THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Ambleside (2024) - Must-See Attractions
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Things to Do in Ambleside
Check out must-see sights and activities:
Loughrigg Fell, Rydal Mount & Gardens, Waterfalls, Historic Sites. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
Loughrigg Fell, Rydal Mount & Gardens, Waterfalls, Historic Sites. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
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Book these experiences for a close-up look at Ambleside.
- from
£73per adult£65 - fromper adult£55
- fromper adult£59
Day Tripsfromper adult£169
4WD Toursfromper group (up to 4)£199
Half-day Toursfromper adult£87
Day Tripsfromper adult£40
Half-day Toursfromper adult£69- fromper group (up to 4)£438
- fromper adult£75
Mountains
Panoramic views and varied terrain punctuate this popular circular walk, with manageable climbs and straightforward paths. Frequented by families and walkers of all levels.
This attraction description was created by AI, using information and phrases commonly found in reviews users submitted to Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor did not create and is not responsible for this description. Please read full traveller reviews for more details and information. If you believe something in this AI-generated description is inaccurate, please share your feedback.
Historic Sites
Historical home with tranquil gardens overlooking a serene lake, revealing intimate details of a poet's life amidst original artefacts and a picturesque tea room.
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Zip lining through lush forests at exhilarating speeds up to 45mph, coupled with a treetop walk and forest Segway rides. Challenging yet manageable circuits with scenic views for family adventure.
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Speciality Museums
Historic Sites
Historic stone landmark by the river, with a unique architecture and scenic photo spots. Close to woodland waterfalls and local eateries, ideal for a leisurely visit.
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Lookouts
Scenic mountain pass with captivating landscapes, good road conditions, and charming local wildlife. Ideal for picturesque drives and quaint village stops.
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Historic Sites
Waterfalls
Woodland walk to scenic waterfalls with a network of rocky, steep paths amidst autumnal colours. Ideal for nature enthusiasts and family outings.
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Caverns & Caves
Scenic walk through varied landscapes including country lanes, fields, and woodlands, culminating at photogenic caves with interior views and stepping stones.
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Speciality Museums
Seasonal garden centre featuring a varied Christmas display, vibrant Santa's Grotto, and festive lantern parade. Known for unique holiday gift ideas and a winter wonderland atmosphere.
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Other Top Attractions around Ambleside
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What travellers are saying
- Fredbear_HullKingston-upon-Hull, UK1,050 contributionsDid the 11 mile circular from Ambleside. Making it 12 total. Regularly walk 12 miles no problem so thought wld be ok.
Didn’t account for the 3000ft climb! Was really hard work but so rewarding! Left the hotel at 10 and returned at 1630!
The path is step in parts and on the way down the track has been eroded and is boulders and climbing. Wld say 14+ in age and no mobility issues to do it safely!
The planes flying through the valley was class. The views are unreal. Wrap up and take water proofs. We had shades on one minute and rain jackets the next!Written 21 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - James PCambridge, UK2,793 contributionsThe car park is small, right at the end of the lane on the left. Don't get confused with Rydal Hall entrance on the right.
The house is interesting but the star of the show is the gardens. Explore the numerous paths, terraces, and hidden nooks, with great views. This was Wordsworth's home for many years and you can see why he was so inspired.Written 29 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - 414alliDarlington, UK3 contributionsKids took part in Sundown Treetop challenge for Halloween. Thoroughly enjoyed the challenges in the dark. Only issue was no lighting back to a pitch dark car park. As a result one of our party tripped on an uneven path, fell over and cracked their head, and twisted ankle. Surely some low level lighting to the car park is a must from health and safety perspective as people could get seriously hurtWritten 3 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- GillianW31Cumbernauld, UK47 contributionsLove this place! Lovely walks, perfect for kids. Great park and we really enjoyed the gruffalo birthday trail for £4. Will always visit when in the lakes.Written 19 October 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- jan cShrewsbury, UK557 contributionsThe gallery was very good and well worth a visit if in the area and a National Trust member but feel it is rather expensive if not. Gentlemen on door very informative so could get best out of experience. Authentic dressing of rooms. Very small areas so glad we went while quiet. Upstairs would be inaccessible to some as very narrow steep stairs. Pity had to pay for car parking too as not NT and toilets 50p to enter which isn’t visitor friendly. Classic tourist trap. Good selection shops to wander around to make visit worth the parking fee!Written 16 October 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MrMrsHappyRLiverpool, UK1,471 contributionsBeautiful old building from 17th Century that is fascinating to see and very picturesque for photographs. Come early if you want good photos as it gets busy. There is a nice cafe/pub behind it that is nice to sit on a warm day.Written 12 July 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Yvonne O43 contributionsTravelled to the Kirkstone Pass via Windermere and Troutbeck. Great journey for a skilful driver. Near the Queens Head pub stunning views down into the valley ( quite big drops )At the top of the pass is the Kirkstone Pass Inn and a large car park with great views of the fells and back towards Ambleside. The view down the other side of Brother’s Water and Patterdale are very picturesque. The road surface of the pass is very good since the the road improvements last year.Written 26 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Chris USunderland, UK173 contributionsWhen I visited Wtay Castle they had an exhibition about Everest. The exhibition was located in several rooms of the castle and was interesting. I'd recommend visiting if it's still on. Other than the exhibition there was little to see. You can only access the ground floor and there are only a lldmall number of rooms. I didn't get the chance to see the grounds but they did look sizable. Going by the number of cyclists and walkers it seems popular. The 3 stars are due to limited access to the castle.Written 17 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- CJ M19 contributionsWe were lucky with the weather for late October that made the walk to the falls so much more pleasant. To get there we walked up some steep steps and a footpath behind some private gardens. The paths around the falls were unsurprisingly muddy with the recent rains and foot traffic but this didn’t take away from the views. There are areas with safety fencing, some seating and one or two picnic benches. There is also an area where you can paddle safely. We are in our 60’s and my husband generally does not like walking but he managed the circular trip around the upper and lower bridges - we had a very enjoyable time and there are plenty of photo opportunities. Walking shoes highly recommend. There is a very good cafe with a sheltered outdoor seating area with fantastic hillside views which gave a welcome pit-stop. The decent back into town was a doddle. A great experience all round.Written 5 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- James PCambridge, UK2,793 contributionsImpressive Caves!
If you arrive from the west, White Moss car parks, you find the main cave first. If you arrive from the eastern end of the lake, you come across a smaller cave first and then need to continue the climb up to the main one.Written 29 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - cleevusHue, Vietnam12 contributionsThis museum is a rarity in that it captures authentic school life over the past few hundred years. It also has managed to keep its library intact, rather than lose it to a university library. For those interested in schools and schooling from a historic perspective, it is a brilliant museum - one of the best I've seen. The fact that William Wordsworth attended the school along with his brothers gives it added importance. We really learnt a great deal about the school, its reputation, Wordsworth and Hawkshead from our visit. The museum organisers/curators have done a great job. The fact that the school and Wordsworth have historic connections with St John's College, Cambridge gave us an added interest as we also have connections with that College.Written 17 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MalcolmManchester, UK81 contributionsBe warned, if aiming for garden world by Lakes steamer..... you'll have quite a walk!
Just as Windermere town is a mile from the lake at Bowness, so Ambleside is a mile from the ferry terminal - quite a walk, in bad weather.
Yes, there's a bus service, but not much else to see or do, when you alight from the boat.Written 6 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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