A591, Waterhead, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0EU Tel (015394) 32304 Websitewww.yha.org.uk
BUG Review
Ambleside YHA is one of the Lake District's more popular hostels and it boasts a peaceful lakeside setting. It has the usual kitchen and dining room plus two cosy TV lounges and a games room with pool tables and table football.
Price Dorm bed £21.95 (£19.95 HI/YHA) Prices are in British pounds and are inclusive of all taxes.
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Reception Open 7.15am-11.30pm
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Pros:
Stunning accessible lakeside location
Cons:
Expensive and impersonal
Northern Girl
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I stayed at YHA Ambleside with a friend for a weekend inmarch 2005. My friend has not stayed in youth hostels before. The ten bedded dorm was fairly clean and spacious and there were individual bedside reading lights. The room had a great view over the lake. The shower facilites nearby were very good with a seperate drying area. There was a good self catering kitchen, lounge and games area, and there was a good stock of local information. It is about a ten minute walk out of Ambleside town. Bus 555 stops outside, connecting all of the major tourist places in the Lake District, and there is a hostel shuttle bus direct from Windermere railway station. There is a car park at the hostel. The boat leaves form beside the hostel to different points around the lake. My major gripes with this hostel was its size. It is very large. There is mainly 2 bedded and family rooms rather than dorms, and it si also popular with school groups. I felt that it was promoted at familes, couples and groups rather than individual travellers. There was not much atmosphere and I found groups tended to keep to themselves. I really would not have enjoyed it if I had been on my own. There was little mixing between different people. Also, it is not cheap. At £21 for a dorm bed, it is much more expensive than other local hostels. I would not go back there as I found it was not to my taste, but I think some people would prefer the emphasis on privacy and groups. It is also accessible for non drivers.
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(Review ID: 8337)
Nice but expensive, impersonal and noisy, March 21, 2005
Reviewer:
Northern Girl
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My friend and I stayed at Ambleside youth hostel for one night. The really big plus point in its favour is its stunning location. Right by the shore of Lake Windermere, the views across the lake to the hills are magnificent. The ferry boats leave from the pier next to the hostel. During the day it is crowded, but sitting by the lake shore or going for walks early morning and evening is really pleasant. Most rooms have lake views. Several buses, including 555, stop at Waterhead, though its only a 15 minute walk into Ambleside town centre. I found the staff here to be very pleasant, helpful and friendly. The eight bedded dorm we stayed in was spacious and comfortable, with individual bedside lights and lockers (you need to bring your own padlock). Shower rooms and toilets are individual (i.e. not in rows of cubicules). The hostel was very clean and well decorated throughout. The breakfast was excellent and very generous. However, it is expensive for a youth hostel. It is £18.50 for members and £21.50 for non members. It is cheap for a sole person or large groups, but if there are two or more of you you won't save money by staying in dorms, as you can get hotel and B&B rooms for the price, or cheaper, than two dorm beds. However, most rooms are private rooms, but again they don't come cheaper than hotel rooms. Another flipside of the hostel is that it attracts several large groups, who dominate the lounge areas. Several family and couples rooms also mean its not a place where lone travellers hang out. If I had been there on my own I really would not have enjoyed it. Its not an easy place to meet other people. Even with my friend, I found the bar area intimidating. If I am going to the area on my own, I will stay in one of the smaller dorm based hostels in the area. I also found it VERY noisy. From very early in the morning to late at night, music is blaring, large groups yell outside, kids are running around... Not an ideal place for people who want to sleep at night.
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(Review ID: 8338)
A typical large YH with the advantage of 5* location., May 3, 2004
Reviewer:
illimey
( illimey@yahoo.com)
from Chicago, USA
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It's been many years since I was here so I perhaps shouldn't comment on the facilities or accomodation as everything might have been updated. Even if they haven't, you should be perfectly comfortable and safe here - and the location is inspiring enough to bring out poetry from even the weariest souls. My main reason for writing this review, though, is to take a trip down memory land and consider the day I arrived here for my last visit. I think it was even before I boarded the train that took me to Windermere that I overheard the news from a fellow traveller's portable radio... Princess Diana...accident...serious...... Needless to say, the atmosphere in the hostel was a little bit unusual that evening. People joining together in a communal house by the shores of England's most famous lake absorbing the news in complete bewilderment yet strange calm. England lost a treasure on that day, yet England still has many treasures to hold on to - and the Lake District is by no means the least of those.
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(Review ID: 8339)
Not typical YHA, January 25, 2004
Reviewer:
been there done that
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If you like quiet traditional YHA acconodation leave this one out. I stayed there 3 yrs ago - it's a beautiful location (edge of Windemere) but was absolutely full of schoolkid fighting over the tvs, coke machines etc. think modern free for all hotel and you'd be about right
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(Review ID: 8340)
One of the best. Great food, views, staff and accom., December 23, 2003
Reviewer:
Ben Abdelnoor
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Its a beautiful lakeside hostel. The staff were friendly and helpful. The restaurant food was excellent and the atmosphere just perfect. I didn't want to leave. If you visit the LAKE DISTRICT stay at AMBLESIDE YHA!
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(Review ID: 8341)
Decent in a wonderful location, April 11, 2003
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Anonymous
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This was a quaint hostel. It's right on the lake with some extraordinary views. The hostel is old on the inside but it makes up for it with decent beds and tons of stuff to do in their lounge area. The staff were pretty friendly and very helpful. We would stay here again!
