The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

Bakery · Lakes

The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

Bakery · Lakes

3

Church Cottage, Grasmere, Ambleside LA22 9SW, United Kingdom

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The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by Grasmere Gingerbread
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by HappyCow
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by Eater
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by Eater
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop by null

Highlights

Nestled in a charming 1630s schoolhouse, this quaint shop in Grasmere offers delightfully dense gingerbread made from a historic recipe, alongside other sweet treats.  

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Church Cottage, Grasmere, Ambleside LA22 9SW, United Kingdom Get directions

grasmeregingerbread.co.uk
@grasmeregingerbread

£1–10 · Menu

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Church Cottage, Grasmere, Ambleside LA22 9SW, United Kingdom Get directions

+44 15394 35428
grasmeregingerbread.co.uk
@grasmeregingerbread
𝕏
@bestgingerbread

£1–10 · Menu

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Jul 25, 2025

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@eater

Why Grasmere Gingerbread in England’s Lake District Is a UK Must-Visit - Eater

"Grasmere Gingerbread Shop, located in a small white stucco cottage next door that was originally built as a schoolhouse in 1630, is full of dark Victorian paneling, doilies, gingham, and the ubiquitous daffodils. The shop assistants wear striped high-necked dresses and ruffled pinafores and mobcaps. It’s twee as hell, and it’s impossible it was this cute in 1854 when Sarah Nelson, an ambitious domestic worker with a killer recipe, lived here and began selling gingerbread to tourists. Made from Nelson’s original recipe — handwritten on parchment and stored securely in a bank vault — the gingerbread isn’t thick, cakey, and treacle-flavored like the versions found across the Lake District, where it’s often served with custard. Nor is it dry construction material for Christmas gingerbread houses. Instead, it’s as thick as a cookie, but denser and chewier. It tastes of butter and sugar, a trace of lemon, and above all, ginger, both in ground and crystalized form." - Aimee Levitt

https://www.eater.com/23824732/grasmere-gingerbread-lakes-district-uk-england
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@suitcasemag
Where to Shop in the Lake District
View Postcard for The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop
@eater

The Best Restaurants in the Lake District, Cumbria - Eater London

"A cross between a biscuit and a cake, pale and crumbly in appearance but chewy on the inside, the gingerbread is made to the same recipe which Grasmere cook Sarah Nelson used in 1854 when she first opened her shop to locals and visitors. Only sold here and online, it’s one of those foods — along with Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding (www.cartmelvillageshop.co.uk), traditional Cumberland sausage, Herdwick lamb, and damsons from the Lyth and Winster valleys — that have become almost as familiar as the names of Windermere, Derwentwater, Helvellyn, and Scafell Pike." - Christian Dymond

https://london.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-lake-district-cumbria
View Postcard for The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop

mc smarto

Google
Tiny shop. The best fresh baked gingerbread biscuit. No preservatives. You can buy just one or packages of 6 or 12. They also have chocolates, fudge, lip balm, lotion and much more. Their is a little bit of a wait in line but well worth it.

Johan Van Zyl

Google
Lovely setting & beautiful shop with a charming lady helping us. 20 minute wait to enter the small shop at Grasmere. The Gingerbread / Cookies, is ABSOLUTELY amazing! Buy at least a dozen! The Ginger beer, is good, but, stay away from the Fudge! Not worth it! Rather, get your Fudge in Bath at the Fudge Kitchen!

E Saunders

Google
We’re not huge fans of gingerbread in general, but having heard so much about this famous one, we had to try it. And it didn’t disappoint! It was very decadent, soft, not too overpowering ginger flavour, a mix between biscuit and cake. A must try if you’re in the area.

kalyani Patel

Google
We waited 25 minutes in line, but it was worth it. You could smell the ginger from 3 to 5 meters away! They sell 12 gingerbreads for £9.50 and have other things, too. The gingerbread tasted very special—nothing like I’ve had before. The shop is small, so there’s not much space to move. The staff wear traditional clothes, which looks nice.

Katie Hill

Google
We had to queue to get in but it was absolutely worth it! The gingerbread is delicious and one of the best things I’ve ever tasted, you can’t really get anything like it anywhere else. I warmed mine up when I got home (as per the recommendation on the package) and it was heaven! Would definitely recommend. The shop itself is tiny which is why you will more than likely have to queue but it goes down quick and is worth the wait.

Cruise Cycle

Google
We loved it. Of course this is a huge tourist stop, the shop still has the unique and tasty gingerbread that made it famous in the first place. Lots of.other goodies as well, and William Wandsworth's church, grave, and daffodil garden is right next door. Highly recommended.

Stuart Allanson

Google
Wonderful piece of Lake District history. Been making Gingerbread since the mid 1800's. Very quaint and cosy building. Yes we had to queue, but only for a few minutes. Its very compact in the room but they're able to deliver so much history, via posters as you wait, and the smell is divine. The Gingerbread is exquisite. If you are in Grasmere, its a must visit.

