Macdonald Leeming House

Hotels
•
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
7.9 (1384 reviews)
Watermillock , Watermillock , gb

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Business center
Heating
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Stunning location and lake views
Attentive and friendly staff
Beautiful grounds and walks
Dog-friendly
Pleasant lounge/meeting areas
Cons:
Dated rooms and interior — needs refurbishment
Breakfast limited and extra charges/supplements
Some cleanliness issues (mould, stained grout, dog muck)
Bar/restaurant perceived as pricey; variable food quality
Maintenance concerns (unsafe/tired garden stairs, noisy extractor fan)

Categories

Cleanliness
7
Mixed reports — several guests praised cleanliness, but specific issues were mentioned (mould in a bathroom, stained grout, dog muck in grounds), so overall slightly above average.
Service
10
Consistently praised — staff described as fantastic, attentive, polite and trying hard; reception staff noted positively and special touches (anniversary card) reported.
Location
10
Outstanding — repeatedly described as superb, magical, stunning lake views and beautiful grounds; location is the strongest positive in the reviews.
Room Quality
6.5
Below-par in places — several mentions of dated rooms, worn furniture, mould in bathroom, noisy extractor fan and tired interiors; some rooms had great views but fabric condition is lacking.
Amenities
7.9
Generally good — lovely grounds, lounge and lake access, dog-friendly facilities and pleasant outside areas; some safety/maintenance issues noted (garden stairs) but amenities add clear value.
Value for Money
6.8
Questionable — guests complained about extra charges (breakfast supplements, pricey bar/restaurant) and limited included options, reducing perceived value despite fair base rates.
Food and Beverage
7
Mixed to disappointing for some — several reports of poor breakfast (limited continental, supplements), weak tea/undrinkable coffee and variable dinner quality, though some diners enjoyed specific meals.
Overall Experience
8
Generally positive but mixed — exceptional location and excellent staff elevated stays, though dated rooms, some cleanliness and food/value issues left a number of guests feeling disappointed.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-07 20:34

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation
Experience the charm of a Regency house at Macdonald Leeming House overlooking Ullswater. Each en-suite bedroom is elegantly decorated and equipped with modern amenities, some boasting balconies with stunning lake views.

Dining Excellence
Indulge in award-winning cuisine at the Regency Restaurant, offering a taste of modern British dishes. For a more relaxed dining experience, enjoy the conservatory and terrace with picturesque views of the Cumbrian Fells.

Unmatched Facilities
With 22 acres of grounds, guests can enjoy activities like croquet and private fishing. Relax indoors in the drawing room or by the log fires in the sitting room. Don't forget about the private helipad for convenient access.

Book now to discover the perfect blend of luxury and nature at Macdonald Leeming House!

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 contact the property in advance before booking a dog-friendly room.

Please note that certain rooms in the room category you have booked do not have views.

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

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

The dinner and bed and breakfast rate includes a GBP 65 allowance toward food per person per night for the dinner
A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Location

Guest Reviews

7.9
Based on 1384 reviews
Cleanliness: 7
Service: 10
Location: 10
Room Quality: 6.5
Amenities: 7.9
Value for Money: 6.8
Food and Beverage: 7
Overall Experience: 8
L
Lindsey • family_with_children • gb
6
Pros:

location, staff and food were great.

Cons:

very tired property

2026-08-12 • via Nuitee
L
Liam • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Lovely hotel and grounds. Staff are great with dogs.

2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
H
Helen • couple • gb
7
A very pleasant and comfortable stay, staff very friendly, just feel it was a lot of money for what
Cons:

The Hotel is very expensive for what it is, needs some refurbishment. Also room wasn’t made up very well, very bad bed making!

2026-08-09 • via Nuitee
N
Nico • couple • za
9
2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
J
john • couple • gb
10
Quintessentially old school charm
Pros:

Great location and staff.

Cons:

Rooms were clean but some cobwebs but hey ho it’s suits the period location

2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
B
Bridget • solo_traveller • gb
9
Leeming House is a wonderful hotel, set in beautiful gardens in a most delightful position on the shores of Lake Ullswat
Pros:

I first visited the property many, many years ago and I was certainly not disappointed to enjoy seeing it again. The location is stunning, the original house has many delightful period features and the two wings provide beautiful spacious and comfortable rooms, some with charming balconies. The staff were all extremely pleasant and the food was utterly delicious. Dogs are extremely welcome and it was lovely to see them enjoying the wonderful gardens and the terrace.

Cons:

The only element I wasn’t too keen on was the static shower above the bath in the otherwise very excellent and spacious bathroom.

On another note entirely, I would dearly love to help choose a new colour scheme for the central hall and main public rooms. I think the period features would benefit from a more sympathetic palette, available from some of the really good paint ranges available today.

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
R
Richard William • couple • gb
6
Average!
Pros:

Restaurant quality was excellent

Cons:

Run down, definitely needs a makeover. Dirt and debris around the windows and doors and many areas like guttering where the paintwork was peeling off. Hair over the carpet and toilet floors.

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • couple • gb
9
Stunning location
Pros:

Stunning location and grounds on edge of Ullswater

2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
B
Barry • couple • gb
9
2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
K
Kevin • couple • gb
4
The brand name didn't live up to its reputation. A sad hotel and
Pros:

Far location. Spot on.

Cons:

A very tired hotel, physically which flows through to the (lack of) atmosphere. No energy or enthuse from the staff.

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
D
Diana • solo_traveller • gb
7
2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
D
Daniel • couple • gb
8
A superb and magical location. No frills just total nature.
Pros:

The best thing about the property is its location. In insanely beautiful spot and I will cherish the memories. Incredible grounds and some mystical and even spiritual touches. I could be here forever.

Cons:

It needs a refurb especially in the interiors. I did not judge my stay on the building as it is just a wonderful place to be.

2026-07-24 • via Nuitee
M
May • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

Lovely site and reception staff

Cons:

Extra charges for different coffee and breakfast. Everything was focused on money. Also room was so very dated .

2026-07-23 • via Nuitee
D
Domenica • solo_traveller • gb
8
nice hotel but breakfast was worth missing as very poor value
Pros:

excellent location. lovely firm bed. very clean. beautiful grounds. dog welcome.

Cons:

breakfast was included in the charge i chose but the continental was very slim pickings and the included choices were a full english or porridge. avocado, eggs royale, scrambled egg etc were all with a £6 supplement. pretty much 'had' to pay an extra £6. i wish i had seen the breakfast option to realise that when i paid an additional £20 foe breakfast, the choice was so limited i would have rather ate elsewhere... or came down and had just eggs hollandase for £6 and save the difference.
some bits of the hotel were a little tired but it is an old building and the basic rate is fair.

2026-07-22 • via Nuitee
I
Ilona • couple • gb
10
2026-07-22 • via Nuitee
M
Mark • couple • gb
9
2026-07-22 • via Nuitee
A
Alastair • couple • gb
9
Lovely location and smart hotel
Pros:

Location and comfort

Cons:

Bar and restaurant a bit pricey for standard

2026-07-20 • via Nuitee
J
Junpeng • couple • gb
9
2026-07-20 • via Nuitee
A
Ahmadreza • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

View and quietness

Cons:

Dinner.
Need some refurbishment, especially stairs in the garden, as they were not safe and my partner almost fell on her face.

2026-07-20 • via Nuitee
C
Cheery Macleary • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-07-20 • via Nuitee