Guest House · Ambleside, Lake District

A Victorian house with warm Lakeland welcome

Fourteen individually styled en-suite bedrooms, a proper Full Cumbrian breakfast every morning, and the fells on the doorstep. Come as guests, leave as friends.

Church Walk, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9DJ

Aerial view of The Gables Guest House, the Victorian stone building with its upright THE GABLES sign, next to Zeffirellis cinema with the fells behind
The Gables from above, stone and slate against the fells
14 en-suite bedrooms Full Cumbrian breakfast included 3 min on foot to the town centre

Guest reviews

Loved by walkers, riders and slow-morning people

Real scores from real guests, gathered from the places travellers actually leave them.

TripAdvisor

4.6/5

Based on 556 reviews, as of 2026-10

Booking.com

9.0/10

Based on 507 reviews, as of 2026-10

Google

4.7/5

Based on 283 reviews, as of 2026-10

Bedrooms

Fourteen rooms, no two alike

Every room is individually styled, every one en-suite, every stay includes our Full Cumbrian breakfast. Probably one of our most popular features, guests tell us.

Cosy Double bedroom with bay window, magenta curtains, green cushions and two leather armchairs

Cosy Double

Bay-window room

A bright bay-window double dressed in magenta curtains and green cushions, with two leather armchairs made for reading and a proper pot of tea.

from £100/ night
Classic bedroom with iron bedstead, deep-purple cushions and shutters, church spire visible through the window

Classic

Overlooks the church

An iron bedstead, deep-purple cushions and plantation shutters, with the spire of St Mary’s church rising just beyond the glass.

from £110/ night
Classic Superking bedroom with navy headboard, bay shutters, cycling prints and letter-print cushions

Classic Superking

Room to stretch out

A generous superking with a tall navy headboard, shuttered bay window, cycling prints on the wall and letter-print cushions with plenty to say.

from £120/ night
Classic Plus Superking bedroom with tall iron bed, parasol-print curtains, striped blinds and lime armchair

Classic Plus Superking

Dual aspect, garden views

Our grandest room: a tall iron bed under parasol-print curtains, striped blinds, a lime armchair, and windows on two sides looking over the garden.

from £130/ night
Single bedroom with single bed, autumn-leaf Roman blind, framed prints and tea and coffee tray

Single

Solo travellers welcome

A light, cheerful single with an autumn-leaf Roman blind, framed prints and a proper tea and coffee tray. Small room, big Lakeland welcome.

from £65/ night

Guide prices are per room, including full Cumbrian breakfast. We use dynamic pricing that varies with supply and demand, so please check our secure online booking system for precise room prices.

Breakfast

The Full Cumbrian, done properly

Cooked to order in our spacious breakfast room, with local suppliers we are proud to name. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices always available.

Full Cumbrian breakfast: sausage, bacon, black pudding, fried egg, tomato, mushrooms, beans and orange juice
The Full Cumbrian, cooked to order
Two golden croissants with orange juice and coffee
Croissants baked to order
Scrambled eggs on toast with croissant, orange juice and coffee pot
Scrambled eggs and lighter bites

Your hosts

Running The Gables since 2006

The Gables street frontage: grey-blue timber-frame Victorian building with upright THE GABLES lettering and flower boxes

Twenty years of early mornings, polished teapots and walkers sent off with full stomachs. This is a house run by people who genuinely love having guests.

  • 14 en-suite bedrooms, cleaned daily, each one individually styled.
  • Sharyn’s renowned homemade marmalade on the breakfast table every morning.

Local guide

Ambleside on your doorstep

The Gables sits on Church Walk, right by St Mary’s church and a three-minute stroll from the town centre. Here is how we would spend a day or two around it. If anything below needs a second opinion, do tell us and we will put it right straight away.

Windermere lake pier with moored sailing boats, gulls and fells beyond
Next door

St Mary’s Church

The parish church beside the house. You can spot its spire from our Classic Room windows, and its churchyard is a quiet shortcut into town.

3 min on foot

Ambleside town centre

Outdoor shops, cafés, pubs and bakeries. Stock up for the fells, then come back for tea. Everything you need, nothing you have to drive for.

About 20 min on foot

Waterhead pier & Lake Windermere

An easy stroll downhill to the lake. Boat cruises leave from Waterhead pier, and the lakeside path is made for slow afternoons. Best in the morning before the crowds.

0.6 miles

Galava Roman Fort

Roman fort remains a short walk from the lake shore. Free to wander, and a fine excuse to combine history with a lakeside picnic.

2 miles

Rydal Mount

A much-loved historic house with gardens, an easy drive or a good walk away. Pair it with a loop around Rydal Water if your legs are willing.

Eating out

Supper spots nearby

Three local favourites worth a table: Cafe Altitude, Tacos Del Sol and The Old Stamp House. Book ahead on weekends, Ambleside fills up fast.

Good to know

Walkers’ notes

  • Lakeland weather turns fast: pack layers and a waterproof whatever the forecast says.
  • Check-in is 16:00–20:00. Running late? Call or email and we will sort it.
Getting here

Find us

  • Church Walk, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9DJ, right by St Mary’s church.
  • Three minutes on foot from the town centre; look for the upright THE GABLES sign.
  • Coming by car? Ask us about parking when you book.

Good to know

The small print, in plain English

Straight from our booking terms, no surprises.

Deposit

DEPOSIT - In order to confirm a booking we require a non-refundable deposit for the cost of the first night’s stay, to be paid by credit or debit card.

Check-in & check-out

Check-in 16:00–20:00, check-out by 10:30, per our booking terms. Arriving outside those hours? Please call or email and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Breakfast

Included with every stay. The Full Cumbrian is cooked to order, with lighter options, vegetarian and gluten-free choices always available.

Cancellation

Please call or email to confirm our current cancellation terms before you book.

Book direct with the house

No middlemen, no fuss. Just ring or write, and we will look after the rest. Prefer to book online? Our secure booking page is one click away.

Online booking via our secure engine: freetobook reservations

Questions

Asked often, answered plainly

Short answers first, detail after.

What is included in the room price?

Our Full Cumbrian breakfast, every morning. Published prices are a rough guide, per room including breakfast. We use dynamic pricing, so please check our secure online booking system for precise room prices.

How much deposit do I pay?

A non-refundable deposit for the first night’s stay. In order to confirm a booking we require a non-refundable deposit for the cost of the first night’s stay, to be paid by credit or debit card.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check-in 16:00–20:00, check-out by 10:30, per our booking terms. If you are running late, please call or email us.

How do I book?

Ring, write, or book online. Call +44 15394 33272, email stay@thegables-ambleside.co.uk, or use our secure freetobook booking page. Booking direct means dealing with the house itself, no middlemen.

What if I need to cancel?

Please call or email to confirm our current cancellation terms before you book.