Era R.

Google
Very quaint shop. Had to line up to wait less than 10mins for the family inside to finish ordering (and chatting). Quickly took pictures and bought the 12pcs of gingerbread. Nice and tasty, even better when dipped with milk or unsweetened tea.
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Cynthia W.

Yelp
Wonderful gingerbread sold from a charming cottage. It makes a great trail or plane snack. The line is long but moves quickly.
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Nancy H.

Yelp
This used to beabsolutely the world's best gingerbread! We came here in 2015 and just visited 2 days ago, and the (secret) recipe was amazing in 2015, but something has changed. It is still really good, but not the one of a kind, amazing gingerbread that I remember. Unfortunately, the rest of the world has discovered this since our previous visit, and there is a line to get in, which can be short or (more likely) long.
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Ross K.

Yelp
This place is absolutely amazing. You won't have trouble finding it as there will be a line out the door. The tiny store is on the backside of an historic church. The gingerbread is unbelievable- I've never had anything similar to it. It is definitely not similar to the American recipe. This is a CANNOT MISS!
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Niki B.

Yelp
A must-visit spot when in the Lake District. This historic gingerbread house has been baking this famous recipe for hundreds of years. When it was first made in 1854, everyone was wowed by the exciting and bold flavor. It became well-known and became a custom for people to purchase gingerbread in the shape of the king for Christmas. I've heard that there's usually a decent line outside the shop, but we went on a weekday during September and there were only a few people in line. The shop is so small that you wait outside to go in and purchase some. It was delicious and super soft. It was one of our first stops in the Lakes and we loved snacking on it for the rest of our trip. So delicious!
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Dhwani S.

Yelp
THE POSTCARD LIFE recommends. You cannot be in Lake District and not visit this Gingerbread shop. Its more than a century old and their gingerbread is exceptionally good. They even have small souvenirs to take back home like keychains and magnets. We were 5 of us and we bought a small pack of gingerbread which was more than enough for all of us. The shop is really tiny and not more than 4-5 people can fit in.

Jennifer B.

Yelp
If I could post a zero I would, they have ruined 128 year tradition!! I have a more serious dairy allergy not just an "intolerance" which means there aren't many delicious treats that I can eat, however, Sarah Nelson traditional Gingerbread recipe has always been dairy free, (as Gingerbread should be!), and honestly the traditional recipe was simply divine and no other Gingerbread could compare it was incredible. But, when I returned this year I was informed by a staff member that due to "supply chain" issues they have had to change their ingredient suppliers and the Gingerbread now contains butter- aka dairy! However, she assured me the recipe was still the traditional one... I'm sorry but no you added butter that was never in the original recipe. I can no longer enjoy this but partner and family members who do not have a dairy allergy tried this "new" recipe and they all claimed that the aftertaste of the butter is very obvious, almost sour, it does not taste as it used to. The Sarah Nelson shop still claims to be "traditional" recipe but I'm sorry butter completely changes the recipe and flavour, anyone and everyone who has ever baked anything knows this. If Sarah Nelson wanted butter in her recipe 128 years ago she would have put it in there. I get that there are supply chain issues for everyone at the moment, but I feel the company could have, and should have, done more to source the alternate dairy free butter ingredient which was more in keeping with the original recipe. I mean now more then ever vegan alternates for dairy ingredients are everywhere it can't be that difficult! I am very, very disappointed with the company and I do hope they remedy this quickly. Your claim to be "traditional" is false advertising as your gingerbread is no longer the original recipe!
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Izzy K.

Yelp
A tiny village shop with a great history. apart form the unusual ginger breads (nothing like you've ever tried before) they sell everything made with ginger or gingerbread themed: cosmetics, rum butter, other sweets and toys. The staff is dressed up in period costumed to resemble the place when it first started in mid 19th century. A really cure shop.
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Yee Gan O.

Yelp
Grasmere is a quaint little village between the larger towns of Windermere and Keswick. It makes a nice stop for some food and there are gentler walks around the lakes as well as the compulsory visit to Dove Cottage for tourists. However, if you arrive in the village after they open, the whole village is permeated with the amazing smell of gingerbread baking. You just have to follow that smell to the little shop selling it. They've tried to keep it oldey worldey by getting the staff to dress in olden garb but they haven't tried to enlarge the shop, which can make for long queues snaking out of the door, a pain if it's raining. The gingerbread smells divine, even after it has cooled down. However, be aware that it is quite hard and may not be a suitable gift for relatives with dentures! Also, I witnessed one of the funniest tourist statements in this country:" Are you sure the Euro isn't the currency over here?"
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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)
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Jocelyn M.

