The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop — Restaurant in Great Britain

Very Nice

Victorian cook Sarah Nelson invented Grasmere Gingerbread® in 1854 in the English Lake District village from where it gets its name.

A unique, spicy-sweet cross between a biscuit and cake, its reputation quickly spread and it is now enjoyed by food lovers all over the world.

Today, the business is run by third-generation owners Joanne and Andrew Hunter and every day visitors to the shop are greeted by the wonderful aroma of freshly baked Grasmere Gingerbread® hanging in the air.

The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop also sells its own award-winning rum butter and a variety of ginger-themed foodstuffs, as well as toffee, fudges, chocolates, conserves, Cartmel Village Store Sticky Toffee Sauce, Kendal Mint Cake, conserves, ginger beer, ginger themed gifts, and much, much more.

This fascinating little shop was built in 1630 as the village school, and is where Wordsworth occasionally taught. In 1854 it became the home of Sarah Nelson's world famous original celebrated Grasmere Gingerbread ®. This unique and delicious gingerbread is freshly baked everyday to the secret recipe and is only obtainable from this shop or through the international mail order service.

Group visits are available which include a talk lasting 20-30 mins on the history of Cumbrian food and how Grasmere Gingerbread evolved through the Victorian tourist trail. Fresh Gingerbread is served with tea or coffee and an oatcake with Cumberland Rum Butter. Cost £3.50 for adults and £2.50 per child, coach driver and teachers/guide free. School and Educational groups are also taken, contact the shop directly for prices and further information. Must...

A Moderately Concise Review of Grasmere Gingerbread — by Dr. Sheldon Cooper

I have just consumed a piece of Grasmere Gingerbread, and my worldview has shifted accordingly.

Firstly, let us be clear: this is not “gingerbread” as Americans know it — i.e., flimsy festive slabs shaped like men, houses, or reindeer, often held together with frosting and misplaced optimism. No. This is something entirely other. Something better.

Grasmere Gingerbread is a textural enigma. It appears crisp, even aggressive in its exterior structure, yet the inside disintegrates with buttery softness in a way that makes me briefly believe in a benevolent universe. It is simultaneously a biscuit and a cake, and thus exists in a category I shall now call “quantum pastry.”

The flavour? Sublime. The ginger arrives not like an assault, but like a distinguished guest who knows exactly when to leave. It’s warm, complex, comforting — like a hug from Professor Proton, if he were made of sugar and Victorian history.

The recipe, apparently, has been unchanged since 1854 and is protected with more secrecy than Area 51 or the Krabby Patty formula. I respect this. Great power should not be wielded by the masses.

To summarise: Grasmere Gingerbread is not merely food. It is a paradox wrapped in wax paper. It is what happens when chemistry, tradition, and baked goods converge to briefly cure existential dread.

Final verdict: 5 out of 5 Nobel Prizes. I do not say this lightly. I say it because it is scientifically...

Tucked away in the heart of the Lake District, the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop is a charming little gem that instantly captures your senses the moment you step near its door. The store itself is tiny—intimate in the best way—and feels like a step back in time. It’s almost impossible not to be drawn in by the warm, spiced aroma drifting out onto the cobbled path outside.

The gingerbread here isn’t your typical variety—it's somewhere between a biscuit and a cake, with a crumbly, chewy texture and a spicy-sweet flavor that’s completely unique. There’s nothing quite like it. It’s rich, warming, and deeply satisfying, especially on a cool Lake District day. One bite and you understand why people have been coming here since the 1850s.

Beyond the gingerbread itself, the shop is full of creative ginger-themed treats and keepsakes. From ginger-infused fudge and chocolate to teas, preserves, and even scented candles, it’s a treasure trove for anyone who loves the distinctive kick of ginger. My girlfriend particularly loved the quirky gingerbread-man keyring she picked up—it’s become one of her favorite mementos from our trip.

Grasmere Gingerbread is more than just a bakery—it’s an experience. Whether you’re there for the history, the smell, or just to stock up on something deliciously different, it’s a must-visit when in the Lake District. Just be warned: once you’ve had a taste, you'll probably end up ordering more online...