Best Indian Restaurants in the Lake District (2023 Review)

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Looking for the best Indian restaurants in the Lake District? You’ve come to the right place! As a couple who loves Indian food, we always seem to seek out the best Indian restaurants wherever we go. And the Lake District is no exception!

In the following post, I’ve written an honest and short review of each Indian restaurant in the Lake District. However, we haven’t managed to visit them all, so the list will continue to grow! So, let’s get started on the best Indian restaurants in the Lake District!

You might also like:

• Lake District Itinerary 1 Day Plan: The BEST Day Trip!
• Helm Crag Walk from Grasmere – Everything You Need to Know
• Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide
• 3 Days in the Lake District: Everything You NEED To Do

Where to stay in the Lake District

If you’re only staying in the Lake District for a few nights, I recommend staying in Ambleside. Ambleside is known as the ‘heart of the Lake District’, and is one of my personal favourite areas, as it’s within walking distance of Lake Windermere.

If you’re only visiting the Lake District briefly, it’s an easy way to see some of the quintessential grey slate buildings, traditional pubs, and modern Lake District restaurants.

• If you’re a solo traveller in Ambleside, I recommend staying in the YHA Hostel. It’s a short distance from the centre of Ambleside, and you’ll be able to meet other solo backpackers. ➡ BOOK THIS HOSTEL NOW!
• Want a cute and cosy cottage in Ambleside? Our favourite is Grayling Cottage. It’s just a one-minute walk from Ambleside town centre and is beautifully decorated. ➡ BOOK THIS COTTAGE NOW!
• For a luxurious one-night stay in Ambleside, check out The Ambleside Inn. It’s an 18th-century hotel which will give you a true ‘English countryside’ experience. ➡ BOOK THIS HOTEL NOW!

Best Indian Restaurants in the Lake District: A Summary

The Lake District National Park spans across 2362 square kilometres of the English countryside. It’s well-known for its mountains, lakes, hiking trails, and traditional English villages, and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful national parks in the UK. But one of the best things about the Lake District is its food.

Not only does the Lake District have traditional pubs serving hearty Sunday roasts, Italian restaurants and family-run bakeries, but it also has some delicious Indian restaurants.

As the Lake District is spread across a number of towns, the following list of Indian restaurants is split into each of the main areas (Ambleside, Keswick, and Bowness-On-Windermere). However, the Lake District is easy enough to drive around, and if you have a car, you can reach any of the restaurants on the list from wherever you are staying.

Best Indian Restaurants in Ambleside

1. Ishaas Indian Eatery

🇬🇧 Eat in and takeaway

⏰ Opening Times: Daily, 5 pm – 11 pm

🏠 Address: 3 Kelsick Road, Ambleside, LA22 0BZ

🍛 Recommended dish: Akburi Murgh (chicken tikka cooked in a creamy sweet sauce with almond butter)

As Ishaa’s is in Ambleside, it was one of the first Indian restaurants we tried. Family run by six brothers, every dish we have tried is cooked to perfection! The atmosphere on the weekends is great and it’s the perfect place to dine out after a day of walking in the Lake District.

2. Gandhi’s Cafe

🇬🇧 Eat in and takeaway

🍛 What I recommend: Falafel kebab (Flat Bread stuffed with Falafel)

More of a cafe than an Indian restaurant, but Gandhi’s still makes it on the list! When I dine out, I tend to steer towards more vegetarian and vegan meals, and if you’re the same, this cafe isn’t one to be missed. Not just serving Indian-inspired foods, but flavours from all over the world, including Thailand and Mexico.

NOTE: Gandhi’s is currently closed. However, there is the possibility that they may reopen. Check online before visiting.

Best Indian Restaurants in Keswick

3. Sultan of Keswick

🇬🇧 Eat in and takeaway

⏰ Opening Times: Days vary, but 5 pm-10.30 pm opening times

🏠 Address: 5 St. Johns Street, Keswick CA12 5AP England

🍛 Recommended dish: mushroom rice

Another one of the best Indian restaurants in the Lake District is Sultan’s, a Bangladeshi restaurant in Keswick. With giant naan bread, delicious dips, creamy curries and welcoming staff, it’s the perfect relaxed Indian restaurant to dine in after a long day of hiking.

4. Lakeland Spice Cuisine

🇬🇧 Eat In and takeaway

⏰ Opening Times: 5 pm – 11 pm

🏠 Address: 81 Main St, Keswick CA12 5DT

🍛 Recommended dish: chicken bhuna masala

Lakeland Spice Cuisine is an Indian restaurant in the Lake District inside a pub. It’s one of the best restaurants in Keswick for traditional Indian food, including vegetarian and vegan options. As it’s one of the best Indian restaurants, it gets busy early, and it’s recommended to book – even on a weeknight.

Best Indian Restaurant in Bowness-on-Windermere

5. Shahib’s Indian Restaurant

🇬🇧 Eat in and takeaway

⏰ Opening Times: 12.15 pm – 11.15 pm

🏠 Address: The Arcade, Crag Brow, Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 3BX

🍛 Recommended dish: balti sabzi (fresh vegetable Balti)

The best thing about Shahib’s is its extensive menu. It has a modern and relaxed atmosphere and is one of the best Indian restaurants in the heart of Bowness-on-Windermere. Every dish we’ve had at Shahib’s has been delicious and is rich in flavour. Plus, we’ve always had a really fun night there, as Bowness is a great location to go for drinks after!

5. Monsoons Indian Restaurant

🇬🇧 Eat in and takeaway

⏰ Opening Times: 5 pm – 11 pm

🏠 Address: North Terrace, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3AU

🍛 Recommended dish: chilli paneer tikka masala (one of the best I’ve ever had!)

