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Facilities
Property facilities
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Fitness facilities
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WiFi available
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Free WiFi
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Parking
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Non-smoking rooms
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Fitness center
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Swimming pool
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24-hour front desk
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Restaurant
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Room service
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Heating
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Terrace
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Family rooms
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Garden
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Lift / Elevator
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Laundry
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Luggage storage
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Express check-in/check-out
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Safety deposit box
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Bar
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Fax/photocopying
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Soundproof rooms
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Facilities for disabled guests
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Ironing service
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Meeting/banquet facilities
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Sauna
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Dry cleaning
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Breakfast in the room
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Massage services
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Packed lunches
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Spa/wellness center
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Non-smoking throughout
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Private parking
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Sun terrace
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Private check-in/check-out
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Daily housekeeping
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Designated smoking area
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Accessible parking
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Board games/puzzles
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Concierge service
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Special diet menus - on request
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Allergy-free room
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Kid meals
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Snack bar
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Heated pool
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Electric vehicle charging station
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Indoor pool
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Kid-friendly buffet
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Outdoor furniture
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Wine/champagne
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Fruits
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Steam room
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Fitness/spa locker rooms
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Staff adhere to local safety protocols
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Laundry washed per local authority guidelines
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Guest rooms disinfected between stays
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Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
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Physical distancing rules followed
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Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
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Cashless payment available
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Fire extinguishers
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First aid kit available
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Sanitized tableware & silverware
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Contactless check-in/check-out
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Invoice provided
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Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
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Smoke alarms
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Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
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Physical distancing in dining areas
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Key access
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Food delivered to guest room
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CCTV outside property
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Screens / Barriers between staff and guests for safety
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24-hour security
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Delivered food - securely covered
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Walking tours
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Key card access
Review Highlights
Categories
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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.
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.
A deposit may be required at the property.
Property Policies
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Internet
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
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Groups
When booking more than 7 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.
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Pets
Pets are not allowed.
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Parking
Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs GBP 20 per day.
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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
Great location to explore windemere. Convenient for boat trip & dining out.
Expensive parking, but that's the lake district for you.
It has a great location and the bedroom was clean.
It was quite dated however a member of staff was absolutely disgusting, from the moment he saw us as a group he was horrible and rude, he asked for our room number for the tab so we gave it him, we then went to pay the tab off before even leaving the bar (as we were going to split the bill) he purposely ignored us after repeatedly saying excuse me, so we walked off. Hours later after having a lovely dinner in the local village we heard a man shouting so we turned around and this member of staff was running after us shouting you need to pay your bill you need to pay your bill! I’ll lose my job if you don’t, the entire hotel are looking for you, they’ve been to your room to find you, if you don’t pay you won’t be allowed in your room, we were absolutely mortified and we went back to the hotel to speak to a manager, he also lied about his name and said his name was another member of staff (obviously knew he was going to be in trouble!) we then said we don’t feel ok paying the outstanding bill for the bar tab (not because of the money obviously) but because we felt the hotel should be accountable for a member of staff they had by the way only JUST hired! They said 30% off which we don’t think was good enough and we will definitely not be returning!
We stayed in a two bedroom suite with sky light windows that opened, therefore no issues without AC but no view and no screens so had to close it more to avoid the pigeons getting in. That said, the room was large, bed comfortable, large bathroom, no noise, lots of room for luggage. Bathroom did not have enough room for both toiletries bags. Great shower. Classic lounge. Would highly recommend.
Beautiful hotel and location.
Here is the best way to do it:
We stayed in room 20, which had the most comfortable bed ever, a bath and separate shower and a mini fridge so we were able to keep our drinks cold. It also had a balcony lake view.
Book through wowcher = cheaper rates. Request room 20 over the phone.
Spa- before 9am and after 5pm are quieter, meaning you can enjoy to it's full potential.
No hot tub but that doesn't bother us anyway.
Parking- park on Glebe road, pay for 8 hours (£8.80) - move the car to the council bays at 6-7pm (free overnight parking until 9am) you then have 2 hours to return to your car (11am) perfect for checkout time. Total cost 8.80 instead of 25 pounds. Its a 5 minute walk to the hotel from these spaces.
I have no idea why people are complaining so much.
The only (very small let down) was the cooked breakfast was a little underdone for my liking, but the continental breakfast was nice.
10/10 would stay again and book room 20!
Awful staff, filthy rooms, rude behaviour by those serving and not a good experience. Really recommend to book elsewhere.
The hotel is tired and needs a big renovation the rooms for the price are very expensive and not worth it.
