Location: Ambleside
Top Things to do in Ambleside
What to do and see in Ambleside, England: The Best Things to do
Ambleside is a town in Cumbria, in North West England. Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest water. The town is within the Lake District National Park.
Restaurants in Ambleside
1. Loughrigg Fell
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 597 reviews
Reviewed By mgsnorwich - Norwich, United Kingdom
From Skelwith Bridge follow the footpath round Loughrigg Tarn to the Grasmere road and then take the footpath on the right to Loughrigg Terrace where you are rewarded with a panoramic view over Grasmere. There is a path down to the waterside but continue on the terrace down to the waterside path round Rydal Water. When you come to the road turn right and follow the road by the river until it turns sharply left at which point leave the road and climb up a steep path to the shoulder of Loughrigg whence the path goes all the way back down to Skelwith. The”Loughrigg Round” is an excellent half day’s walk.
2. Grizedale Forest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 940 reviews
Scenic forest located in England's Lake District that serves as a recreation center for hiking and mountain biking, plus an outdoor "art museum" with numerous sculptures scattered throughout the forest.
Reviewed By 758kristenc - London, United Kingdom
This place is fantastic! There are a huge range of activities and trails to explore - bikes to hire, a children's play area, informative staff, basic cafe, Go Ape centre, fabulous pottery and printmaking businesses, art displays, and gorgeous natural attractions. With four hard-to-please London teenagers, it was touch and go as to whether they would be entertained by a day in 'the outdoors' but we chose the orienteering course and they spent a fabulous couple of hours, getting somewhat lost, but then finding their way back. Super that you can bring your dog and let them off-lead. It's a beautiful place with well-marked trails and differing levels of challenge depending on your fitness/time-constraints. Parking isn't cheap (£8 for the day) but it is plentiful. We brought a packed lunch and enjoyed ice-cream/drinks only at the cafe. As in all these places, the food is average and overpriced, but at least there are options if you don't have enough with you! I thoroughly recommend the forest for a great day out (with or without dog and/or children). Had the children not got lost on the orienteering course, we could have done another walk and also a Go Ape adventure.
3. Beatrix Potter Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 651 reviews
This quirky building in the heart of Hawkshead displays original watercolours and work by Beatrix Potter, from the National Trust collection. It's the only place you can step inside the famous tales and get up-close to the original illustrations.
Reviewed By dunnka - Birmingham, United Kingdom
What a fantastic little place this is, many interesting g things to see and read, a lovely in sight to the life to the brilliantly talented Beatrix Potter, Staff are extremely friendly and polite and very knowledgeable. Would def return and 100% recommended
4. Waterhead Pier
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 524 reviews
Reviewed By tcgGlasgow - Glasgow, United Kingdom
Went for the weekend, our forth/fifth visit and will come back next year for a week. If you like walking and the outdoors there is plenty to. You don't have to go up the hills. A nice gentle walk is from Waterside, get the walkers ferry ticket and go over to Bray Castle, a 4 mile walk will take you to Ferry House. A small Ferry will then take you to Bowness. When finished, get the ferry back to Ambleside. Nice day out. If you book the ferry online, you save £1.20 per adult ticket. Just remember to pick up your ticket before boarding
5. Go Ape Grizedale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 771 reviews
Our adventure near Hawkshead (the jewel in our crown) has always proved a popular day out. Built on a side of a hill, it feels seriously high. And that's because it is. Enjoy our epic Tree Top Adventure in the Lakes. Swinging through the canopy, wiping out at the bottom of zip wires and going on an adventure brings people together like nothing else we've ever seen. It really does. You'll fly 200 metres across the top of the Grizedale Beck and marvel at the forest canopy 18 metres up a magnificent Douglas Fir. You and your tribe can expect the ultimate adventure at Grizedale. You can get off the beaten track and enjoy our NEW forest adventure with Go Ape Forest Segway - an epic experience with a down to earth twist. And Grizedale Forest is also home to our Tree Top Junior Adventure for Tiny Tarzans. Release your little monkeys onto a Go Ape course designed for them. No one loves adventure more than kids! Zip Trekking Adventure is a brand NEW experience. The course is a network of seven tandem zip lines that traverse the sky-scraping Douglas Firs at Grizedale Forest, providing customers with an exhilarating experience of flying way above the forest floor, and seeing the area in a completely new way. Please arrive 15 minutes before Zip Trekking Adventure.
