Best Pubs in Ambleside: The Lake District (2023 Essential Guide)

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Looking for the best pubs in Ambleside? I’ve got you covered! From Sunday roasts, pub quizzes, live music and sunny beer gardens, this post will help you to decide the best pub in Ambleside for you.

Whether you’re looking for a post-hike pint or a hearty Sunday roast, I’ve listed the best pubs in Ambleside to keep you hydrated on your first (or next) visit. So, let’s get started and find the best pubs in Ambleside according to the locals (and me!)

Visiting the Lake District for the first time? Check out my other Lake District posts:

• BEST Walks from Ambleside, Lake District
• Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide
• Lake District Itinerary 1 Day Plan: The BEST Day Trip!
• Best Pubs in Keswick: The Lake District
• Lake District Solo Travel: Ultimate Guide

Where to stay in the Lake District

If you’re visiting the Lake District for the first time, 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 Windemere. If you’re only visiting the Lake District for a short time, 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 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!

➡ Want to explore other areas of the Lake District? Check out my detailed area guide to the National Park here.

Best Pubs in Ambleside: The Top Ten

1. The Royal Oak

🤩 BEST FOR: A relaxed drink in the heart of Ambleside.

✅ SMALL BEER GARDEN

🎵 LIVE MUSIC

🏉 LIVE SPORTS

🐶 DOG FRIENDLY

The Royal Oak is one of the best pubs in Ambleside for its central location. Being a Greene King, it has an extensive menu (food and drink) and a great atmosphere in the evenings if you want a couple more than just one.

However, the Royal Oak is a chain, so if you want somewhere a bit more traditional, it’s best to look at the privately owned pubs.

➡ 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!

2. The Flying Fleece

🤩 BEST FOR: Good food and warm summer vibes with cocktails, a beer garden and good music.

✅ BEER GARDEN

🥕 SUNDAY ROASTS

🎵 LIVE MUSIC

🐶 DOG FRIENDLY

Proudly known as a ‘great traditional pub in the heart of Ambleside’, The Flying Fleece is undoubtedly one of the best pubs in the area. When the sun is shining, the music is playing, the atmosphere is great and it just has an all-around fun feel to it. Plus the Flying Fleece food is amazing (try the halloumi fries).

The Flying Fleece pub has been restored from a 15th-century mill, hence the name “Flying Fleece”. You can enjoy the unique building and its history right from your table! It’s a great pub to visit in Ambleside.

➡ Don’t forget to pre-book your Lake District accommodation. You can check prices and availability here.

3. Ambleside Tap Yard

🤩 BEST FOR: Craft beer, pizza and burgers

✅ BEER GARDEN

🎵 LOCAL EVENTS

🏉 LIVE SPORTS

🐶 DOG FRIENDLY

Ambleside Tap Yard is the sister venue of Flying Fleece, and is another great option for your first time in Ambleside (especially if you’re a solo traveller or backpacker).

Known for its extensive range of craft beers, the venue also serves up ice cream, wood-fired pizza, burgers and delicatessen boards.

Situated right next to the Flying Fleece in Ambleside’s old mill yard, the pub offers beer served directly from six large copper tanks, plus a range of local, national and international beers. It’s the perfect pub if you’re in need of a pint after a long day of walking.

➡ Don’t forget to pre-book your Lake District accommodation. You can check prices and availability here.

4. The Unicorn

🤩 BEST FOR: Home-cooked food and for being the oldest pub in Ambleside.

🥕 SUNDAY ROASTS

🎵 LIVE MUSIC

🐶 DOG FRIENDLY

The Unicorn is the oldest pub in Ambleside, and if you’re looking for a cosy, traditional English pub, this is the place to be.

Uneven floors with a classic British red patterned carpet, a cosy log fire and a real ‘everyone knows everyone’ vibe, The Unicorn is one of the best pubs in Ambleside.

The pub itself is small and can get a bit crowded when they host events or live music, but it just adds to the atmosphere! However, the food here is the real winner. Hearty, homemade large portions of traditional English grub. Heaven!

Did you know the Lake District is home to some of the best breweries in the country? Check out the Lake District brewery tours, news and events here!

5. Ambleside Tavern

🤩 BEST FOR: A relaxed drink in the heart of Ambleside

🏉 LIVE SPORTS

The Ambleside Tavern gives that real dark, moody pub vibe, and is a popular one with the locals as well as tourists. The pub serves locally sourced food at a cheap price, with a range of cask ales and other alcoholic drinks. It also has a pool table and often shows live sports on the big screens.

6. The White Lion

🤩 BEST FOR: The biggest beer garden in Ambleside

✅ BEER GARDEN

🥕 SUNDAY ROASTS

🎵 LOCAL EVENTS

🐶 DOG FRIENDLY

The White Lion has one of the best beer gardens in Ambleside and has a friendly and warm atmosphere. Located right in the heart of Ambleside, it’s the best place to go if the sun’s shining and you want to sit outside.

You can enjoy the summer sun under a parasol, or cosy up on the benches in winter under a heater. They also have an extensive food menu which is great if you’re a fussy eater!

Due to their wonderful beer garden, it can be hard to get a table in summer, so be prepared!

➡ Don’t forget to pre-book your Lake District accommodation. You can check prices and availability here.

7. The Wateredge Hotel

🤩 BEST FOR: The epic views over Lake Windemere

✅ BEER GARDEN

🥕 SUNDAY ROASTS

🐶 DOG FRIENDLY

Just a short walk from Ambleside town centre, the Wateredge Hotel is one of the best pubs in the whole of the Lake District.

