Best Pubs in Ambleside: The Lake District (2022 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.
Where are the best pubs in Ambleside and where should you have your first Cumbrian pint?!
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.
Most of the pubs in Ambleside are of a similar price range. You can get a pint for between £3-4, or a glass of wine for £3-4. Much cheaper than London!
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? I’m a tad *obsessed* with this stunning part of the UK, so check out my other Lake District posts:
- BEST Walks from Ambleside, Lake District (2022 Guide)
- Best Pubs in Keswick: The Lake District (2022 Essential Guide)
- Lake District Solo Travel: Ultimate Guide (2022)
- Adventure in the Lake District: 21 Best Activities (2022)
- Helm Crag walk from Grasmere – Everything You Need to Know
- Lake District for Couples: A PERFECT Romantic Break (2022)
- Lake District in September: Why It’s the BEST Time to Visit (2022)
Top 10: Best Pubs in Ambleside
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, as the Royal Oak is a chain, if you want somewhere a bit more traditional, it’s best to look at the privately owned pubs.
Whilst visiting the Lake District, I’d highly recommend wearing hiking boots. It made the walks a lot easier and I was much more stable when scrambling, especially in my favourite Columbia walking boots!
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 Ambleside.
When the sun is shining, the music is playing, the atmosphere is great and it just has an all-round ‘warm’ feel to it. Plus the pub serves incredible food (try the halloumi fries, they are insane).
In addition to this, the pub itself 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 definitely up there in my favourite pubs in Ambleside!
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.
Looking for the best walks from Ambleside? Check out my post: BEST Walks from Ambleside, Lake District (2022 Guide)
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, sticky floors with red patterned carpet, a cosy log fire and a real ‘everyone knows everyone’ vibe, it’s 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.
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 real friendly and warm atmosphere to it. Located right in the heart of Ambleside, it’s the best place to go if the sun’s shining.
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!
Check out my post: 13 Tips for Walking in the Lake District (2022 Guide) before hiking in the Lake District!
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 sun set 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.
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.
Known for its beer garden, home-cooked food and is one of the oldest buildings in the area, it’s not one to be missed.
All food served is locally sourced, and the pub runs special nights during the week like Steak or Fish night. Just be sure to check their website to find out when they’re on as they change quite regularly!
Personally, I liked the Priest Hole for its lunch menu, as they serve great sandwiches that can be a light bite before moving on to do more hiking.
Plus, it’s in an excellent location in Ambleside, so you’re right in the heart of the action!
🌎 Travelling for the first time? You’re in the right place! Check out my travel resources for EVERY type of trip, big or small! (It might even save you some ££!)
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 to see it really come to life!
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 it’s good 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.
With low ceilings, local beers, simple aesthetics and a friendly feel, it really is one of the best pubs in Ambleside.
Whether you’re a solo traveller, young backpacker, with your family or friends, or with your partner, it’s a great pub with zero gimmicks and good beer.
Are you going on a Lake District road trip? Don’t forget to take a phone holder for your car. If you need to follow GPS to get around the lakes, you’ll need to prop your phone up somehow! We bought ours a few years ago and have used it on every road trip. Trust me – they never supply one!
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 epic 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.
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.
Other things to do in Ambleside
Looking for something OTHER than drinking at a pub in Ambleside?
I’m a huge fan of this area of the Lake District, so I’ve written a few blog posts about visiting Ambleside or why you should stay here.
- Things To Do In Ambleside In The Rain: 10 EPIC Ideas!
- Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide
- 9 Easy Walks in the Lake District (That Still Have Incredible Views)
But if you’re short on time, here are some of the best things to do in Ambleside:
- Enjoy one of the many walks from Ambleside
- Go shopping along the high street
- Eat a tasty Indian meal
- Get cosy in a cafe or coffee shop
- Watch the sunset at Waterhead
- Dine in a local restaurant
- Hike local waterfalls
- Try delicious home-made baked goods from the bakeries
- Plan a day trip to Grasmere or Coniston
- Wrap up warm in winter and go for a snowy walk
- Head down to Lake Windemere for some watersports
- Check out some of the epic adventures the Lake District can offer
Visiting the Lake District? Check out everything you need to pack here!
Looking for the best walks from Ambleside? Check out my post: BEST Walks from Ambleside, Lake District (2022 Guide)
🗺️ My Lake District must-have: A portable power bank. Don’t get caught short and lose your phone battery whilst travelling! If you’re solo travelling, you’re going to rely on it to get you from A to B.
Best Pubs in Ambleside
So, there you have it!
The best pubs in Ambleside, all wrapped up in one post for you.
This is a working document, and if I find any other hidden gems in Ambleside, I’ll be sure to update!
Oooh, and if you’re visiting Keswick, I have written a similar post about all the best pubs in Keswick here.
As always, if you have a question about Ambleside (or anything else travel or blogging-related) you can contact me over on Instagram or on my contact me page.
Happy travelling!
Jennie 😀 x
Check out my post: 13 Tips for Walking in the Lake District (2022 Guide) before hiking in the Lake District!
Other posts you might like:
- Best Indian Restaurants in the Lake District (2022 Review)
- 23 Things to do in the Lake District in Winter (2022)
- Helm Crag walk from Grasmere – Everything You Need to Know
- Lake District Solo Travel: Ultimate Guide (2022)
- Adventure in the Lake District: 21 Best Activities (2022)
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🥾 Visiting the Lake District? Yay! I have a lot of information about this part of England on my blog. Here’s some of my favourites!
- Lake District Road Trip: 3 EPIC Routes (2022)
- 3 Days in the Lake District: Everything You NEED To Do
- What to Pack for the Lake District: Ultimate First Timer Guide
- Lake District Itinerary 1 Day Plan: The BEST Day Trip!
- Wild Swimming in the Lake District: The Best Spots
Backpacking for the first time? Or want to know where to find the best travel deals? Check out my travel resources for the inside scoop!
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