Monsoons are a fully licensed Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant in Bowness and are known as the ‘hidden gem of the lakes’. Another Indian restaurant in the Lake District with a chilled and relaxed atmosphere, is more frequently used as a takeaway. I’ve even heard customers have been returning here for years because of the high-quality food!

6. Lake Raj

🇬🇧 Eat in and takeaway

⏰ Opening Times: 12 pm – 11 pm

🏠 Address: 3 Longlands Rd, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3AS

🍛 Recommended dish: paneer shashlik

One of the best things about Lake Raj is it has outdoor seating as well as indoor. In the summer, it’s the perfect place to sit and eat your Indian meal with a beer in the Lake District sun. A great Indian restaurant in the Lake District to add to your list!

Other Indian Restaurants in the Lake District

7. Aroma Indian Dining (Ulverston)

🇬🇧 Eat in and takeaway

⏰ Opening Times: Daily, 5-10.30/11.30 pm

🏠 Address: 20 King St, Ulverston LA12 7DZ

🍛 Recommended dish: tikka masala

Formally called The British Raj, we loved visiting Aroma when we stayed in Ulverston. A little distance out of the Lake District National Park, but worth it if you’re staying nearby! Our curries were cooked to perfection, with a combination of fresh herbs and spices. The tikka masala sauce is one of the best I’ve ever had, and paired with Pilau rice and naan, it was so appreciated after a day of hiking!

8. Mumbai (Kendal)

🇬🇧 Eat in and takeaway

⏰ Opening Times: Weds – Sunday, different opening times between 5pm – 10.30pm. Check online here.

🏠 Address: 8 Stramongate, Kendal LA9 4BN

🍛 Recommended dish: vegetable biriyani and onion bhajis

Mumbai is a mix of Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani food. With hundreds of 5-star reviews, Mumbai is known for its delicious food and atmosphere. It has a modern design and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s a great restaurant to visit if you’re in the Kendal area!

9. Sara’s Indian Restaurant (Coniston)

🇬🇧 Eat in and takeaway

⏰ Opening Times: 5 pm – 11.30 pm

🏠 Address: 4 Yewdale Rd, Coniston

🍛 Recommended dish: King Prawn Tikka Masala (Tom’s recommendation)

If you’re in the small village of Coniston and are craving Indian food, check out Sara’s. Either dine-in or takeaway, it’s a great stop for some authentic Indian flavours and unique dishes. Sara’s is also BYOB (bring your own alcohol) which makes a huge difference in price! Perfect for budget travellers wanting to save some pennies but still eat Indian food.

Best Indian restaurants in the Lake District: FAQs

1) What is a popular food in the Lake District?

One of the most popular dishes to try in the Lake District is a roast dinner. Most pubs in the Lake District will serve this hearty British dish on a Sunday. Expect roast meat, Yorkshire puddings, crispy roast potatoes, vegetables and lashings of gravy.

2) How do I get around the Lake District?

If you can, take a car to get around the Lake District. If you only have one day, you don’t want to spend hours waiting for public transport. Don’t have a car? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!

However, if you haven’t got access to a car, exploring the Lake District in a day can still be done! The Lake District has amazing public transport (a lot better than some of the rest of the country), and you can whizz around on buses and boats. For more information about travelling around the Lake District without a car, you can check out my guide here.

➡ Need to hire a car in the Lake District? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! 🚗 LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!

3) When is the best time to visit the Lake District?

You can visit the Lake District 365 days a year; as it’s an ‘any kind of weather’ destination in the UK. However, if you want the cheapest accommodation prices, visit in the shoulder season (autumn and spring). During the winter months (November – February), you can expect layers of snow to be covering the trails and paths.

Summer months in the UK (June – August) are always the most expensive months to visit the Lake District, as well as being the busiest. But of course, it’s when you’ll get the best weather, with dry, hot and sunny days.

➡ Visiting the Lake District in winter? Check out this detailed guide on what to do during the colder months.

4) Do I need a car to visit the Lake District? 

If you’re visiting the Lake District and are short on time, I recommend hiring a car. However, it is possible to get around the Lake District using public transport.

If you’re looking to hire a car in the Lake District, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world!  ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in the UK now!

5) What tours should I do in the Lake District? 

Looking to book a tour in the Lake District? Tours are one of the best ways to see the hidden gems of the country you are visiting. If you’re travelling during peak season, I highly recommend pre-booking your tours to ensure you don’t miss out!

When travelling, we use this company to book our tours. Tours include skip-the-line tickets to the world’s most iconic attractions, walking tours by top local experts, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes, bucket list experiences, and niche offerings you won’t find anywhere else! 

If you’re visiting for the first time, the tours I recommend doing are:

• Ten Lakes Full-Day Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
• William Wordsworth and Dove Cottage Half-Day Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
• Beatrix Potter Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS

➡ You can check out other available tours in the Lake District with prices here!

6) Do I need a SIM card to visit the Lake District? 

If you’re not from the UK, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive. 

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing! Plus, there are eSIMs available for the entire continent of Europe, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Best Indian Restaurants in the Lake District: In A Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best Indian restaurants in the Lake District. When you’re planning a trip to the Lake District, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Lake District content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

Other Lake District posts:

• Best Pubs in Ambleside: The Lake District (Essential Guide)
• Lake District Itinerary 1 Day Plan: The BEST Day Trip!
• 3 Days in the Lake District: Everything You NEED To Do
• Best Pubs in Ambleside: The Lake District (Essential Guide)

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