Best Breakfast in the Lake District: 10 Best Cafes (2023)
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Looking for the best breakfast in the Lake District? You’re in the right place! There are plenty of cafes and breakfast spots to choose from in the Lake District, and below I have listed ten of the best.
If you’re not sure where to get your morning coffee, or fill up on a bacon sandwich before a hike, this post is for you. From classic cafes to modern brunch spots, these are the best ten breakfast cafes when visiting the Lake District.
As we continue to return to the Lake District, we will update the post accordingly. Have a cafe that you think should be featured? Feel free to contact me here!
So, let’s get started on the best breakfast in the Lake District!
Other Lake District posts:
- Best Pubs in Ambleside: The Lake District (Essential Guide)
- Lake District for Couples: A PERFECT Romantic Break
- Lake District in September: Why It’s the BEST Time to Visit
- Helm Crag walk from Grasmere – Everything You Need to Know
Best Breakfast in the Lake District: A Summary
The Lake District is one of the most loved destinations in the UK. It is located in the north of England, in the county of Cumbria. Whilst visiting the Lake District, many tourists or visitors like to try some of the local foods, including a traditional roast dinner, Kendal Mint cake and Grasmere gingerbread.
But another popular activity in the Lake District is eating a hearty English breakfast in a cosy cafe. Whether you opt for hash browns and beans, or a cappuccino with sourdough bread and eggs benedict, there are hundreds of breakfast options in the Lakes to choose from.
Where to stay in the Lake District in winter
If you’re only staying in the Lake District for a few nights, I recommend staying in Ambleside. Ambleside is known as the ‘heart of the Lake District’, and is one of my personal favourite areas, as it’s within walking distance of Lake Windermere.
If you’re only visiting the Lake District briefly, it’s an easy way to see some of the quintessential grey slate buildings, traditional pubs, and modern Lake District restaurants. Ambleside is also only a ten-minute drive from the Helm Crag walk starting point.
- If you’re a solo traveller in Ambleside, I recommend staying in the YHA Hostel. It’s a short distance from the centre of Ambleside, and you’ll be able to meet other solo backpackers. ➡ BOOK THIS HOSTEL NOW!
- Want a cute and cosy cottage in Ambleside? Our favourite is Grayling Cottage. It’s just a one-minute walk from Ambleside town centre and is beautifully decorated. ➡ BOOK THIS COTTAGE NOW!
- For a luxurious one-night stay in Ambleside, check out The Ambleside Inn. It’s an 18th-century hotel which will give you a true ‘English countryside’ experience. ➡ BOOK THIS HOTEL NOW!
Getting around the Lake District
If you can, take a car to get around the Lake District. If you only have one day, you don’t want to be spending hours waiting for public transport. Don’t have a car? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!
However, if you haven’t got access to a car, exploring the Lake District can still be done! The Lake District has amazing public transport (a lot better than some of the rest of the country), and you can whizz around on buses and boats. For more information about travelling around the Lake District without a car, you can check out my guide here.
➡ Need to hire a car in the Lake District? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! 🚗 LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!
How to get to the Lake District
🇬🇧 IF YOU’RE ALREADY IN THE UK
You can travel to the Lake District from most places in the UK. The first stage would be travelling to a major city (London, Manchester, Carlisle, Glasgow etc) and then boarding a connecting train or two from there. Here are some of the easiest ways to get to the Lake District without a car by train:
- London > Oxenholme (direct)
- Manchester > Windermere (direct)
- Carlisle > Oxenholme (direct)
If you are travelling to the Lake District by train, be sure to book your tickets in advance to get the cheapest prices. From Oxenholme or Windermere, you can either board a bus to your accommodation or jump in a taxi. There are taxi ranks outside the main train stations in the Lake District.
✈️ TRAVELLING INTERNATIONALLY TO THE LAKE DISTRICT
If you’re travelling to the UK for the Lake District, you will need to fly into Manchester Airport. From there, you can board a train to Oxenholme to reach the Lake District. The train takes roughly 1.5 hours and will need to be pre-booked in advance.
Best Breakfast in Ambleside
1. Copper Pot
📍Location: Ambleside
🍳 Recommended dish: breakfast waffles
Copper Pot is one of my favourite cafes in the Lake District for breakfast. It’s a cosy, aesthetic little haven of friendly locals, tasty sourdough and delicious coffee.
