Ambleside Manor Vegetarian B&B: Is it Worth it?

What makes the Ambleside Manor Lake District hotel unique is that it’s a fully vegetarian, and mostly vegan too. The hotel serves breakfast only but has close ties to other long standing vegetarian and vegan restaurants in town, Zefferelis and Fellinis.

Don’t let the fact that it’s a fully vegetarian hotel make you pause though, even if you’re not vegetarian, the setting, history and atmosphere are what really define the experience at Ambleside Manor.

My Ambleside Manor review covers everything I experienced from my visit to this unique vegetarian accommodation in the Lake District. I’ll cover what you can expect, things that are good to know before booking, so you can see if it’s right for you and if it’s worth it.

Ambleside Manor: At A Glance

The Atmosphere at Ambleside Manor

As soon as I arrived, I felt like I could take a breath of fresh air. There’s space. There’s quiet. There’s the opportunity to take in the history of the place. Or if that isn’t really your thing, simply enjoy how elegant every detail at Ambleside Manor feels.

It manages to achieve a really beautiful balance between being cosy and traditional.

As you turn off from the main road to the grounds of Ambleside Manor, you get this immediate, iconic Lake District feel. The grounds feel peaceful and quiet, and you couldn’t feel any further away from the centre of Ambleside.

The peaceful feel and historical architecture, combined with its location means it offers the best of both worlds. I think the setting is really special. You feel like you’re giving yourself a really lovely treat by spending time here.

One of the first things that stood out to me at Ambleside Manor is that it feels very much like a country house B&B. The main halls of the hotel have an incredibly traditional feel, even down to original details that have been left in place from its start as a 19^th century Victorian country house.

The Rooms

Ambleside Manor Vegetarian B&B offers 15 different rooms to choose from. There are 3 suites, 2 family rooms, 5 superior rooms, 4 standard rooms and 1 single room. Each has an ensuite bathroom. 3 of these rooms are fully accessible (see above for more information on this).  

The fact that this hotel doesn’t have a huge number of rooms gives it a boutique feel, so it’s perfect if you are looking for more of an escape and want a moment of quiet.

I was actually given the opportunity when I visited Ambleside Manor to look at the different room types. I was happy to see that whilst the suites and superior rooms are bigger and usually have views out of gorgeous big windows over the property, the standard rooms still have that sophisticated, considered feel. Every piece of furniture, detail and feature that has been kept pristine over time feels intentional.

Some of the rooms, particularly the superiors and suites, have little moments that make them feel as if it isn’t just a bed for the night. Think armchairs facing big traditional windows with views onto the gardens and surrounding fells.

Taking a moment to sit and enjoy the view is something that’ll feel as much a part of your time in the Lake District as exploring the area will. Or taking advantage of one of the little nooks around the hotel to slump down into a big comfy armchair as you read your book on a rainy afternoon, bliss.

All the bathrooms are beautifully presented too; however, some have had an even more recent update and feel that touch more elegant. It was clear to see that the hotel is constantly thinking about how to make Ambleside Manor feel like somewhere guests can really enjoy.  

Food & Drink

If you’ve been looking for vegan friendly, plant based or vegetarian hotels and accommodation in the Lake District, then Ambleside Manor Vegetarian B&B does have a pretty major draw.

Firstly, I was happy to find out that whilst the hotel does market itself as a vegetarian B&B in the Lake District, the majority of options and specials they do at breakfast can either be adjusted to be or are naturally vegan anyway.

The hotel offers a small but stand out selection of food for breakfast to set you up for a day in the Lake District including a hearty full English Vegetarian Breakfast which can either be ordered veggie or vegan. They also offer a continental breakfast, specials (sometimes with vegan French Toast) and options like a porridge bowl too.

Whilst Ambleside Manor itself doesn’t offer an evening menu, they are within the same group as Zeffirellis and Fellinis which are both long standing vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the centre of Ambleside.

Both restaurants have a really different feel. Fellinis is an upscale fine dining restaurant with a heavy mediterranean influence. Zeffirellis is a little more informal and offers things like pizza, lentil bolognese and lots of other seriously delicious options.