The view is unrivalled by most, and you can watch the sunset from their grassy beer garden with a pint in hand.

If you visit on a clear day, you’ll have views of the surrounding fells and directly across the lake, which is something worth seeing even if you don’t want to stop off in the pub.

It also serves delicious home-cooked food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can enjoy a meal soaking in the waterfront views. One of the best pubs in Ambleside!

8. The Priest Hole

🤩 BEST FOR: A relaxed drink in the heart of Ambleside

✅ BEER GARDEN

🥕 SUNDAY ROASTS

🐶 DOG FRIENDLY

One of the most colourful pubs on the high street, the Priest Hole is one of the best pubs in Ambleside. The Priest Hole is known for its beer garden, home-cooked food and for being one of the oldest buildings in the area.

All food served is locally sourced, and the pub runs special nights during the week such as steak or fish night. Just be sure to check their website to find out when they’re on as they change quite regularly! I loved the Priest Hole for its lunch menu, as they serve great sandwiches that were filling enough to have before an afternoon of hiking.

9. The Lily Bar

🤩 BEST FOR: Solo or young backpackers in the Lake District

🥕 SUNDAY ROASTS

🎵 LIVE MUSIC

🍻 PUB QUIZ (Wednesday)

🏉 LIVE SPORTS

🍻 OPEN MIC NIGHTS

🍻 COMEDY NIGHTS

One of the newest pubs in Ambleside, this addition has really brought live music to life in Ambleside. Generally attracting younger travellers (which is perfect for backpackers and solo travellers) The Lily Bar is a modern pub with great entertainment.

From a weekly pub quiz, open mic nights, live music and local events, it’s one to check out if you want more than one drink! Live music is on every weekend, so head to the Lily Bar past 6 pm if you want to experience the Ambleside nightlife.

10. Golden Rule

🤩 BEST FOR: A traditional, chilled English pub

✅ BEER GARDEN

🐶 DOG FRIENDLY

The Golden Rule is one of the best pubs in Ambleside because of its old-fashioned atmosphere. Known as being one of the best drinking spots for hikers, walkers, writers and musicians, it’s a no-frills-attached hearty pub just off the main high street in Ambleside.

Expect low ceilings, local beers, simple aesthetics and a friendly feel, it’s one of the best pubs in Ambleside.

Best Pubs Near Ambleside

If you’re staying in Ambleside, you might want to leave the area for the evening or try somewhere new. These traditional English pubs aren’t too far from Ambleside, and are home to some of the best views in the national park!

1. The Kirkstone Pass Inn

🤩 BEST FOR: Views amongst the high Lakeland fells atop the 1500ft High Kirkstone Pass

✅ OUTSIDE DINING

🥕 SUNDAY ROASTS

🐶 DOG FRIENDLY

If you can muster up the energy to go a little further afield, this pub is one of the best as a stop-off between hikes.

The Kirkstone Pass Inn is nestled 1500ft high amongst the Lakeland fells, and serves up some of the best views in the national park. Enjoy hearty ‘mumsy’ food (as they call it on their website), with big portions, decent pints and an open log fire. It really is dreamy.

Plus, if you’re a big hiker, the famous Helvellyn isn’t too far away, so you can combine it with your lengthy hike and really enjoy that well-deserved pint.

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2. The Traveller’s Rest

This was one of my favourite pubs in the Lake District, because of how cosy, warm and friendly it was. If you’re looking for a traditional countryside pub, this is it!

It also serves one of the best Sunday roasts we’ve had in the Lake District! Arrive early for a seat near the roaring fire, and gaze out of the window for mountainous views and endless amounts of sheep.

3. The Glen Rothay Hotel and Badger Bar

The Badger Bar is one of my favourites in the Lake District and isn’t too far from Ambleside if you fancy a change of scenery. Known for feeding the badgers scraps in the surrounding forests each night, you can stop off here for a mid-hike pint, or relax and play a board game in front of the cosy log fire.

Low ceilings, traditional English pub decor, delicious food and a warm atmosphere in this 400-year-old building located just outside of Ambleside town centre.

How many days do I need for the Lake District?

If you are visiting the Lake District for the first time, I recommend at least 4-5 nights. This gives you the opportunity to hike some of the biggest peaks (like Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain) and swim in some of the lakes. It will also give you enough time to enjoy the scenery and get to know some of the small Lake District villages.

➡ Don’t forget to pre-book your Lake District accommodation. You can check prices and availability here.

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.

Other things to do in the Lake District

There are plenty of things to do in the Lake District. It’s one of the reasons why we return again and again each year! Some of the best things in the Lake District include:

• Hiking Scafell Pike, Helm Crag or Helvellyn
• Walking around some of the Lake Districts’ famous lakes, including our favourite; Blea Tarn
• Enjoying the nightlife and pubs in Keswick
• Visiting the busy market town of Kendal
• Trying water sports like kayaking, paddle boarding and rowing
• Exploring the Rydal Caves
• Take a trip to a local brewery
• Taking a lake cruise around Lake Windemere
• Enjoying fish and chips near the lake
• Walking the Orsett Head trail from Windemere
• Eating fudge at Roly’s in Keswick
• Visiting the Honister Pass

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!

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!

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! 

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

Best Pubs in Ambleside

So, there you have it. Everything you need to know about the best pubs in Ambleside! As always, if you have any questions or worries about your trip to the Lake District, contact me on my Instagram or in the comments below.

Happy travelling!

Jennie 😀 x

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