Reviewed By 308grahamn - Leamington Spa, United Kingdom
Although it rained from the moment we arrived to when we left we had great fun doing the Treetop Challenge and then on a Segway for a trip around the amazing forrest. The family all had great fun!
6. Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,476 reviews
Hill Top was Beatrix Potter's most beloved place, packed full of her favourite things and left just as she wanted it for visitors to enjoy. You will see why she loved it so much and used it and the surrounding countryside as inspiration for many of her famous children's tales. Your visit helps the National Trust continue her work to look after the Lake District.
Reviewed By josT2776NL - Belfast, United Kingdom
Fantastic loved it if you love Beatrix potter you will find it amazing seeing i she just to live all her own furniture and you can go up the stairs to her bedroom plenty of helpful staff for questions and fantastic gardens a gift shop there also
7. Kirkstone Pass
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 77 reviews
Reviewed By PollyM_11
As challenging as Top Gear's stunts, this is a lovely drive down from the tops near Troutbeck into Ambleside. Scenery is superb and fortunately there are places to pause for the views.
8. Bridge House
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 382 reviews
Bridge House stands over Stock Beck in the middle of Ambleside as a quirky reminder of Ambleside’s past; it is a 17th-century survivor. Thousands of visitors come every year to see it and have their picture taken but few actually know much of its varied past. So if you’re in Ambleside, why not wander down to Stock Beck and have a look at Ambleside’s most curious relic? The closest parking is at Rydal Road car park (not NT, charges apply). Use LA22 9AY for Satnav. On foot, turn right out of the car park, Bridge House is situated on the right, just a very short walk along the pavement.
Reviewed By kimlovesjaws - Essex, United Kingdom
One of our first places to visit. We were fortunate to time it so we could go inside. The friendly lady volunteer of the National Trust chatted to us explaining some of the buildings history. Hard to imagine a family lived in such a small area. Unique and so nice to be able to enter and absorb the history.
9. Esthwaite water trout fishery
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 129 reviews
Esthwaite water trout fishery is the largest stocked lake in the north west providing excellent brown trout and probably some of the best pike fishing in the country with the fishery record standing at 46lb, the lake also holds huge numbers of course fish with perch and roach over 3lb. you can fish from the bank or boat on a day ticket basis.
Reviewed By markhall01 - Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Excellent days fishing landed 40 brown trout up to 3 1/2 lb including a double hook up .Much appreciated advice from the staff on where and how to fish .Excellent boats couldn’t fault anything will be back as soon as I am in the area again
10. Hayes Garden World Ambleside
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 385 reviews
Hayes Garden World is one of the largest, most respected family run garden centres in the north of England, having grown and traded on the same site for over 200 years We stock a massive range of products in our award winning store, from azaleas to zebras and everything in-between. Situated at Ambleside, in the stunning UNESCO World Heritage status English Lake District, we are not just a garden centre but a destination. We stock everything you could need to make your outdoor space comfortable and relaxing the perfect place to entertain family and friends.
Reviewed By Brucestewart - Livingston, United Kingdom
We had just finished an enjoyable week at a holiday cottage outside Windermere and were on our way home. We had found out about Hayes Garden Centre earlier in the week when we took a boat trip to Ambleside but wanted to visit it with our car as we confidently expected to make a couple of purchases. Our problem was that because we had to quit our holiday accommodation very early in the morning to allow deep cleaning before the next occupants we arrived at Hayes about 45 minutes before opening time. There however didn't seem to be a problem sitting in the car on what was a quiet Saturday morning waiting on the Centre to open. We were greatly impressed with the size of the Garden Gentre and the wide range of items for sale. We ended up buying some plants, a tool I wanted and couldn't find elsewhere, and a sculpture for our garden made from Lake District slate. It now sits in the middle of our rockery. Just wish that Hayes was within easy driving distance of where we live in Scotland.
