ambleside. It offers a good value for money, clean rooms and an adequate breakfast.
- Lakehouse at Waterhead Inn – Perched on the northern end of Windermere with views of the lake, it’s a 12-minute walk into town and the same to Stagshaw Gardens.
- Rothay Manor – Luxury Country House just a 10-minute walk from the centre of Ambleside.
