Ambleside is located in the very heart of the Lake District. The earliest known settlement dates back to around AD 80 with the Roman fort of Galava, situated on the south side of the town.

In 1324, the first mill in Ambleside was recorded. By the early 16th Century there were five mills. In 1650, Ambleside was granted a Royal Charter to hold a market, and under James II's reign (1685 - 1688), a charter was issued for the collection of tolls. Around this time, the famous Ambleside Bridge House was built on top of an existing bridge with an entrance on either bank. It was originally used to store apples and building over the river avoided land tax.

In 1761, visitor access to Ambleside took a major step forward with the completion of a Turnpike Road from Kendal. In 1847, trains services commenced from Oxenholme to Windermere, linking the area to the West Coast railway line which connects London and the North of England to Scotland. This further increased tourism, doubling Ambleside's size. Many of the distinguished Victorian buildings, including St Mary's Church (built in 1854), were constructed during this time.

Studio House was built in the mid 1870's and is part of the Ambleside conservation area which includes 38 listed buildings dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.