BUG review
This hostel is in a quiet lane and it has a big kitchen, dining room and a cosy common room with a TV and piano. It has new bunk beds. The biggest dorm has 16 beds but most dorms are smaller.
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This hostel was visited by one of BUG's team of hostel inspectors who write independent reviews and assess a star rating based on an objective assessment criteria.
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Price Dorm bed £18-19
Price includes breakfast Prices are in British pounds and are inclusive of all taxes.
Compared to other hostels in
Ambleside (Lake District National Park)
Maintenance
(3.38)
Cleanliness
(3.38)
Facilities
(3.31)
Atmosphere
(3.15)
Displaying reviews:
1 - 6
Anonymous
Melbourne, Australia
Great Location, Hideous Hostel 19 October 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 8331)
I could not recommend this hostel to anyone. The beds are awful, the bathrooms are from the sixteenth century and the place is filfthy. On top of that the owner is the rudest grumpiest man i have ever come across in my life. The other staff who work their are delightful but one couldnt help but feel sorry for them working for such a vile creature.The hostel lacks atmosphere altogether and the only compliment i could give the hostel is the kitchen, it may not look the best but it has an ample supply of cooking utensiles and crockery etc.Try the YHA down the road, it has t be better, we will next time.
2 of
7 people found this review helpful
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Vikram
(v_jayaram@yahoo.com)
from Dallas TX, USA
Dallas TX, USA
Not good, disappointing dorm and disappointing brkfst! 5 September 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Vikram
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 8332)
I stayed here for 1 night, as part of Haggis Adventure's Full Monty tour. We were a group of about 15. They conveniently pushed us to the dorm on the "top floor" aka the 'attic' - which means wooden floors. This means that all we had to do was tiptoe and the ppl downstairs would come and yell at us for walking too loudly. We couldn't crack a joke without having someone come up and tell us to stop shouting. The sound insulation is absolutely pants - some Asian ladies staying started singing at 5am in the morning (!!!) and that woke all of us up. It was like they were singing right next to our beds.There were only 2 toilets and 2 bathrooms for the 15 of us! Don't get me started on the "hot water" that one of the baths had. Thank God most of us decided to shower off the previous evening itself. What a queue there was even to pee.What's worse was the breakfast - lime marmalade (??) and awful coffee. They were short of butter that day. Also there was some big familiy staying (family reunion?) who were cooking a big lunch, which means raw meat, chicken, etc was strewn all over the breakfast room/kitchen while we were eating breakfast. It gave us the feeling that the environment is v unhygenic.The beds were comfortable however. No complaints there.But very disappointing experience overall. I've spoken to Radical Travels to choose Ambleside YHA from now on instead of this cheap place when they're coming here as part of their Full Monty tour.
7 of
7 people found this review helpful
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Megan
Canada
Friendly, clean, and comfortable 11 June 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Megan
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 8333)
I stayed at Ambleside Backpackers for three nights in May 2003. Wonderful place in a gorgeous area. Staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, and offered discounts on maps and tours of the area. There are several large common rooms and a huge, well-equiped kitchen, very comfy and great for hanging out and chatting with other visitors in the evenings. Dorms are separated by gender, and beds are good, linen provided. Plenty of washrooms, a few showers, which were about as good as they get at hostels. The whole place was quite clean and bright. An excellent place from which to explore the Lake District.
13 of
14 people found this review helpful
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martiangirl
South Australia
fantastic place in a great location 7 June 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
martiangirl
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 8334)
this place was great - stayed in a 6 female dorm for 4 nights in mid may 03' and it was great. Friendly, secure, easy to cook your own stuff and loads of walks to do/pubs to visit and things to entertain about the place. Only complaint was a bloke called Martin who worked there and seemed to want to "make friends" and not leave me alone. Also had "issues" with bring people back 2 the hostel but i think that was personal more than anything. The harmless but annoying type that u can do without really. Avoid him - he's not worth the hassle honest.If you're up for buying equip gear check out nearby Keswick as it loads cheaper. Alsop make sure u buy a bus pass for a day or longer - works out cheaper but still not a bargin.All up - place was clean and cruisy and I'd recommend it - great location - just off the main st, behind the carpark and to the left down the st. Worth the stay. It's a vip place if u have a card. Check it out
5 of
12 people found this review helpful
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Mike
Cheshire, England
Excellent warm welcome from Mike and his staff 12 April 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Mike
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
(Review ID: 8335)
We stayed last summer during the England World Cup campaign with a group of school children. Couldn't have asked for a better place to stay. Great, cosmopolitan atmosphere which our party lapped up. Superb walks..try Wansfell Pike if you want a stiff climb with great views...Ambleside has smashing parks and good pubs. The Backpackers is only a 5 minute stroll from the station and the town centre. We are looking forward to our return at Easter.
9 of
9 people found this review helpful
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belinda
Sydney, Australia
Comfy beds, but no water! 3 July 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
belinda
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 8336)
I have never slept in more comfortable bed than the one in room 12! Stayed here over the Jubilee Weekend, and found it very friendly and cosy. Unfortunately the water supply cannot cope at peak times and it is not uncommon for it to run out altogether. However, this can be overcome by showering at weird times. The Lake District is beautiful and Ambleside backpackers was a great base for many spectacular walks. Not to mention some great pubs. Be sure to head to Churchills for the trivia night- the guys who run the hostel always get a group together and it's a lot of fun, even if you have no idea about English trivia!
