Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa

Hotels
•
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
7.6 (2758 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)
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
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 2758 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
C
Caron • family_with_children • gb
9
Fabulous
Pros:

Fabulous room

Cons:

Nothing

2026-05-23 • via Nuitee
F
Fisher • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-05-23 • via Nuitee
G
Glenda • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-05-22 • via Nuitee
D
Debra • family_with_children • gb
6
Ok stay but music in bar let down as we had two children with us 15 and 13 an bar was very quiet with no music
Pros:

Location and soa

Cons:

No music in bar of a night sat in silence
No yea coffee or refreshment on spa balcony

2026-05-22 • via Nuitee
S
Suzanne • extended_group • gb
7
2026-05-22 • via Nuitee
P
Paula • solo_traveller • gb
10
Lovely Hotel in Great Location
Pros:

Lovely hotel on Windermere, friendly staff and great location. Food was excellent. Second time of staying here and just as good as the first.

Cons:

N/A - everything was perfect

2026-05-19 • via Nuitee
D
Dudley • couple • gb
6
Sorry but will not be returning as Bowness tourism is out of control.
Cons:

Old and tired. Car parking charge a complete rip off and drinks far too expensive.

2026-05-19 • via Nuitee
J
Janet • solo_traveller • gb
8
Lovely hotel & stay
Pros:

The location and the views of the lake were superb.

Cons:

There wasn’t anything you could dislike.

2026-05-14 • via Nuitee
C
Christine • couple • gb
10
Pros:

Large comfortable room
Good food

2026-05-13 • via Nuitee
A
Angelo • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Amazing decorations, perfect location good staff.

2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
S
Samantha • extended_group • gb
5
Pros:

The location was great and the rooms were good bed comfy

Cons:

There was only a swimming pool. No jacuzzi yet advertising being a spa

2026-05-10 • via Nuitee
R
Ruslan • family_with_children • gb
7
Too expensive for this level of hotel
Pros:

Definitely a very nice hotel with a great location by the lake. The room was relatively clean, although it clearly doesn’t feel like a 4-star hotel compared to hotels outside the UK. The breakfasts were decent and tasty, and they even offer a gluten-free menu.
There is also a spa and a swimming pool, which is another plus. You can also book different massage treatments.

Cons:

Absolute chaos with the swimming pool schedule. When booking, you receive one timetable, but when visiting the pool, the administrator does not allow children in because he has a different schedule. Then the reception provides yet another timetable at check-in. Because of this, your plans for travelling around the lake get disrupted, and you end up having to wait until 10:30.

2026-05-08 • via Nuitee
R
Ross • couple • gb
8
2026-05-07 • via Nuitee
Y
YU • couple • jp
5
2026-05-07 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • couple • gb
10
Amazing
Pros:

Yes

Cons:

Nothing

2026-05-07 • via Nuitee
Y
YU • solo_traveller • jp
5
立地でこれだけ高いのか…。
Pros:

立地

Cons:

冷蔵庫が無い。ドアマン、コンシェルジュはいない。

2026-05-07 • via Nuitee
T
Tim • couple • gb
8
Lovely location. Overlooking the mere.
Pros:

Very good

Cons:

The mattress was a bit soft.

2026-05-06 • via Nuitee
C
Caron • family_with_children • gb
10
luxury, wonderful and relaxing we will be back
Pros:

The room was wonderful, View amazing and chocolates and red wine a nice touch could not fault our stay one bit. Family with us also enjoyed the stay very much

Cons:

no

2026-05-05 • via Nuitee
J
Jenny • couple • gb
10
2026-05-05 • via Nuitee
H
Happsy224 • couple • gb
9
Breakfast was lovely, staff excellent. Location perfect
Pros:

Breakfast was lovely, staff excellent. Location perfect

Cons:

Paying £25 per night for car park that is open enough for public wasn’t overly secure

2026-05-04 • via Nuitee