Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa

Hotels
•
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
7.6 (2940 reviews)
23 Church St , Bowness-on-Windermere , GB
+44 344 879 9144

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Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
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.
A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Location

Guest Reviews

7.6
Based on 2940 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
Y
Yuchen • couple • gb
10
Brilliant luxury hotel with Victorian heritage
Pros:

Brilliant luxury hotel with Victorian heritage: lounge hall, library, lake-side brasserie… we are very happy about our stay.

2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
K
Karen • couple • gb
7
Nice hotel but expensive
Pros:

Excellent location

Cons:

No atmosphere

2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
M
Maha • couple • sa
10
جميلة جداً👌🏼
Pros:

ساحر 🫰🏼

Cons:

الأثاث قديم

2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
W
William • couple • gb
6
A pleasant stay in a hotel in a good location. Some attention needed in a few areas but generally OK
Pros:

Staff and location were excellent. Food very good. Didn't use the spa facilities so cant comment

Cons:

Hotel looked a little "tired" and in need of some attention. We stayed on the top floor, windows were very dirty on the outside. Gutter next to our window had at least one foot of grass growing out of it. One of the large windows in the Dining room had a large unsightly crack in it.

2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
C
Carl • couple • gb
8
Very enjoyable in a fabulous location
Pros:

Old hotel charm

Cons:

Car Parking cost

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
K
kerry • solo_traveller • gb
10
Grand, elegant hotel with a beautiful location
Pros:

Excellent location and beautiful grand hotel

Cons:

Conditioner should be provided in the room, there was only shampoo and body wash

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
J
John • couple • gb
7
Lovely old building right on the shore of Windermere. Staff weren’t overly welcoming and their prices were excessive
Pros:

The location is second to none right on the shore of Windermere. The gym and Spa were great

Cons:

The shower was weak and one radiator was turned off with the other broken. This meant the room was cold

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-10-15 • via Nuitee
R
Rashed • couple • ae
10
2026-10-14 • via Nuitee
B
Baines • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

The location was excellent. Our room was clean and comfortable. Our room was opposite lake Windermere the view was stunning

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
K
kurosh • couple • gb
8
Good
Pros:

The room we were given eventually was excellent after clarifying the fact that we had asked for it and paid for it,

Cons:

They need to ensure the advertised room is the room given to visitors and avoid filling their empty rooms while disregarding customers' reservations. This may be a misunderstanding between the hotel and Booking.com about how rooms are presented and booked, but it must be looked into and sorted out.
The hotel also needs to clean the rooms thoroughly by vacuuming the curtains and the material dressings above the beds and curtains to iliminate unwanted guests in the rooms as was discused with the management at the time when we left the hotel .

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
W
Watton • solo_traveller • gb
2
Never ever ag
Pros:

Very comfortable bed

Cons:

Very noisy at 6 am due to bin lorry at the back of hotel Also rowdy drunks at 1am

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
Z
Zhuan • couple • ch
9
Good place for a short holiday
Pros:

Breakfast is excellent. Stuff is very cheerful every morning. Bed is comfortable and room is clean. Location of the the hotel is excellent. Easy walking around the town by the lake.

Cons:

Parking is not easy at the beginning when we just arrived. Wardrobe in the room is too small.

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
R
Roberto Jr • extended_group • gb
9
2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
H
Helen • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

Loved the location

2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
B
Boldino • couple • gb
10
had a great stay in a great location
Pros:

room excellent
location great

2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
T
Trevor • couple • gb
1
2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
M
Mohammed • family_with_children • sa
10
2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
A
Andrew • couple • gb
10
2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
D
David • couple • im
5
Very disappointing & we will not be returning
Pros:

Checked in early & room superb, ground floor, 2 easy chairs. Super bathroom with bath & separate shower.

Cons:

First 2 mornings at breakfast was a shambles. Buffet style but table with choices not clean, lots of dropped food (scrambled egg/ beans/tomato). I asked for poached eggs but told not available! One tray with one choice of ham & one choice of cheese!
Not enough waiting staff.

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee