Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa

Hotels
•
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
7.6 (2722 reviews)
23 Church St , Bowness-on-Windermere , gb

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Children allowed

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Electric bicycle charging station
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Lift / Elevator
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Spacious rooms
Friendly reception staff
Cons:
Freezing pool
Poor service
Unclean bathroom towels
High parking fees
Chaotic breakfast experience

Categories

Cleanliness
6.68
Bathroom towels were reported unclean, affecting the overall impression of cleanliness.
Service
8.15
Mixed sentiments; some staff were noted as unhelpful and slow, but some were praised as friendly.
Location
9.19
Consistently praised for its stunning location and convenient access.
Room Quality
8.64
Spacious rooms noted, but some issues with heating may affect comfort.
Amenities
6.67
Facilities like the pool and sauna were reported as disappointing and in poor condition.
Value for Money
7.13
High parking fees and poor breakfast service raise concerns about value.
Food and Beverage
6.68
Breakfast service was chaotic, with long wait times and poor food quality reported.
Overall Experience
7.65
Disappointing overall experience due to numerous service and facility issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-10 06:43

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation
Indulge in the elegant rooms at Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa, each equipped with modern amenities and picturesque lake views. Relax in plush robes and enjoy complimentary toiletries for a truly pampering stay.

Culinary Delights
Savor the exquisite flavors at the award-winning restaurant, offering a menu filled with locally sourced ingredients. Unwind at the Terrace Bar and Lounge with delightful light meals or classic afternoon teas, perfect for a leisurely break.

Relaxation and Wellness
Take advantage of the state-of-the-art leisure center, complete with a gym, swimming pool, and rejuvenating spa facilities. From the calming sauna to the indulgent beauty treatments, immerse yourself in a world of tranquility and luxury.

Experience the epitome of luxury and relaxation at Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa. Book now to secure your tranquil getaway by Lake Windermere.

Important information:

The credit/debit card used to book a pre-paid rate must be presented to reception on arrival at the hotel. Please note that failure to do so will result in an alternative payment method being required.

Please note that extra beds are only possible in certain room types and must be confirmed by the property prior to arrival.

Please note that the elevator cannot take full size wheelchairs, making the Restaurant not accessible for guests in wheelchairs.

For guests staying on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast rate you can enjoy a £30 allowance per adult towards food and children’s meals are charged as taken

When booking 7 rooms or more, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: MAN

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 7 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs GBP 20 per day.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 13 years old to 14 years old stay for £25 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for free when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

7.6
Based on 2722 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.68
Service: 8.15
Location: 9.19
Room Quality: 8.64
Amenities: 6.67
Value for Money: 7.13
Food and Beverage: 6.68
Overall Experience: 7.65
S
Scott • solo_traveller • us
1
Would never stay again, visited The Belsfield Hotel across the street and it is a much more beautiful hotel.
Pros:

Location on Windermere Lake edge fabulous

Cons:

We splurged for an upgraded Deluxe King room and were placed at the rear of the building overlooking the garbage collection and an alley.

2026-04-25 • via Nuitee
A
Adam • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Matt was amazing behind the bar and Ahmed is always fantastic. Real credit to the hotel.

2026-04-24 • via Nuitee
K
Keith • solo_traveller • gb
3
2026-04-23 • via Nuitee
T
Tracey • couple • gb
10
Perfect location, fantastic facilities
Pros:

Fantastic location, friendly and helpful staff, large clean rooms. Top notch food in the restaurant for evening meal and breakfast. Good spa facilities, lovely indoor pool with sauna, steam and ice room.

2026-04-23 • via Nuitee
J
Jugmon • solo_traveller • gb
1
Pros:

I have raised safety concerns regarding my room facilities and was told l am not correct. It is very concerning as this is such a big hotel chain.

Cons:

The customer service on the front desk was shocking. The reservation manager is not interested, and when asked for support, he told me l was lying even though we presented her with video proof. This is very disappointing, and l will not we spending my well-earned funds here every again. I will also be reporting this venue to the social media channels.

2026-04-21 • via Nuitee
M
Mike • couple • gb
9
Pros:

lovely size room and very comfortable, great view and we enjoyed the spa facilities

Cons:

couldnt open the room window

2026-04-20 • via Nuitee
P
Pam • extended_group • au
8
Great location and facilities and staff helpful
Pros:

Location and history

Cons:

Windows need cleaning

2026-04-20 • via Nuitee
P
PENELOPE • extended_group • gb
8
Beautiful hotel on the edge of the lake with wonderful views and lovely staff
Pros:

Perfect position, very comfortable beds and lovely staff

Cons:

The food wasn’t as good as I expected it to be

2026-04-20 • via Nuitee
E
Elliot • family_with_children • gb
8
2026-04-16 • via Nuitee
K
Karim • solo_traveller • gb
5
2026-04-15 • via Nuitee
A
Angela Grainger • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Very central location staff we friendly and helpful.

2026-04-14 • via Nuitee
D
Dunnage • couple • gb
10
2026-04-14 • via Nuitee
A
Alexandra • couple • gb
10
Amazing
Pros:

Lovely staff
Lovely service given
Cannot fault
Amazing view over the lake

Cons:

Nothing
Rooms are lovely decorated

2026-04-11 • via Nuitee
F
Frank • family_with_children • gb
5
Avarage over priced
Pros:

Stone cold waited 30 minutes for it

2026-04-11 • via Nuitee
L
Leandros • couple • gb
4
Pros:

the view

Cons:

The window was extremely noisy when it was windy. The pre-authorisation was very painful and it did not even work in the end...
Paying 25£ per night for parking when already paid nearly 1400£ for 3 nights is unheard of…

2026-04-11 • via Nuitee
A
Andrew • solo_traveller • gb
9
Great Hotel
Pros:

Always welcomed with a smile.

Cons:

As a resident of the hotel, why am I having to pay for parking

2026-04-10 • via Nuitee
T
Trace Edwards • couple • gb
8
2026-04-09 • via Nuitee
S
Stella • family_with_children • gb
8
2026-04-08 • via Nuitee
Z
Zac • couple • gb
10
2026-04-08 • via Nuitee
A
Arora • family_with_children • gb
8
Pros:

The staff( each and every one) was helpful. They went above and beyond to help us.

Cons:

As such nothing, but the room could have been a bit luxurious at the price I paid. It was very basic whilst the description said family deluxe room.

2026-04-06 • via Nuitee