YHA Ambleside could very well be one of the best hostels you ever stay in. It’s incredibly cheap for the region and the facilities are brilliant. The numerous common areas have something for everyone, so meeting other travelers is effortless. It’s a short walk from the village of Ambleside and located on the banks of the beautiful Lake Windemere overlooking the surrounding mountains.
The Location
Getting around the Lake District can be expensive, as the buses aren’t cheap. Luckily, if your pack isn’t too heavy, you can walk from Windemere train station. This will take around thirty minutes and you follow just one road the whole way. Windemere and Ambleside are both on the east side of the lake, so if you’re walking you’ll need to travel north up the road that runs along the lake. Just before you reach Ambleside village, you will see the large yellow YHA Ambleside sign on your left and behind that, a large building, which looks like something from Harry Potter. It’s difficult to miss due to how small the road and entrance to the village is. If you take the bus then you will be dropped off at the main village bus stop. You'll be able to see the lake from here, so head toward the lake and take the road that runs left around the side of the lake. You'll walk past a park on your left and you'll see the hostel next to the boats in the harbour.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Dorms room are spacious and furnished with comfy beds, which also have storage space built into them. Unfortunately, there are no lockers, however, you are provided with keys to lock the dorms when you leave. They also come with a sink and a cupboard. Private rooms don’t cost much more, and for this reason you will see a wide range of travelers staying here, from backpackers to small families. Most rooms have a beautiful view of the lake and the mountains, and when booking, you might be able to request a first-floor room facing the lake so that you get both of these. It really is amazing to see from your window the misty Lake Windemere with the sun rising each morning, so it’s worth asking for this.
There are plenty of toilets (although they're a bit small) and powerful hot showers throughout the building so waiting for one is rarely an issue. These are also all individual, therefore you won’t have to share these spaces with other people. A daily cleaning service comes around, therefore these areas and the rest of building are always kept spotless.
Common Spaces
The common spaces here are excellent. There is a lovely little bar/restaurant that overlooks the lake (this is very reasonably priced for the area); a large dining hall where breakfast is served each morning for a small fee; and a games room containing a pool table, table-tennis table, and TV. There’s also a small TV/lounge area and a large yet cozy common area full of sofas and tables where many people hang out and chat. Finally, there are two excellent kitchens containing everything you need to cook your own food; they're also great places to meet other people too as they are very popular with guests. Due to the inflated tourist prices of the area, this will save you a lot of money. There are multiple hobs, ovens, fridges, microwaves, and every utensil you could need. The Wi-Fi is strong on the ground floor, however it only just reaches the first floor.
Summary
This is brilliant hostel. The location and price alone are extremely good reasons for staying, but the kitchens and common space put this well above anywhere else. It’s quite a large hostel packed full of facilities, yet it has a very cozy and warm feel to it. The nearby village has many pubs, restaurants, and shops you can explore, but the hostel has everything you need after getting back from hiking in the mountains.
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YHA Ambleside Reviews
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Chris
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on Feb 10, 2018
Location and Contact
Location
• By road M6 Jct 36, follow A591 via Windermere to Waterhead. Hostel is 1 mile south of Ambleside town
• Ordanance Survey Map Number:
• 90
• Grid Reference:
• 377031
• Hostel Longitude:
• -2.961813
• Hostel Latitude:
• 54.41917
Map
Address: Waterhead, Ambleside, Cumbria - The Lake District, England
YHA Ambleside is listed on the following booking sites:
Hostelworld Booking.com Not listed at HostelsClubWebsite
www.hihostels.com/hostels/yha-ambleside-waterhead
Phone Number:
+44-15394-32304
To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Correction Form.
Facilities and Amenities
Groups (10+ people)
Party Hostel
Solo Traveller
Bedsheets
Breakfast
Parking
Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons
Bike Rental
Lockers in Lobby
Luggage Storage
Towels
BBQ Grill
Bar
Clothes Dryer
Concierge/Info Desk
Credit Card Payments
Currency Exchange
Food/Restaurant
Gameroom
Hot Showers
Kitchen
Laundry
Lounge Area
Pool Table
Swimming Pool
TV
Wheelchair Accessible
Curfew: No Curfew
Reception Hours: 24 Hours
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