The Hostelz.com Review
Ambleside Backpackers is a real gem in the Lake District. It's also a family that run the place -- the father does the odd jobs and his daughter runs reception.
The Location
The hostel is located in the bustling centre of Ambleside and is a great base for exploring the Lake District. The hostel is only a short stroll from the main centre -- handy if you're arriving by bus. It's also great if you are arriving by car, as parking right in the centre is difficult (and expensive) in the small streets; you should be able to find free parking right near the hostel. Ambleside also has a lot of walks or you can easily get bus connections to other parts of the Lake District to explore further afield.
Ambleside also has a wide choice of places to eat, lots of shopping including secondhand stores, and plenty of good pubs, which are great to frequent after your walk or if the weather turns bad.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Ambleside Backpackers has sixty-six beds and all the rooms have central heating. The rooms all lock and they provide lockers as well. There is no storage in the room and very few power points -- only one in our room with three bunk beds. The room also has a small wash basin and mirror, which is handy. The rooms are single-sex or mixed with two, four, six, seven, twelve, and fourteen beds. They provide bedding but no towels.
The bathrooms are all down one end of the corridor, which does make it a little noisy at night and in the morning with everyone tripping past. The shower areas are spacious and segregated, but if you want to change, you need to really do it in the wider room and not the shower cubicle.
Common Spaces
The kitchen is really great in this backpackers and there's a dining room sort of attached to it. They also have a lounge just when you first enter the building before you get to reception with really comfortable couches, great for reading, although most people seemed to hang out in the dining room at night. They also provide free Wi-Fi or you can use their computer.
Summary
Ambleside provides an excellent breakfast -- toast, jam, juice, tea, coffee, and cereals. It's more than adequate even though they advertise it as "light." They also seem to accept groups, although not hen or stag parties. There is a lockout from the rooms and also from the building altogether in the day but they were very accommodating when we arrived -- after the reception time -- and gave us the codes over the phone so we could get in and then we just paid them the next morning.
The Location
The hostel is located in the bustling centre of Ambleside and is a great base for exploring the Lake District. The hostel is only a short stroll from the main centre -- handy if you're arriving by bus. It's also great if you are arriving by car, as parking right in the centre is difficult (and expensive) in the small streets; you should be able to find free parking right near the hostel. Ambleside also has a lot of walks or you can easily get bus connections to other parts of the Lake District to explore further afield.
Ambleside also has a wide choice of places to eat, lots of shopping including secondhand stores, and plenty of good pubs, which are great to frequent after your walk or if the weather turns bad.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Ambleside Backpackers has sixty-six beds and all the rooms have central heating. The rooms all lock and they provide lockers as well. There is no storage in the room and very few power points -- only one in our room with three bunk beds. The room also has a small wash basin and mirror, which is handy. The rooms are single-sex or mixed with two, four, six, seven, twelve, and fourteen beds. They provide bedding but no towels.
The bathrooms are all down one end of the corridor, which does make it a little noisy at night and in the morning with everyone tripping past. The shower areas are spacious and segregated, but if you want to change, you need to really do it in the wider room and not the shower cubicle.
Common Spaces
The kitchen is really great in this backpackers and there's a dining room sort of attached to it. They also have a lounge just when you first enter the building before you get to reception with really comfortable couches, great for reading, although most people seemed to hang out in the dining room at night. They also provide free Wi-Fi or you can use their computer.
Summary
Ambleside provides an excellent breakfast -- toast, jam, juice, tea, coffee, and cereals. It's more than adequate even though they advertise it as "light." They also seem to accept groups, although not hen or stag parties. There is a lockout from the rooms and also from the building altogether in the day but they were very accommodating when we arrived -- after the reception time -- and gave us the codes over the phone so we could get in and then we just paid them the next morning.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
November 2010
Their Description
Ambleside Backpackers Details
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Ambleside Backpackers Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Really amazingly nice and helpful staff! They let me check-in and go to my room even before checkout time since I got there early by accident. Really nice clean rooms with comfy beds, and a big kitchen. It's just outside of the town; I did have to ask for directions from several different stores, but I found it in the end. It was raining so I didn't explore the paths too much around the hostel. (I just went to the waterfall which was also nearby.) Highly recommended; great for the town and for walking. Ambleside has a bazillion outdoor equipment and touristy shops, which is too bad, but it's still a nice area and worth checking out. — katie (2005-06-25) Excellent hostel. It has friendly staff and some great local pubs/walks. Ambleside is a great place to go, and this hostel is the best I've ever stayed in! If you're going to the Lakes go here. Ambleside is amazing! — Sean (2005-02-07) Nice clean hostel with kind staff. It's located in a wonderful area perfect for cycling, hiking or walking. — Cecilia (2004-06-27)