Zeffirellis is also home to the only cinema in Ambleside, and they host regular film festivals, live music and plenty of events.

If you’re veggie or vegan, you’ll likely visit one of these two well-known restaurants anyway. The hotel offers a ‘Manor Stay & Dine’ package for guests staying for three nights plus, which includes two evening meals at either Zeffirellis or Fellinis. I think this is a great way of trying them out in a cost-effective way.

Facilities

Ambleside Manor’s facilities are mostly the gardens, patio areas, lounge areas and breakfast room. These all have the same combination of comfortable, cosy seating alongside historical details left from the building’s origins.

The main features and facilities outside of this are its connection to Zefferelis and Fellinis restaurants, and especially Zefferelis that has a cinema. In my opinion, this extends the reach of what Ambleside Manor can offer quite a lot.

Ambleside Manor also host film screenings in the gardens in summer, which is such a lovely thing to enjoy on a warm summer evening.

The fact you also have private off-street parking included in your stay is a major bonus. Ambleside can become very busy and finding parking isn’t always easy! The two EV chargers on site make it easy if you’ve got an electric vehicle too.

Location

If you’re looking for walking holidays in Ambleside, then Ambleside Manor is pretty much perfect in terms of location. It’s right in Ambleside, and only a few minutes’ walk from the town centre itself.

There’s plenty of places nearby that are worth checking out including ASAP Coffee, Grain, Lakes Brew and The Rattle Ghyll to name a few. If you want another great veggie and vegan option not too far out of town, you’ve also got Chesters By The River. You can also walk down to Lake Windermere (Waterhead) from the hotel in about 20 minutes.

It’s also a couple of minutes’ walk from the Ambleside bus interchange where you can catch buses to a lot of other iconic areas of the Lake District very easily.

Staying at Ambleside Manor is very possible without a car. The bus services from Ambleside are good and you can get to quite a lot of major hubs and starting points for walking routes very easily.

To get to the hotel, you’ll likely need to get the train to the mainline station Oxenholme Lake District just outside of Kendal first. Then take the short train from there to Windermere station. From there, it’s about 20 minutes on the bus to Ambleside.

That may sound like a lot, but you can be off the train at Oxenholme and be at the hotel within an hour.

There are also more walking routes from the front door or a very short drive or bus journey away than you’ll be able to do on one trip. Ambleside is right in the heart of it when it comes to Here are some ideas from a never-ending list I’d suggest:

Firstly, from the front door, you can easily visit Stock Ghyll Force. Very close by, you also have things like Loughrigg Fell and the Rydal Cave walk just below it. There’s also the Rydal Waterfalls and Buckstones Jump walk just across the road.

You’re also very close to things like the Elterwater to Skelwith Force walk and Elterwater to Cathedral Caves. Just up the road from Grasmere (which you can get to either by bus or car), you also have things like the iconic Easedale Tarn walk and the Alcock Tarn walk.

You’re also pretty close to the Kirkstone Pass, which you can drive up via The Struggle just out of town. This is well worth doing to see the incredible mountain views, but there are also some very iconic walks from along here to peaks like Red Screes, Stony Cove Pike and a bit further down the road in Patterdale you can also start the Angle Tarn walk which I’d highly recommend.

Ambleside Manor Review: My Verdict

Should You Book It?

If you’re looking for a quiet hotel which gives you everything Ambleside and central Lakes has to offer at your fingertips, then yes.

I would happily book the Ambleside Manor hotel. I think it’s good value for money considering the feel of the hotel. I like that you can be more secluded from the town and choose to head in when you want to.

It’s a great base for exploring the lakes, and if you’re veggie or vegan, it’s a massive bonus. This is one of the best vegetarian hotels in the Lake District. Even if you’re not, you won’t be disappointed!

Who I’d Recommend the Ambleside Manor Vegetarian B&B To

☑️ Couples
☑️ Walkers
☑️ Foodies: particularly vegetarians and vegans
☑️ If you like historic hotels