Their menu ranges from sweet breakfast waffles to an authentic English breakfast with all the trimmings, so there’s something for everyone! There’s an outdoor seating area for when the sun’s shining, and a pretty indoor space for when it’s not. Copper Pot was one of the first cafes I visited in Ambleside, and I’ve been returning ever since.
2. The Giggling Goose
📍Location: Ambleside
🍳 Recommended dish: a homemade cake
Another great breakfast spot in Ambleside is the Giggling Goose. The Giggling Goose serves everything from coffee and scones to a hot breakfast, and is perfectly located along the riverside in the heart of Ambleside. However, for these views, you do have to pay a bit of a steeper price than some of the other cafes in town! (But it’s worth it!)
Note the Giggling Goose is walk in only.
3. Fresher’s Cafe
📍Location: Ambleside
🍳 Recommended dish: vegetarian full English breakfast
If you want a larger than life English breakfast, Fresher’s is the place to be. A family-run business, Fresher’s serves delicious home made food with an outdoor space. If you’re a vegetarian, they serve amazing vegan sausages and veggie options.
Fresher’s also serve lunch, with tasty quiches, soups and other light bites. It’s a perfect cafe for post-hike ‘hanger’! Note Fresher’s is closed on Mondays.
4. The Apple Pie Cafe and Bakery
📍Location: Ambleside
🍳 Recommended dish: full English breakfast
If you’re in need of a quick bite or takeaway breakfast before your walks, head to the Apple Pie Cafe and Bakery. Their croissants are baked fresh, and their coffee is a dream. The owners and workers are always so friendly and welcoming, and dining there is a wholesome activity when in the Lakes.
5. Greens Cafe
📍Location: Grasmere
🍳 Recommended dish: sausage sandwich
If you’re happy to go a bit further afield from Ambleside, we found a great cafe in Grasmere for breakfast, right before our Helm Crag hike. Greens Cafe can either be used as a quick takeaway breakfast spot, or a dine in for breakfast, lunch and dinner (with a full alcohol license).
Greens cafe offers everything on the menu gluten-free, with a selection of cakes and pastries for a quick bite.
If you’re there in the afternoon, be sure to try one of their homemade smoothies. The ingredients change every day, and they really are delicious. One of the best breakfast cafes in the Lake District!
Best Breakfast in Keswick
6. Merienda
📍Location: Keswick
🍳 Recommended dish: the Hunter brunch
If you’re into cosy, rustic and modern vibes, Merienda is the best place for breakfast in Keswick. Boasting a global menu which is open all day, the best parts about Merienda is the coffee and the interior aesthetics.
If you’re visiting, I recommend the Hunter Brunch (which is served from 8-3) as it acts as a lunch and breakfast!
7. The Filling Station Cafe
📍Location: Keswick
🍳 Recommended dish: full English breakfast
Whilst I usually stay in Ambleside when I visit the Lake District, we do sometimes venture out to Keswick for breakfast for a change of scenery. On our first visit, we found The Filling Station Cafe, a great breakfast spot in the Lake District.
The Filling Station Cafe is set up like an old gas station, and has a unique vibe to it. Usually full of motorbikes and vintage cars parked up front, it’s definitely a different style of cafe in the Lake District! If you’re stopping by, opt in for the full English. You won’t be disappointed!
8. Jasper’s Coffee House
📍Location: Keswick
🍳 Recommended dish: chocolate brownies
Jasper’s Coffee House is the best in Keswick for a good-old fashioned cup of coffee. Their coffee is locally brewed, with a creamy, dreamy finish. Not only is their coffee good, but Jasper’s itself is a fun, friendly and welcoming cafe.
The cafe is also covered in dog photos, which just makes the whole experience that much cuter. Stop off at Jasper’s for coffee, cakes and hot sandwiches – one of the best breakfast venues in the Lake District!
Best Breakfast in Bowness-on-Windermere
9. The Magic Roundabout
📍Location: Bowness-on-Windermere
🍳 Recommended dish: eggs benedict
Not only is the food good in the Magic Roundabout, but the decor, modern twist and eclectic atmosphere is an experience in itself. A breakfast and lunch venue by day, but a cocktail bar by night, it’s one to check out if you’re in the area.
If you’re visiting for breakfast, I recommend either the full English or the poached eggs with hollandaise. Yum.