The rooms are very basic
Location
The staff
Had a spa day yesterday first of all the receptionist is quite abrupt and rude. As the treatment I had a manicure my nails were awful I could certainly do better myself. Afternoon tea was mediocre certainly not worth the price
Breakfast was excellent, good meal and very good staff.
Location, excellent, with some excellent and relaxing sitting areas.
Staff were very good, thank you. Bedroom very small and cramped with a dull view of a neighbouring building. Disappointing.
A better room, with a bit more space and, at least, a modest view of the lake.
Otherwise, a good experience.
A particular thanks to excellent staff, very young, but knowledgeable and always willng to help.
We stayed at the Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa in February and unfortunately experienced several issues, including baby arrangements that had been confirmed but weren’t provided, being allocated a room with multiple flights of stairs despite travelling with a baby, and unprofessional behaviour from reception staff.
To their credit, the hotel investigated our complaint, apologised and offered a complimentary return stay as a gesture of goodwill. I accepted the offer and simply emailed to arrange a date.
That was on 19th March.
After receiving no reply, I followed up on 26th March, then escalated the matter in April, copying in Customer Services. Apart from an automated acknowledgement, I have never received another response.
Ironically, the way the complaint has been handled has left a far worse impression than the original stay. Everyone can make mistakes, and I was prepared to give the hotel another chance. However, ignoring a customer for months after offering a resolution demonstrates a complete lack of customer care.
At this stage, I no longer wish to take up the complimentary stay. The principle stopped being about a free night a long time ago. It’s about a company making a commitment to resolve a complaint and then failing to communicate at all.
We had enjoyed a previous stay here and that’s why we returned. Sadly, the way this has been handled means we won’t be returning again, and I couldn’t recommend the hotel based on the level of aftercare we’ve experienced.
Property is old but still a nice location.
The flexibility of the staff could have been better. My mother was staying alone in a double room for two people, with breakfast included. They refused to allow two of us to join her for breakfast, even though we would obviously have paid for the additional people. This was disappointing, so we ended up going somewhere else for breakfast despite having already paid for breakfast for two with the room. It was a small request, but the response was poor. Also, £10.50 for a small white wine officially makes it the most expensive drinks in bowness! Madness for an average hotel.
The hotel enjoys a superb location, especially convenient for shopping, and the views are truly lovely. The team are warm, friendly, and a pleasure to interact with.
Breakfast was satisfactory, though several items required an additional supplement, which felt unexpected. Throughout our four‑day stay, my party and I were never asked about allergies or dietary requirements, despite requesting non‑dairy milk each morning. At check‑in, we were advised that the spa would remain open until 8pm on weekdays and close earlier on weekends; however, we were not informed that Fridays were treated as part of the weekend, which unfortunately meant we missed the opportunity to use the facilities. It is a good hotel overall, though at present the experience aligns more closely with a 3 out of 5. A more proactive approach to dietary awareness, clearer communication around facility hours, and greater transparency regarding breakfast supplements would significantly enhance guest confidence and comfort, and addressing these areas could meaningfully elevate the overall guest experience and strengthen the hotel’s reputation for attentive service.
It is very close to lake Windemere and fantastic view over the lake, but there is no off loading space, and the hotel carpark is a distance away, so it was difficult to retrieve anything forgotten to be off loaded.
The rooms are spacious, but there was no air condition during the hot weather, difficult to sleep in the night.
The signage is not very clear, there were a lot of corridors and turning with no clear signage. It was not very clear where what is.
There was no trolley for luggage nor any concierge to help taking the luggages into the room! And the lifts were not large enough for stroller and luggages at the same time.
Breakfast was good, front office staff very helpful
The Spar experience was very poor. 2 days in a row no steam in the steam room, 2 different excuses
1- Its on a timer
2- It does not produce steam due to the heat coming out (stupidest answer i have ever heard)
Location- ideal for using ferries- easy walking distance to pubs and restsurants
Good breakfasts-lounge with big windows overlooking Lake Windermere
High prices at the bar
I had a wonderful birthday weekend at the hotel. Staff from reception to dinning room and bar were fabulous so friendly and helpful. Our room suite 122 was beautiful views of the lake very nicely furnished. The hotel is old but charming and Bowness has a great atmosphere with plenty to do.
Location and I stayed here previous on many occasions
4pm check in, too late for a hotel of this calibre. We went to a wedding and then had to come back mid wedding to check in. Never experienced this before. How can you enjoy facilities in this short space of time?
At a budget hotel I would expect this; not an iconic hotel in the heart of Bowness.
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