The 11 Best Things To Do in Ambleside, Lake District England

Ambleside is a small, charming town in the Lake District of England.

Specifically it’s considered to be in the southern area of the Lake District.

Or maybe the central area.

I can’t seem to find a definitive answer on this.

If you were to break the Lake District National Park into North and South, it would be in the southern half for sure. (see the map below)

Anyway…

This town of about 2600 residents is very quaint and cute.

And it’s also VERY popular and touristy.

However, if you visit out of season — like I did — you’ll find that it’s a fabulous place to be.

Let’s dive into some of the best things to do in Ambleside (and it’s surroundings).

Then I’ll offer up some tips on the logistics.

Hike the trail to Todd Crag then onto Loughrigg Fell

There are loads of trails in the Lake District National Park.

And one of the shorter, not too difficult ones and bang for your buck (when it comes to scenery) is take the trail from Ambleside up to Loughrigg Fell.

You can simply go as far as Todd Crag which is a wee hill that has some marvelous views over Lake Windermere, down to Ambleside and to the peaks around the town.

I walked up this way lots of times when I didn’t have much time but wanted some views and a good uphill workout.

But climb higher to Loughrigg Fell if you have the time.

Yes it’s steep in spots but you can take your time.

There are a few spots to get amazing views of Langdale and then over to Grasmere.

*Sigh*

I love this trail and love the awesome views.

In fact, I walked it 3 times and would have hiked it more if the weather cooperated more.

This is one of the best things to do in Ambleside.

Period.

And it’s why you’re here!

Note: You can actually add in the next stop from these trails. The trails are well connected!

Walk to Rydal Waters and Rydal Caves

The trail from Ambleside to Rydal Waters and Rydal Caves is definitely an easier one.

The Rydal Waters are this sort of combo lake/river.

This trail starts on a paved single lane road.

After a mile and a half you’ll be more on a gravel road or you can elect to take more of a single track path through the trees.

The nice thing about this trail is you can make it into a loop of sorts.

When you get to the Rydal Waters you can take the left fork (the upper trail) to the caves.

Then you can make your way down to the waters and walk on the lower trail along the water and then back to Ambleside.

The caves are cool.

One is a good-sized cave that has stepping stones through water to walk back into the cave.

And the views from the upper trail are fabulous.

This trail is truly one of the best things to do in Ambleside

If you want you can extend the trail further by going all the way to Grasmere….

Walk to Grasmere

It’s about 5 miles from Ambleside to Grasmere.

And it’s not a difficult walk as you do the above walk but then you keep going.

As is the case with many of the walks, there are a couple of paths to choose from to get to Grasmere.

The last bit may be along the road if you take the shorter route, but there is a sidewalk so it’s all good.

Once in Grasmere, you can enjoy this picturesque little village that was the home of English poet, William Wordsworth.

In fact you can visit the museum on the outskirts of the village.

The village is small, but does have some lovely cafes, restaurants and shops.

So you can walk over, have lunch, wander about and walk back.

Or if you have shorter days or are feeling a bit tired, you can take the bus back to Ambleside.

Explore the Roman ruins

Believe it or not, there are Roman ruins in Ambleside.

And for those who love ancient ruins, taking a wander about this site is one of the best things to do in Ambleside.

The Roman ruins are located at the southern end of the town right near the northern shores of Lake Windermere.

It’s a free site that sits adjacent to Borrans Park.

It was a bit soggy the day I walked around them, but these ruins are very impressive.

Just know that it can be very wet if there has been a lot of rain.

There are placards explaining what you are looking at.

Do remember that the Romans settled as far north as this area.

Hadrian’s Wall is just a wee bit north near the town of Carlisle so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are Roman ruins here.

A definite must for your time in Ambleside.

Enjoy the North end of Lake Windermere

This is a nice add on to visiting the Roman Ruins.

As you come to the ruins you can wander a bit further south into Borrans Park and you’ll be on the northern shores of Lake Windermere.

Now spending some time on or near Lake Windermere is definitely one of the best things to do in Ambleside.

I didn’t do this mostly because it was late November / early December and the weather wasn’t really the best for this.

But I did wander about the northern edges of the lake.

In nicer weather I would highly recommend a cruise on the lake.

You can ferry to different towns as well or find a spot to have a wee snack or some lunch along the shores.

It really is beautiful!

Have a bite to eat at Apple Pie

This is both a bakery and a cafe.

I hit the bakery a couple of times as their gluten free apple pie is delicious!!

Their baked goods all look amazing.

I then ate at the cafe that sits behind the bakery (separate entrance) once.

I had a tasty soup, some of the best chips (french fries) and a sinful hot cocoa with Irish Cream.

All the food looks — and smells — fabulous.

So for breakfast, brunch or lunch, definitely eat at Apple Pie.

And if you just want some tasty treats for a snack, do stop in the bakery part of this well-known Ambleside establishment.

Eating at Apple Pie is one of the best things to do in Ambleside.

PS It’s popular so it does get busy!

Eat at Copper Pot

I actually had a wee lunch here on my last day in Ambleside as they had closed for a while in late November into early December.

It’s a very small cafe — unlike Apple Pie which is a decent sized.

But the soup I had was wonderful as were the chips.

I had a nice tea to go along with it.

This is a cafe that is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch.

I highly recommend Copper Pot.

Have dinner at Fellinis

This vegetarian restaurant is wonderful.

It’s actually part of Zeffirellis which is a restaurant and a cinema.

In fact, you can do a “dinner and a movie” package which many folks seem to take advantage of.

Fellinis has a marvelous menu of inventive vegetarian and vegan dishes, a nice wine list and has really good service.

I ate dinner here twice.

The second time was a bit odd as it had snowed that day in Ambleside which is very rare.

And it snowed quite a bit — at least 6 inches.

The restaurant was mostly empty as roads were closed so folks had to cancel reservations.

I still had an excellent meal.

It was just strange because it was so quiet.

Delve into Lucy’s on a Plate

Eating at Lucy’s on a Plate is one of the best things to do in Ambleside.

I think it’s my favorite restaurant for dinner.

And I just love the name!

The staff are friendly, the food is delicious and the ambience is awesome.

If you just read what they say on the website, it gives you a good idea of the vibe of this place.

I ate here twice and had amazing food both times.

It’s definitely top notch without being overly pricey.

Put it on your list!

Have a drink at Temperance Inn

I stopped in here one miserable day for an early adult beverage.

It was actually the day we officially closed on my childhood home and I just needed a drink!

I loved how the bar had a lot of dark wood and it was decorated up so festive for Christmas.

So I popped into this hotel bar.

I had a lovely gin and tonic at the bar.

Service was good, not great, but good.

It seemed to be a spot for both locals and travelers alike so that’s always a good sign.

I kind of wish I had gone here a couple of times as I did like the ambience.

Some of my favorite shops

Rohan — Outdoor clothing and gear (nice staff)

The Climbers Shop — outdoor clothing and gear (all kinds of brands)

Weird Fish — clothing (nice staff)

The Rattle Ghyll — food store and deli (nice cheeses and specialty foods)

Friars — Chocolate shop (all kinds of chocolate and other sweet treats)

Kindred Spirits — gin, whisky, rum in unique bottles

Beer Ambleside — excellent choice of local and semi-local beers with super friendly staff

 

Logistics for visiting Ambleside

Avoid July and August when Ambleside is at its busiest. I have heard it can be a nightmare with wall to wall people, traffic, etc. Visit in May or September or even November when I did.

October can be busy with half term breaks for school. Many families take more local holidays at this time so places like Ambleside can get busy. Not summer busy, but it won’t be quiet.

Book accommodation in advance.

Make reservations for dinner in advance.

If you are interested in self-catering, Airbnb type apartments or homes, try some of the local property companies. I used Lakeland Retreats.

Parking can be crazy in some places, with small spots. Walk when you can.

Use the buses when possible as they run frequently between the towns.

Be prepared for all kinds of weather, especially rain and wind. Pack your waterproofs and you’ll be dry (or drier) and happier.

I didn’t have a car so I didn’t drive. But I would advise packing your patience as things can get a bit busy even out of season. The main roads do run through these small towns, so be aware of pedestrians!

Are these all the best things to do in Ambleside?

Of course not!

I know there are more.

And I’m sure some of you have traveled to Ambleside.

So leave your favorite things to do in this charming town and its surroundings in the comments below.

Or send me a note at Lynne@WanderYourWay.com.

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