10. The Alpine
📍Location: Windermere
🍳 Recommended dish: full English breakfast
The Alpine is a cafe with outdoor seating and delicious food. They have great options for vegetarians which gives them bonus points.
Their full English breakfast was one of the best we’ve had in the Lake District, with a really decent portion size and a good coffee! Plus, the owners of the cafe were so kind and welcoming when we were there, it’s definitely one I will return to!
Best breakfast in the Lake District: FAQs
1) What food is famous in the Lake District?
There are a few different foods to try in the Lake District. Most importantly – a traditional Sunday roast. These can be found in pubs all over the national park, and are traditionally served on a Sunday between the hours of 12-4pm (but be sure to check each individual venue). For more information on Sunday roasts in the Lake District, check out my guide here.
Other famous foods in the Lake District include Kendal Mint Cake and Grasmere Gingerbread. Kendal Mintcake, contrary to its name, is not a cake, and is actually a type of hard sweet made from peppermint.
Grasmere Gingerbread is some of the best gingerbread in the country, and can be found at the Gingerbread House in Grasmere. Be warned though, as it tastes so good, you may be waiting in line for a long time!
2) What is the national dish of Cumbria?
A traditional English dish originating from Cumbria is a roast leg of Lakeland lamb, as well as ticky toffee pudding. Both can easily be found in the Lake District!
3) What is a traditional Cumbrian breakfast?
A traditional Cumbrian breakfast is the same as a traditional English breakfast. Typically, an English breakfast (the same as a Cumbrian breakfast) includes bacon, fried egg, sausage, mushrooms, baked beans, toast, and grilled tomatoes, with a cup of tea or coffee on the side. Additionally, you may want black pudding, hash browns, fried bread, or toast to accompany your traditional English breakfast.
4) What is a traditional English breakfast?
You can get a traditional English breakfast all over the country. Typically, an English breakfast includes bacon, fried egg, sausage, mushrooms, baked beans, toast, and grilled tomatoes, with a cup of tea or coffee on the side. Additionally, you may want black pudding, fried bread, hash browns or toast to accompany your traditional English breakfast.
5) What is the best time to visit Lake District?
You can visit the Lake District 365 days a year; as it’s an ‘any kind of weather’ destination in the UK. However, if you want the cheapest accommodation prices, visit in the shoulder season (autumn and spring). During the winter months (November – February), you can expect layers of snow to be covering the trails and paths.
Summer months in the UK (June – August) are always the most expensive months to visit the Lake District, as well as being the busiest. But of course, it’s when you’ll get the best weather, with dry, hot and sunny days.
6) Do I need a car to visit the Lake District?
If you’re visiting the Lake District and are short on time, I recommend hiring a car. However, it is possible to get around the Lake District using public transport.
If you’re looking to hire a car in the Lake District, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in the UK now!
7) What tours should I do in the Lake District?
Looking to book a tour in the Lake District? Tours are one of the best ways to see the hidden gems of the country you are visiting. If you’re travelling during peak season, I highly recommend pre-booking your tours to ensure you don’t miss out!
When travelling, we use this company to book our tours. Tours include skip-the-line tickets to the world’s most iconic attractions, walking tours by top local experts, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes, bucket list experiences, and niche offerings you won’t find anywhere else!
If you’re visiting for the first time, the tours I recommend doing are:
- Ten Lakes Full-Day Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
- William Wordsworth and Dove Cottage Half-Day Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
- Beatrix Potter Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
➡ You can check out available tours in the Lake District with prices here!
8) Do I need a SIM card to visit the Lake District?
If you’re not from the UK, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive.
ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing! Plus, there are eSIMs available for the entire continent of Europe, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!
9) Can I solo travel in the Lake District?
Yes, you can solo travel in the Lake District. If you are solo travelling and want to meet other people, I recommend staying in hostels to meet like-minded travellers. Or, if you’d like to explore the lakes by yourself, stay in a location like Ambleside so you are close to all of the main sites and hikes. Check out my full guide on solo travel in the Lake District here.
Best Breakfast in the Lake District: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best breakfasts in the Lake District. When you’re planning a trip to the Lake District, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Lake District content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
Other posts you might like:
- Best Pubs in Ambleside: The Lake District (Essential Guide)
- Lake District Itinerary 1 Day Plan: The BEST Day Trip!
- 3 Days in the Lake District: Everything You NEED To Do
- Helm Crag Walk From Grasmere – Everything You Need to Know
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MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
