What to do in Ambleside

Activities, attractions and tours

Ambleside showing night scenes, a small town or village and street scenes
Ambleside showing night scenes, a small town or village and street scenes
Church of St Mary featuring a church or cathedral and night scenes
Ambleside which includes a small town or village, a river or creek and heritage architecture
Ambleside showing a small town or village and a river or creek

Ambleside Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Ambleside has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Ambleside is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Ambleside to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Ambleside Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Ambleside.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Ambleside attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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Recommended things to do in Ambleside

Number of things to do
39
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Northern Lake District: Self Guided Walking Tour of Keswick: CA $11
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Ambleside

Discover the most popular places to visit in Ambleside

grasmere views, lake district, Shutterstock ID 1200996316, Purchase Order: SP-1897, Order Number: SP-1897 Go Guides, Client/Licensee: Hotels.com, Other: Supattra Laoreiam

Grasmere Lake & Rydal Water

You can learn about the history of Grasmere with a trip to Grasmere Lake & Rydal Water. Stroll along the lakeside or visit the spas in this relaxing area.

Grasmere Lake & Rydal Water
Rydal Mount featuring a house and interior views

Rydal Mount

Wander through the picturesque grounds of Wordsworth’s family home and imagine how the views of lakes inspired him to write.

Rydal Mount
Ambleside which includes a lake or waterhole and boating

Ambleside Pier

Explore the waterfront in Waterhead with a trip to Ambleside Pier. Check out the spas and lively bars in this walkable area.

Ambleside Pier
Dove Cottage showing a garden, heritage elements and a house

Dove Cottage

Visit the 17th-century house where William Wordsworth lived for almost a decade and wrote some of his most celebrated works.

Dove Cottage
Across the lake to Heron Pike.

Rydal Water

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Rydal Water during your travels in Lakes.

Rydal Water

Hill Top Farm

You can spend time studying the exhibits at Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey. Stroll along the lakeside or visit the spas in this relaxing area.

Hill Top Farm

Grizedale Forest

Explore the great outdoors at Grizedale Forest, a lovely green space in Hawkshead. Amble around this relaxing area's lakeside and enjoy its lively bars.

Grizedale Forest

Tarn Hows

Explore the great outdoors at Tarn Hows, a lovely green space in Ambleside. Stroll along the lakeside or visit the spas in this relaxing area.

Tarn Hows

Wray Castle

You can spend time browsing the exhibits at Wray Castle in Claife. Stroll along the lakeside or visit the spas in this relaxing area.

Wray Castle

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Ambleside

Grasmere which includes a small town or village, street scenes and a house

Grasmere

Keswick showing street scenes and markets as well as a large group of people

Keswick

Windermere which includes café scenes, signage and street scenes

Windermere

Bowness-on-Windermere featuring street scenes, a small town or village and signage

Bowness-on-Windermere

Slaters Bridge, Little Langdale

Little Langdale

Coniston Water which includes a lake or waterhole, boating and a small town or village

Coniston

The Great scenery and wonderrful weather

Waterhead

View From Near Sawrey, Cumbria Picture taken from in front of the Tower Bank Arms, looking towards the farmhouse on Cuckoo Brow Lane.
Photo by Peter Trimming (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)

Near Sawrey

Frequently asked questions

Is Ambleside worth visiting?
With a mix of walking trails and views, there are many things to do in Ambleside. While you're here, check out Old Laundry Theatre, a must-see attraction in the area.
How do I spend a day in Ambleside?
Bowness Pier and Treetop Trek are two great places to kick-start your sightseeing adventures. Be sure to explore the dining and shopping options in Ambleside while you're there too.
What is the top tourist attraction in Ambleside?
Old Laundry Theatre is one of the top tourist attractions in Ambleside and should feature high on every must-do list of the area.
Is three days enough to stay in Ambleside?
Three days in Ambleside is plenty of time to enjoy the city's main attractions. Many guests stay for two days on average. Old Laundry Theatre, Beatrix Potter Gallery and Treetop Trek are highly rated sights. Like to discover more? Hang around a bit longer to check off nearby hotspots like Windermere.
Is Ambleside a walkable city?
With exciting neighbourhoods and major sights within walking distance of the city centre, Ambleside is a good destination to tour on foot. Enjoy wandering between Treetop Trek and Skelwith Force. Then take a stroll around Limefitt Park, located 5 kilometres from downtown, and High Wray, which is roughly 5 kilometres away.
What are some activities to do in Ambleside with kids?
If you are after activities and attractions for all ages, take a look at these fabulous ideas for what to do in Ambleside with kids.

What to do in Ambleside for adults?
There's no shortage of things to do in Ambleside, with entertainment for adults of all ages. Finish your day off at Grasmere Garden Village or Wordsworth Museum.
Are there free things to do in Ambleside?
From checking out parks to strolling around exciting neighbourhoods, it's simple to find free things to do in Ambleside. If you're looking for inspiration, get some tips from a local tour guide. Claife Viewing Station and Windermere West Shore is a top spot for anyone looking to save on their travelling adventures.

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