Florence’s guidebook
Our favourite restaurants and cafes.
There are LOTS of places to eat in Ambleside. We like good food whether it be high end modern cuisine, vegetarian feasts, indulgent cakes or all day breakfasts. here are a few of our favourites around Ambleside and the local area.
Interesting modern cuisine brought to you from a Master Chef Professionals contestant. Book in advance as it gets busy.
23 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Priest Hole Restaurant
Church StreetInteresting modern cuisine brought to you from a Master Chef Professionals contestant. Book in advance as it gets busy.
Delicious authentic Thai food in a lovely atmospheric restaurant. Book in advance, it's popular, for a good reason.
Doi Intanon, Thai Restaurant
Market PlaceDelicious authentic Thai food in a lovely atmospheric restaurant. Book in advance, it's popular, for a good reason.
Delicious vegetarian and vegan curry, breakfasts, falafels and more. Open during the day only. Big platefuls of yumminess!
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Gandhi's cafe
The SlackDelicious vegetarian and vegan curry, breakfasts, falafels and more. Open during the day only. Big platefuls of yumminess!
Copper Pot
Church StreetA lovely cafe serving excellent hot chocolate, good sandwiches and amazing cake.
Rattle Ghyll Cafe
2 Bridge StreetAnother great vegetarian cafe. very friendly and very dinky. good salads.
We love Daisy's! A proper cafe, good for fry-ups, fish finger sandwiches and traditional cafe grub.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Daisy's Cafe
Rydal RoadWe love Daisy's! A proper cafe, good for fry-ups, fish finger sandwiches and traditional cafe grub.
Kysty is a cut above the rest. A day time cafe for the discerning palate. Owned and run by the Old Stamp House team.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kysty
3/4 CheapsideKysty is a cut above the rest. A day time cafe for the discerning palate. Owned and run by the Old Stamp House team.
Out towards Langdale you will find the ever popular, now vegetarian Chesters. It can be busy but the food is good and there is a take away option if you don't want to queue. Big range of cakes. Good walks to Elterwater.
66 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Chesters By The River
Out towards Langdale you will find the ever popular, now vegetarian Chesters. It can be busy but the food is good and there is a take away option if you don't want to queue. Big range of cakes. Good walks to Elterwater.
A trip to Windermere should include a visit to this award winning cafe. Good food, good coffee, good cakes and the artwork on the walls is by Flo!
51 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Homeground Coffee + Kitchen
56 Main RdA trip to Windermere should include a visit to this award winning cafe. Good food, good coffee, good cakes and the artwork on the walls is by Flo!
Michelin starred restaurant in the nearby village of Grasmere serving amazing food using local ingredients. A wonderful experience.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Forest Side Hotel
Keswick RoadMichelin starred restaurant in the nearby village of Grasmere serving amazing food using local ingredients. A wonderful experience.
Walks
If you're visiting the Lake District you really ought to get out and about on foot. Here are a few suggestions for a gentle walk or for a longer day hiking in the mountains.
High Sweden Bridge is a lovely hour long walk right from The Conga front door. It takes you up a track, no navigation required, and rewards you with great views towards Rydal and the central Lakes and over Ambleside. It is a circular walk which leads up to the picturesque High Sweden Bridge then back down into Ambleside for a hot chocolate or a cheeky half!
High Sweden Bridge
High Sweden Bridge is a lovely hour long walk right from The Conga front door. It takes you up a track, no navigation required, and rewards you with great views towards Rydal and the central Lakes and over Ambleside. It is a circular walk which leads up to the picturesque High Sweden Bridge then back down into Ambleside for a hot chocolate or a cheeky half!
A very popular walking destination, across the other side of the village from The Conga is Loughrigg fell. A walk through the park and up a steep road will take you out onto the rambling fells where you will be rewarded with spectacular views south down Lake Windermere (on a clear day right to the sea), west over to the Coniston fells and north to Langdale and the central fells. To extend the walk head north and drop down into Grasmere for a trip to the famous Grasmere Gingerbread shop before getting the 555 bus back to Ambleside.
32 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Loughrigg Fell
A very popular walking destination, across the other side of the village from The Conga is Loughrigg fell. A walk through the park and up a steep road will take you out onto the rambling fells where you will be rewarded with spectacular views south down Lake Windermere (on a clear day right to the sea), west over to the Coniston fells and north to Langdale and the central fells. To extend the walk head north and drop down into Grasmere for a trip to the famous Grasmere Gingerbread shop before getting the 555 bus back to Ambleside.
Wansfell Pike is another walk that you can take straight from The Conga. You'll need to be prepared for a steep climb up the fell but the views from the top are worth it! Head back down for a shorter walk or for a longer circular walk drop over the back towards Troutbeck heading back to Ambleside via Jenkins crag.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Wansfell Pike
Wansfell Pike is another walk that you can take straight from The Conga. You'll need to be prepared for a steep climb up the fell but the views from the top are worth it! Head back down for a shorter walk or for a longer circular walk drop over the back towards Troutbeck heading back to Ambleside via Jenkins crag.
An easy low level walk through from Chesters cafe to the pretty village of Elterwater. A well marked path that follows the river from Skelwith bridge. Great views towards the Langdale valley.
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Elterwater
An easy low level walk through from Chesters cafe to the pretty village of Elterwater. A well marked path that follows the river from Skelwith bridge. Great views towards the Langdale valley.
The Cathedral quarries are a small network of inter-linked quarries above Little Langdale. Delve into some of the industrial history of the Lake District. An easy walk in terms of distance but definitely uneven surfaces! The highlight is the dramatic 40 foot high Cathedral Cavern. You may need a torch for exploring the passages and tunnels.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cathedral Quarry
3 Stang EndThe Cathedral quarries are a small network of inter-linked quarries above Little Langdale. Delve into some of the industrial history of the Lake District. An easy walk in terms of distance but definitely uneven surfaces! The highlight is the dramatic 40 foot high Cathedral Cavern. You may need a torch for exploring the passages and tunnels.
The Fairfield Horseshoe is a classic Lake District walk and you can set off walking right from the Conga. This is a full days walk of about 10.5 miles (16.5km). You will be rewarded with excellent views over a large part of the Lakeland fells. It is a serious walk so you must be properly equipped for a day in the mountains.
Fairfield Peak
The Fairfield Horseshoe is a classic Lake District walk and you can set off walking right from the Conga. This is a full days walk of about 10.5 miles (16.5km). You will be rewarded with excellent views over a large part of the Lakeland fells. It is a serious walk so you must be properly equipped for a day in the mountains.
Local attractions
Arts and Culture
National Trust Hill Top
Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house
Windermere Jetty, Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories
Rayrigg RoadCasa de la Paloma
Armitt Library
Rydal RoadThe Old Laundry Theatre
Crag BrowTheatre by the Lake
Lake Road