National Trust - Hill Top - Ambleside

Mark D.

For a Beatrix Potter fan the main attraction here is to be in the same spaces that she occupied and see the things that inspired some of her books. Having copies of her books open and available at the points through the house that inspired them was a nice touch which added an extra level of understanding to the tour. The mice hidden throughout the house to find also added to the visitor engagement in a way that seemed to fit well with the general feel of the place.
If you are not a Beatrix Potter fan (but you're other half is perhaps?) then do not fear. There is plenty of interest here for the tag along visitor too. The house holds its own as a purely historical attraction, and the garden areas surrounding the house are also noteworthy. Ornamental borders on the approach, a vegetable garden and a lawned orchard will all compete for your attention. Would have been nice to see some detail on the varieties of those apples?
The gift shop just before the exit is well stocked and the staff were welcoming and helpful. Some exclusive items here that can only be bought at the shop itself. They are not cheap but I would imagine a dedicated fan will not be deterred by the larger numbers involved.

Pritam D.

Beatrix Potter’s charming home in the Lake District, and it’s an amazing experience for fans of her work. The house itself is fascinating, feels like going back to time. filled with intricate details that bring her stories to life. Every room feels like stepping into a page of Peter Rabbit, with well-preserved furniture and personal touches that reflect her creativity.

The staff are knowledgeable, offering great insights into her life and writing process. The vegetable garden is a highlight—beautifully maintained and true to the era, it’s easy to see how it inspired her tales. My only gripe is the parking, which is quite cramped and can be a hassle, especially on busy days. Still, the experience inside makes it well worth the visit.

Highly recommend for a literary trip back in time!

Livy W.

Beautiful location, the house and gardens are gorgeous and worth a visit if you're a national trust member. We were not so £17 per person was quite expensive for such a small property and parking was really difficult, despite having booked parking we did have to wait some time to get a space. The house was lovely but being a period property it's small and it was cosy with so many people! The ticket timing system wasn't really adhered to so it was quite full and it was hard to take your time to look at the different rooms and read all the information when it's busy.

Chris D.

Another national trust treasure. A simple garden and a house with many of the contents in original condition. A glimpse into the life that was Beatrix Potter. The reserve parking is a very small for busy times so you might have to wait a few minutes until someone leaves. B road access was easy.

Stephanie T.

We had a great time exploring the house and gardens! Was very well kept with a nostalgic feel. We also picked up some lovely things from the gift shop. Would recommend booking in advance to secure parking

Hugo P.

I have to say that my expectations of hilltop weren't particularly high as I usually find National Trust properties all a bit twee. Hill Top thankfully is nothing like that at all, with wonderfully friendly and helpful staff and a very relaxed feel about the place. The addition of an excellent coffee van on site courtesy of Joey's Cafe, makes it all together are really enjoyable experience. The house itself is delightful for both adults and children. Well worth a visit!

yoda W.

Nice little lace to visit. Make sure you pre book parking otherwise very difficult to find parking in the village. Loved the garden and historical artefacts in the house.

Marianne P.

Recommend booking a ticket for this as it had timed entry (as well as limited parking in the National Trust car park) but well worth a visit. Beautifully restored and you can really see where Beatrix Potter got her inspiration for her books and drawings!