Alex S.
Yelp
This truly is...as good as it gets.
I grew up with extreme romantic visions of the UK (thanks BBC version of 'Pride and Prejudice'. Extra thanks, Colin Firth in _that_ white shirt). It's super delightful to stop in at places that KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE. HI, GRASMERE GINGERBREAD SHOP, you're perfect.
It may be wee, but Grasmere has a lot of history; notably, Wordsworth is buried a stone's throw (literally, almost) from the Gingerbread Shop. The Shop sells...gingerbread. That's it's thing. From a mid-1800s recipe.
The shop also holds, max, 6 people in it, so be prepared to queue at busy times. Then again, there are worse things than standing outside a quaint cottage-cum-shop in idllic surroundings with the smell of sugar and spice in the air.
The gingerbread is not what you might think. It's crumbly and crisp, but also chewy and soft in the middle. It is cut into rectangular pieces and folded up into printed parchment paper, 6 or 12 to a pack (go for 12. Trust. Go for 12). There are some other things on offer - some preserves, ginger meringues, some flavoured marshmallows, but that's really just distraction from the main event: gingerbread.
True story: I think my Mom loved me a little more after I gifted her with some.
Yelp note: PRO TIP: freezes decently. Also great for: making friends. (Online orders possible, but I recommend heading direct to the Shop to soak in some of the atmosphere along with your treat)