YHA Ambleside Hostel

A great value stay. Self-catering kitchens are suitably equipped, with plenty of fridge and cupboard space. A beautiful location, definitely worth a second visit.

Nice location, friendly staff, good parking, family friendly. Would highly recommend. Thank you for a really nice stay.||We were two adults a 13 year old and twins aged 9. Travelling in April. Staff were knowlegable re: activities for adults and children. It felt safe and comfortable for the weekend.

My 10 year old son and I loved our 2 night stay at YHA Ambleside over Easter. The location is absolutely amazing, literally on the shore of Lake Windemere. We ate at the onsite bar/restaurant and it was great food with a decent menu. Staff were very pleasant. Ambleside itself is lovely, we played crazy golf, visited a lovely park, went to Brockhole by boat, took an open top bus, visited Stock Ghyl waterfall, and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. Another bonus was the raf jets practising low flying several times a day! Our room was a private ensuite (for 4 as a private 2 bed wasnt available). The room was fine, you don't expect luxury at a youth hostel, it was clean and I got a decent sleep. I would certainly stay there again and would recommend it to anyone wanting to enjoy the lake district.

Honestly a pretty nice stay! Wonderful spot and close to a bunch of hikes. With that being said, rooms are HOT at night, so be prepared. Also, their margarita pizza is in fact just a cheese pizza, dunno how they messed that up but sorta odd. Not bad though!

We had a wonderful experience at YHA Ambleside. The location is unbeatable — right on the shores of Lake Windermere with stunning views from the common areas and even some of the rooms. It’s a peaceful spot yet just a short walk from the centre of Ambleside, with shops, cafes, and walking trails nearby. The staff were warm, welcoming, and very helpful with local advice and tips. The hostel itself is clean, modern, and well-maintained. We especially loved the lakeside terrace — perfect for relaxing after a day of hiking. The food and drink options were affordable and tasty, and the self-catering kitchen was well-equipped too. Great for solo travellers, families, or groups — and perfect if you’re exploring the Lake District on a budget without compromising on comfort or views. We’d definitely stay here again!

Me and my partner had the best time at this hostel. In terms of staying in the lake district this is the best hostel we stayed at. Great location and close to Grasmere and Windermere and a great jumping off point for adventures. Ambleside is the most beautiful little area and this is a great place from which to explore it. This hostel is clean, the staff were helpful. The cooking facilities were large and incredible with so much space you never felt cramped or claustrophobic with other guests. Beautiful kitchen/bar area and of course like all YHA hostels incredible value. Also there is a storage facility, which we used on our last stay day so after check out we didn't have to carry our large bags. Highly recommend.

Only been for food several times. Cheap and cheerful. Great views in dining areas overlooking the lake. Always relaxed and comfortable.

Superb location & speedy service. Just can’t pour a pint. (Tastes ok tho). Food looks good & very reasonably priced for people on a tight budget. Bit of a hidden gem (queue @ The Wateredge Inn was queuing out of the door). Veranda area nice. …..

Staff here is really unfriendly and unhelpful. We stayed here last night and woke up to the fire alarm in our room going off every 5 minutes. We also had to shower in the dark/with the door partly ajar because half the lights in the building were not working. Apparently all this was planned work and they should have told us ahead of time, but were "so busy" when we checked in that they didn't. When we complained they said there was nothing they could do. Though the location and views of the lake are great, the restaurant next door is nothing special. It was also pretty tough to fall asleep because there is no soundproofing and the room was very warm. Rooms are very tight quarters and we didn't know when we booked a triple that 2 of the spots were a double bed. I guess you get what you pay for, but the service here really is lacking.

It is literally right on the lake... if you want you could run out of the front door and go for a quick dip in the lake, but you don't have to take my word for it ;). Seriously, the location alone of this hostel is not only convenient (ok a small walk to the centre of town), but to be right on the lake, makes for spectacular views. Even the dock for the ferry is just outside of the hostel. If you are bringing a car, parking can be a bit tight; if you are bringing a group by coach, there is a car park where the coaches can pull in, drop off, and pick up. The staff have always been really easy to work with. I book our students twice a semester and they make booking and finalizing everything very easy. Packed lunches are available to order, they have maps of walks around the area available for purchase, and the staff are always willing to make recommendations about what to do and see. The hostel always seems to be busy, so it can get rather loud... the staff always manage to let me know when my students are being loud, but they never say anything about the children running around, screaming, jumping on furniture (all of this unattended) to the parents. Can make for a sleepless night. The rooms, however, are kept really well. I have never found cleanliness to be a problem. The only complaint I have are all the spiders and cobwebs all over the room. I have stayed in a couple different rooms, and depending on where you are in the hostel also has an effect on the noise you will hear. The rooms are all quite warm, which is nice after a day outside taking in the great outdoors. Toilets and showers are never far away from any room and I don't think I've ever had to wait for one. The lobby is nice and large. Great to sit and chat, play cards, have a pint from the hostel's bar, check email, etc. The breakfast is really good as well, important when you are headed out for a full day of activities. They also have a drying room, however, when it gets full, the room tends not to work as well. While it isn't the best night's sleep, it is a pretty good value and you can't beat the location.

Yha hostels in the British countryside are generally amazing. Converted buildings, incredible locations, huge grounds to explore and on site dining rooms combine to create a fab experience. Yha can be a little frustrating for non members, with additional costs for wifi and towels and things, but that shouldn't put you off checking this one out. Right on the lake, surrounded by incredible mountains that the area is famous for Yha Grasmere is a great alternative to the more expensive b&bs and hotels in the area. Evening food specials are a bargain too!

COULD..NOT..BE..BETTER!! Pros: Everything! My teen daughter and I stayed at YHA Ambleside for two nights in August 2015. Everything, and I mean everything, was spotlessly clean and well organized. She and I shared a two-bed private room and we had the most lovely view of the lake right out our window. This small room contained a twin bunk set and had it's own sink. Electrical outlets in all the handy places. Never a problem finding an open toilet or shower room nearby. (Both were very tiny -airplane sized- but clean and did the job.) The hostel is deceptively large and wonderfully modern. A nice restaurant/pub is attached. Located right at Waterhead Pier, so easy to catch a ferry to other destinations on the lake. Cute ice cream place within steps. Ambleside itself only a pretty 10-15 minute walk away. Hostel staff were always cheerfully pleasant and helpful. I pre-paid for breakfast when I booked and it was well worth the deal: buffet-style with lots of good hot food. Washer/dryers available, we didn't use them but I liked knowing they were there if needed. Cons: No elevator/lift, we had to drag our bags up two flights of stairs. Wi-fi only works in parts of the building: no problem in the common areas and, I was told, in many of the sleeping rooms but no service in our own room. Neither of these things are deal-breakers,however, and I would most definitely stay there again!