Yelp
Even though Yelp UK has just started, how has this place not been reviewed?! This was the highlight of my Lake District trip a couple of years ago. We could smell the delicious bakery from the other side of town and having heard about it from everyone we told our trip plans to, knew we had to go. I'm not a major gingerbread fan, so I originally only bought a couple of pieces just to say I did. Before we got back to the car, I had turned heel and was headed back to the shop. In addition to being kitschy adorable (very olde English, complete with costumed cashiers) and located in a cool little town, the gingerbread was AMAZING. I bought far more than I should have and I'm pretty sure I ended up eating the packages I bought for friends. The only reason I'm not giving it a 5 star review is because even though it's inexpensive to buy from the shop, having it shipped to even UK addresses isn't cheap! I'd love to indulge in this yumminess more often, but just can't justify the expense, especially since it's not warm and fresh when it arrives on my doorstep.
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Qype User (Helbel…)

Yelp
Yummy, yummy, yummy! Traditional gingerbread made to a secret recipe that is over 150 years old and has inspired and satiated celebrity chefs from all over the country. The shop is in a cute little building stuffed with antiques and collectables and everything about it has a traditional feel. The best gingerbread in the world. Worth the hour and a half drive from my house in Blackpool in my opinion! The great thing is, you can now buy online too if it's a bit too far to crawl over hot coals for your biscuit fix!
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Dave C.

Yelp
The first and last place I head to when I visit Grasmere. I always buy the largest (12 pack) One when I arrive to last my stay and one to take home when I leave. You cannot beat it or fault it and no visit to Grasmere is complete without a stop!
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Qype User (charle…)

Yelp
This shop is well worth a visit if you are in the Lake District. Everyone I know loves this Gingerbread which is made to a secret recipe. The shop smells amazing and is so cute. It was built in 1630 and was originally the village school. You can buy gingerbread in a small packet or a large packet and they sell an amazing rum butter aswell. T'he shop is tiny, but you can see the gingerbread being made from here which is lovely. I like to buy people the gingerbread as presents especially at Christmas and often take a trip out especially. They now do a mail order service ,although we live nearby so don't need to use this. I am going to use their wedding favour service aswell as it is a fantastic local product and such a lovely touch. The range of favours they do is brilliant and very well priced and the one I will be ordering costs just under £2 a favour which is well worth it.
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Qype User (Arsemo…)

Yelp
Sarah Nelson's gingerbread shop is a very quaint little shop in Grasmere - it's tiny and gets very busy in summer, but it's definitely worth a visit. I've never tasted gingerbread like this before - the texture is very different to the usual stuff you'll get in the supermarket. The gingerbread is reasonably priced and makes a great gift for family and friends on your return from the Lakes. Grasmere itself is very pretty and is also home to Dove Cottage, one of Wordsworth's homes.
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Qype User (charli…)

Yelp
The best Gingerbread in Grassmere. The shop is very small and very traditional but very cute. The gingerbread is made to a very secret recipe but is absolutley yummy. They sell a variety of gingerbread products in the shop and if your lucky you may be able to pick up a bag of mis-shaped pieces for a steel. A great present to bring back from the Lakes.
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Qype User (IMPETI…)

Yelp
On a recent visit to Grasmere in the lake district I visited the quaint little shop from which an amazing smell wafted and bought mysef a slab of gingerbread.I have to say I thought the house and the aroma were much more preferable to the gingerbread which was'nt to my taste,but that's just me.I think it's worth visiting though just to look inside the lovely little shop.
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Lorraine B.

Yelp
I recently used the mail order website for Grasmere Gingerbread. It was easy to use, except for the fact that they only accept credit cards, not debit cards, at the momment. The postage is £5.95 for up to five items. It's good to get something so yummy through the post in good condition.
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Qype User (dubpip…)

Yelp
The Grassmere Gingerbread shop sells unique gingerbread made from a secret recipe. I don't know of anywhere else in the world that sells gingerbread like this and it's absolutely delicious. You can see the gingerbread being made in the shop and it's served by employees dressed as they would have done in the olden days. You can buy the ginger bread in small or large packs and have it gift wrapped if need be. The price is a little steep but then it's local produce and it is unique so you can't really knock em for that. I visit to Grassmere or even the Southern Lakes is not complete without a trip to this shop.

Qype User (Dabbel…)

Yelp
I quite liked the taste of the gingerbread, though one of my front teeth broke off with that stuff. That was the time when my enthusiasm ended. Their fudge was also average.
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Qype User (benhar…)

Yelp
The gingerbread is just amazing. Cool shop too. Make sure you don't go in at the same time as a coach party otherwise the queue can be huge
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Qype User (Dawn7…)

Yelp
The shop is in a quirky little building with a traditional feel. The recipe of this gingerbread is a closely guarded secret, and it is hard to describe the deliciousness of this product. Enjoy visiting the shop and then cramming loads of gingerbready deliciousness into your mouth as soon as possible afterwards!

Rosetta H.

Yelp
Seems like others like this type of gingerbread. Our tour guide raved about it. My husband didn't like it nor did I and we dumped our purchase. It's very hard and I guess I expected it to be Christmas-cookie soft gingerbread or thin sliced so it was more edible. That's okay; what's good for the goose isn't always good for the gander!