Ambleside facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ambleside
Rydal Road, Ambleside town centre
Ambleside
Area	1.238 km2 (0.478 sq mi)
Population	2,596 (2020 estimate)
• Density	2,097/km2 (5,430/sq mi)
OS grid reference	NY375037
Civil parish	Lakes
Unitary authority	Westmorland and Furness
Ceremonial county	Cumbria
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	AMBLESIDE
Postcode district	LA22
Dialling code	015394
Ambulance	North West
EU Parliament	North West England
UK Parliament	Westmorland and Lonsdale
List of places UK England 54°25′48″N 2°57′47″W / 54.430°N 2.963°W / 54.430; -2.963

Ambleside is a lovely town in the Lake District National Park in England. It's found in Cumbria, a county known for its beautiful lakes and mountains. Ambleside sits right at the top of Windermere, which is the largest natural lake in England. In 2020, about 2,596 people lived here.

What to Do in Ambleside

Ambleside is a super popular spot for tourists. It's a great place to start your adventures in the Lake District.

Fun on the Lake

• You can ride on "steamers," which are actually diesel-powered ferries.
• These boats take you across Windermere to places like Bowness-on-Windermere and Lakeside.
• You'll get amazing views of the lake and the mountains around it!

Outdoor Adventures

• Ambleside is perfect for hiking and mountain biking.
• Many people start their walks here, like the famous Fairfield horseshoe hike.
• You'll find lots of shops selling gear, maps, and guides for your outdoor trips.
• There are also many hotels, guest houses, and restaurants to enjoy.

Ambleside's Past

Ambleside has a long and interesting history. Its name comes from an old Norse phrase meaning "river – sandbank – summer pasture."

Roman Times

• South of Ambleside, you can find the ruins of a Roman fort called Galava.
• This fort was built way back in AD 79!

Market Town History

• In 1650, Ambleside was given permission to hold its own market.
• This made the town a busy place for farming and the wool trade.
• Old trails, like the one between Ambleside and Grasmere, were used by packhorses.
• Later, horse-drawn coaches replaced the packhorses.

The Market Hall, a historic building in Ambleside.

Rydal Road, a busy street in the centre of Ambleside.

Armitt Library and Museum

• The Armitt Library and Museum opened in 1912.
• It's a great place to learn about the history of the Lake District.
• You can see displays about famous artists and writers who lived here.

Famous Buildings and Places

Ambleside has some unique and historic landmarks.

Bridge House

• 

  Bridge House, a tiny house built over a river.
• Bridge House is a tiny house built over Stock Ghyll river.
• It's more than 300 years old!
• It was probably used as a summer house or to store apples.
• Today, it's owned by the National Trust and is an information centre.
• It's a very famous and often-photographed building.

A painting of Bridge House by Lewis Pinhorn Wood.

St Mary's Church

• 

  St Mary's Church, a beautiful church in Ambleside.
• St Mary's Church was built in the 1850s.
• It has a tall stone spire, which is unusual for churches in this area.
• Inside, there's a special painting showing a "rushbearing" ceremony.
• This ceremony happens every year on the first Saturday in July.

Learning in Ambleside

Ambleside is also a place for learning.

University of Cumbria

• The University of Cumbria has a campus in Ambleside.
• Students here can study subjects like Conservation, Forestry, and Outdoor Studies.
• The campus was closed for a while but reopened in 2014.

Youth Exploration Group

• The Brathay Exploration Group is a charity for young people.
• They often meet near Ambleside to explore and learn about the outdoors.

Waterhead: The Lakeside Spot

• 

  Boats docked at Waterhead Pier.
• Waterhead is about a mile south of Ambleside town centre.
• It's where you can catch the Windermere Lake Cruises boats.
• You can also rent boats here and find hotels and cafes.
• There's a YHA youth hostel for young travellers.

Famous People from Ambleside

Many interesting people have lived or worked in Ambleside.

• The famous poet William Wordsworth worked in Ambleside for many years. He lived nearby in Rydal.
• Harriet Martineau, a well-known writer, lived in Ambleside from 1846 until her death. She was a very active woman who helped local families build homes.
• The artist Kurt Schwitters lived in Ambleside for a few years until he passed away in 1948. He was a German artist who came to England during World War II.

Getting Around Ambleside

Bus Services

• Buses run from Ambleside to many nearby towns.
• You can go to Coniston, Windermere, Kendal, and Keswick.
• There's even an open top service called Lakesider for great views!

Train Station

• The closest train station is in Windermere.
• From there, you can catch trains to other parts of England.

Weather in Ambleside

Ambleside has an oceanic climate, which means it gets a lot of rain. Being in the Lake District, it's one of the wettest places in England! Sometimes, the River Rothay can flood, like during Storm Desmond in December 2015.

Images for kids

• 

  Ambleside (left) and Waterhead (right) seen from Loughrigg Fell.

See also

In Spanish: Ambleside para niños