YHA Ambleside Hostel

We stayed here a few years ago & i still remember it like it was yesterday. Had such a fun time with the group of ladies & children i came with. Such a long time ago but really fond memories of the place. It was well before mobiles took over the children's lives. They played board games together & read books. The adults read books & just had a friendly chat. The staff were so nice & friendly & there was always lots of activities to do. There is a games room to keep the children busy. Food was lovely too. So nice to just sit outside & look onto the lake. Awesome views of boats & to look at the sky. Birds flying past & in the water just so peaceful

The location is very good and the rooms face the beautiful lake.The staff was also very friendly and the self service kitchen was very clean and tidy. The sanitary condition was satisfactory.There is less parking in front of the hotel. If you come back late, you can't find a parking space. However, there is free parking and paid parking within a 5-10 minute walking distance.Highly recommended.

It was lovely and cheap. The staff are there 24 hours at reception and we could borrow board games and cards. Perfect and fun place to stay with friends. Although it has no lift and is 3 flights of stairs and the toilets and showers are shared between a few rooms so bring shower shoes, but you do have a sink in your room. Try not to come while a school is here because they are loud.

Lovely hostel in a beautiful location. My room was a little tired and was noisy with people walking around at night and using bathrooms (my room was next to the toilet). Parking is tricky but it always is in the Lakes.
The staff are super friendly and helpful. Everything was nice and clean.
I've stayed here a few times and would stay again.

Nestled on the shores of Lake Windermere, YHA Ambleside offers an unbeatable combination of stunning natural beauty, modern amenities, and a welcoming atmosphere. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by the friendly and attentive staff who go out of their way to ensure your stay is comfortable and memorable.

The hostel itself is a perfect blend of old-world charm and contemporary comfort. The communal areas are cozy and inviting, with large windows that offer breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding hills. The outdoor terrace is a standout feature—perfect for enjoying a morning coffee or an evening drink while soaking in the serene lakeside setting.

The rooms are clean, well-maintained, and surprisingly spacious for a hostel. Whether you're staying in a private room or a shared dormitory, you'll find the beds comfortable and the facilities more than adequate. The en-suite bathrooms in some rooms are a pleasant surprise, offering convenience and a touch of luxury.

One of the highlights of YHA Ambleside is its on-site restaurant. The menu offers a variety of delicious, locally-sourced meals at reasonable prices. Dining with a view of the lake as the sun sets is an experience that shouldn’t be missed.

Location-wise, YHA Ambleside couldn’t be better situated. It’s an ideal base for exploring the Lake District, with easy access to hiking trails, water activities, and charming villages. The nearby town of Ambleside offers a range of shops, cafes, and attractions, all within a short walk.

Overall, YHA Ambleside is more than just a place to stay; it’s a destination in itself. Whether you're a solo traveler, a family, or a group of friends, this hostel offers an exceptional experience in the heart of one of the UK’s most beautiful regions. Highly recommended!

My 1st experience of youth hostelling in 45 years. Loved it.
Modern facilities , Clean functional rooms. Comfortable bed, USB & bedside lights, clean shower & toilets.
Great location on edge of Lake Windermere.
Meals & Bar available. I can recommend the buffet breakfast.

Very, very helpful staff 😀

Plenty of parking

Had a shared room for 6 and no one else turned up so I had the whole space to myself with amazing lakeside sunset views. An incredible stay with amazing staff and a really comfy nights sleep. Some of the toilets upstairs are a bit of a squeeze to get in to but not really an issue! Will definitely be coming back to stay, what an amazing hostel.

Couldn't fault it, value for money, clean, tidy, great location, En-suite room for a family of 5, overlooking the lake, it was perfect, except for the weather, not that they can control that, we had the breakfast, which was lovely. Would definitely recommend it.

I booked the YHA Ambleside for a group of university students as part of a study abroad course in the UK. Below is the professor's review!

In June I accompanied a group of Toronto University students to the Lake District as part of a study-abroad literature course, and we spent one night at the hostel. It was a perfect base for us – as there are plenty of buses (open top in good weather!) that provide easy access to nearby places like Grasmere (site of Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage) and Windermere. Ambleside is a lovely place: very peaceful and picturesque, with great pubs and fish and chips close by. We recommend the hike to Stockghyll Force, a gorgeous waterfall in the area. The staff at the hostel were friendly and helpful, and we appreciated the packed picnic lunches, the hearty English breakfast, and delicious communal supper. The rooms are what you’d expect in a hostel, but the beautiful location and kind people make this a place to recommend, especially for those travelling in groups.

Located in front of a lake, pretty decent rooms and well priced. Decent self catering kitchen helpful staff and a nice play to spend a few days
Highly recommended

I feel incredibly lucky to have stayed here and I wish I had longer! Yes, it is basic, its a hostel. But the location is STUNNING with the lake right outside and easy access to so many trails. Wintertime services in Ambleside were a bit limited, so I appreciated the attached cafe with dinner available.

We had a lovely stay here. It was very busy but there are plenty of facilities for guests. The staff were really friendly and welcoming and our room was as expected. We chose to eat in the restaurant and enjoyed our meals which were reasonably priced and children under 10 eat free. The location is great and is right on the water's edge and in a perfect location for hiking. Look forward to staying again in the future.

Nice cheap lakeside accommodation. Great room, although the window didn't shut properly. Good location to drive around the Lakes or as a base for walking. Car park is small for the hostel size however

We had a such wonderful view through our windows ✨🙌

The lake is right outside the hostel. There are a few big kitchens, where guests can cook food. Or if you prefer, you can order food in the hostel's restaurant

Stunning view! The location is great, right next to where the Windermere ferry leaves from. The staff are very kind and give loads of suggestions of activities and walks around. The town is a short walk away.
The only con of the stay was that the car park wasn’t gritted (we arrived on the day it snowed) which was really dangerous.

An attractive residence in an idyllic setting. What a place to wake up to every morning 🤩 And the staff were fantastic 😍. Their smiles at all times surely made our days staying there. Love every day we stayed there.
We were 3 individuals in a private room without on suite. The room was decent and had clean bedding. The bunk beds were comfortable, but a person who is 6 foot may struggle to fully stretch their legs in the bunk beds.
Toilets were clean. Bathrooms were OK. The breakfast was good 👍 too. Overall a great place.

We only had lunch at the Lakeside so did not actually stay at the YHA.
We had the loaded nachos (one classic and one chilly beef) and boy oh boy what a treat! I have not had nachos in a long time that were so nice as I had here! Compliments to the chef.
The wonderful view over the lake and the serenity there also helped off course 😉 it's a perfect location 👌
Cheers

Great yha. I stayed in a woman's dorm facing the lake and the signal for the Internet was great in the room. Bedding was very clean. Showers were small and didn't have hooks on the back of the doors which was a pain but everything else was perfect including the parking right outside.

Wonderful. Beautiful spot by the lake. Excellent bar/cafe

Lovely staff members, beautiful view and all round treat. The only thing I would say is bring your own pillow! And an eye mask as we had a green flashing light on all night.