Macdonald Bear Hotel

Hotels
•
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
8 (2185 reviews)
Park St , Woodstock , gb

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Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
Safety deposit box
Fax/photocopying
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Good location
Spacious room
Cons:
Inconsistent service
Limited food options

Categories

Cleanliness
8.14
Clean and tidy, but some areas are showing signs of wear.
Service
7.61
Variable service quality, with some staff unfriendly and lacking communication.
Location
9.15
Perfect location for visiting nearby attractions, very convenient.
Room Quality
8.6
Spacious rooms with charming features, but some items require upkeep.
Amenities
7.63
Basics available but some amenities like coffee/tea making facilities were lacking.
Value for Money
7.59
Expectation of value was not fully met, with high charges for breakfast and additional drinks.
Food and Beverage
7.14
Breakfast was good but dinner menu was limited and poorly communicated.
Overall Experience
8.11
Enjoyable stay despite some service and food shortcomings.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-07 14:37

Property Description

Historic Charm and Celebrity Glamour

Luxurious Accommodations
The Macdonald Bear Hotel offers traditional bedrooms that have housed royals and film stars, boasting en suite bathrooms, satellite TVs, and mini bars. Each room features antique furniture and WiFi access, ensuring a comfortable stay.

Gourmet Dining and Cozy Atmosphere
Indulge in the atmospheric restaurant's innovative British menu, surrounded by bare stone walls, open fires, and exposed beams. The bar offers a selection of fine wines, malt whiskies, and real ales, along with light lunches and snacks.

Scenic Surroundings and Nearby Attractions
Situated just a mile from Blenheim Palace, the hotel is nestled in Oxfordshire's stunning countryside. Guests can enjoy a round of golf at Kirtlington Golf Club or explore The Wychwood Project, both just a short drive away.

Experience luxury and history at Macdonald Bear Hotel – book your stay now!

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, some of the rooms and facilities at the property are accessed via uneven steps, which may not be suitable for those with reduced mobility.

Pets are welcome for an additional charge of GBP 15 per pet, per night.

Please note that guests on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast package will have a GBP 30 per person allowance to spend on food only.

Any additional supplements should you go over the £30.00 per person dinner allocation, and any drinks are to be paid for separately.

Please note that the hotel doesn't accept any cash payments

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

Please be aware that a limited parking is available onsite, charged at £5 per day.

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

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • 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.

  • 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.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs GBP 5 per day.

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 2185 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.14
Service: 7.61
Location: 9.15
Room Quality: 8.6
Amenities: 7.63
Value for Money: 7.59
Food and Beverage: 7.14
Overall Experience: 8.11
M
Michael • family_with_children • gb
10
2026-03-13 • via Nuitee
S
Steve • couple • gb
10
Great location, friendly people and good value
Pros:

Very friendly and helpful staff.

2026-03-11 • via Nuitee
H
Haydon • couple • gb
8
Excellent- wonderful village with great character
Pros:

Breakfast was excellent!
Staff exceptional!
plus a wonderful Italian Restaurant across the road

Cons:

N/AExc

2026-03-11 • via Nuitee
D
David • couple • gb
9
2026-03-09 • via Nuitee
H
Howcutt • couple • gb
7
Nice room, good location.
Pros:

Room was very good

Cons:

The breakfast was at times overcooked, was only white bread for toast one morning.
The cost of food and drinks was higher than i'd expect to pay, even in a hotel,

2026-03-09 • via Nuitee
A
Alan • couple • gb
10
Beautiful old hotel in a great location
Pros:

Location and parking

Cons:

Nothing

2026-03-08 • via Nuitee
L
Leah • couple • gb
8
Pros:

Location and room

Cons:

The food at the restaurant

2026-03-08 • via Nuitee
S
Stewart • couple • gb
9
2026-03-07 • via Nuitee
M
Melanie • solo_traveller • gb
5
An expensive one night stay that didn’t meet expectations
Pros:

Location to Blenheim Palace it’s within walking distance of the main gate
Parking on the premises
The breakfast had a good selection of hot and cold options

Cons:

We were given an upgrade to a deluxe double suite but I wonder if we had been better placed to stay in the original room. The suite was on two levels and accessible by a narrow staircase with doors en route. The bathroom was tiny by comparison to the size of the room but serviceable. There were low beams in the bedroom and the placement of the bed under them meant the person on the left risked hitting their head whilst getting in and out. I’m sure these beams, heavily showcased in the room pictures in this site are considered part of the olde worlde charm of the hotel but actually they are a nuisance… in this room anyway. The bed was also very uncomfortable which mentioned to reception on check out, the mattress was old and sunken. Finally, because it is an old building there is no double/secondary glazing and because this room was on the street there was lots of traffic and people noise

2026-03-07 • via Nuitee
J
John • extended_group • gb
9
2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
L
Linda • couple • gb
8
Rooms very good and room cleaning was very good.
Pros:

Central and walking distance to Blenheim Palace.

Cons:

Tables in the bar a bit sticky and the bacon on the last morning of our three night stay was rock hard.
The reception staff and waiting staff were wonderful.

2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
C
Christopher • family_with_children • gb
7
Woodstock birthday trip.
Pros:

Lovely building in an excellent location in the centre of Woodstock, good parking to the rear of the hotel. Comfortable room / suite with alot of character. A lovely welcome from the reception staff, who showed us to the room and assisted when necessary during our stay.

Cons:

The room air con system in the room did not work with heating coming from 3 electric radiators, we were not cold, but not what we expected in a hotel of this sort. Breakfast service was very slow with poor service and poor quality on our first day and good in all respects on the second day of our stay. Bar service was poor with limited selection of drinks available.

2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
S
Steve • couple • gb
8
2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
C
Cristina • couple • es
8
2026-03-05 • via Nuitee
K
Keith • couple • gb
8
2026-03-03 • via Nuitee
J
Jason • couple • de
8
2026-03-02 • via Nuitee
J
jeanette • couple • gb
9
Great place to stay and next to Blenheim Place - so lots to see over a weekend.
Pros:

Central location in a beautiful historic town.

Cons:

The only issue is parking. Difficult to find how and where to park. Town has narrow streets to get to the parking - so be careful if you have a large vehicle.

2026-03-02 • via Nuitee
L
Lenah • family_with_children • gb
8
Simply lovely perch for our family escape to the Cotswolds.
Pros:

Location and size of rooms / ease of access and check in etc

Cons:

The staff was inconsistent. The reception manager during the day was amazing friendly and so helpful. She was Indian I do not remember her name, but truly made our experience.

2026-03-01 • via Nuitee
M
Mario • extended_group • ch
10
2026-03-01 • via Nuitee
O
Olof • solo_traveller • se
6
Out of the ordinary
Pros:

Good location. Far from your standard hotel. We didn’t meet the ghost but can imagine it’s there

Cons:

Lousy internet

2026-02-28 • via Nuitee