Mentioned by Lonely Planet
Top things to do in Keswick, England
"This popular little cafe, nestled on a side street in the heart of town, is a great place to relax and recharge while exploring all Ambleside has to offer. Slate walls and soothing tones provide the perfect backdrop to enjoy a freshly ground coffee made using Mr Duffin’s Coffee, locally roasted in nearby Staveley. Open for breakfast and lunch, as well as coffee and home baked cakes, there’s plenty of indoor seating as well as a small garden in which to enjoy those sunny Lake District days."
"01/03/2021: We visited the Copper Pot Cafe twice during our stay in Ambleside, and both times we were treated to a fantastic breakfast.We were able to get a walk in table each time, with only a minor wait.The staff are friendly, and the food was excellent, with generous portions.The only downside is that there's only one toilet, which is accessed externally, which can mean queueing in the rain, however everything else was so good it doesn't warrant knocking off a point."
"‘Top Coffee’ has got to be the highest accolade I can award, and wow these folks deserve it. Secreted away on one of Ambleside’s quiet streets, this externally humble cafe is home to my most highly regarded coffee of the lot. They delivered a strong coffee (on request), the beans of which having being sourced and roasted locally."
"Merienda has cafes and restaurants in both Keswick and Cockermouth. The food is best described as international café fare, using seasonal ingredients drawing influences from around the world. It aims to have a simple but eclectic evening menu and offers a great selection of wine and beer."
"Kat's Kitchen is a delightful vegan cafe, serving homemade meals, including English breakfast and sandwiches with a wonderful selection of gluten free cakes on offer. It offers plant milk options too for hot drinks and milkshakes whilst also keeping dairy milk as an option. Offering brunch and lunch all year around, the kitchen offers early dinner during the busier months and introduced afternoon tea in 2020."
"23/05/2021: This tiny little shop does a very impressive range of sandwiches and snacks. Brown or white, baguette or roll, a good variety of fillings and extras. All freshly made to order."
"O pened in 2015 the Hayloft Cafe is based on Castlerigg Farm Campsite and is a locally ran Cafe!. The Hayloft prides itself in trying to be as local sourced as possible and being great value for money!. From all of their Food being fresh and homemade to their Coffee being locally roasted."
"05/06/2021: Overall the adherence to Covid regulations was the best we’ve experienced anywhere - sanitiser & antibacterial wipes everywhere (e.g. could wipe down toilet seat before & after use). Only gave a 4 because daughter had to change baby on a seat on the stairway & staff were unpacking boxes whilst we were there. Staff were lovely & attentive - wishing me a happy birthday & making a fuss of baby."
"With a restaurant, gin bar and cafe, The Magic Roundabout offers up good pub grub in a quirky setting. You could eat all your meals here, too, as they serve up breakfast all through to dinner, including afternoon tea!. Then there are evening drinks at their well-stocked bar and excellent vegetarian food."
"On the shores of Lake Windermere, Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spahas an award-winning restaurant, a beauty spa and scenic views. Windermere centre is a 20-minute walk away. With 2 AA Rosettes, the restaurant serves a modern menu featuring quality local produce and organic ingredients."
"Our hotel is perfectly situated with views of Lake Windermere, just a short stroll from the bustling village centre of Bowness-on-Windermere and the boats that travel the length of Windermere, making it easy to visit Ambleside, Brockhole, Wray Castle and Lakeside without a car. The Lakes Hotel & Spawas previously called the Burnside Hotel & Spa. The hotel has some of the best on-site facilities in the area, half of the rooms with hot tubs on private balconies, an on-site spa with poolside seating and a bar, stylish restaurant and cocktail bar, bike hire, wakesurfing and paddleboading."
"With a picturesque location in Ambleside, Ambleside Salutation Hotel & Spa, BW Premier Collection features a modern spaand a brasserie. There is free parking and spacious rooms with free WiFi and scenic views towards Wansfell. Ambleside Salutation Hotel & Spa is set in a 17th-century building, and has a leisure club with a swimming pool, sauna, spa bath and steam room."
"The Lake District National Park is famous for being home to the Romantic poets, especially Wordsworth. It is said to have provided inspiration for a lot of his poetry – looking around, it’s easy to see why. The entire landscape is peppered with perfect cottages, fields full of daffodils, rolling mountains, and dazzling lakes. The panoramas in The Lake District National Park will leave you hankering for more."
"On the eastern shore of Coniston Water, Brantwood was the cherished home of John Ruskin (1819–1900), the noted Victorian artist, writer,…"
"The car park in Waterhead can be the starting point for a picturesque two-hour walk in the ancient woodland above Ambleside, cresting at Jenkin Crag, a great vantage point above Windermere. Nearly all of the path is in thick woodland, and there are steps to make the going lighter on wet days. One of the loveliest sections guides you along the Ambleside Champion Tree Trail, which has England’s tallest grand fir."