Macdonald Leeming House

Hotels
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
7.9 (1134 reviews)
Watermillock , Watermillock , gb

Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent food
Friendly staff
Beautiful location
Cons:
Overpriced food and drinks
Plumbing issues

Categories

Cleanliness
7.5
Mention of minor issues with cleanliness or room upkeep.
Service
8.15
Very friendly and warm staff; helpful desk manager.
Location
8.51
Beautiful location, proximity to great walks and activities.
Room Quality
7.86
Rooms are slightly old fashioned but comfortable.
Amenities
7.69
Limited amenities mentioned; plumbing needs updating.
Value for Money
7.15
Somewhat overpriced drinks and food.
Food and Beverage
8.4
Excellent quality food and good range for breakfast.
Overall Experience
7.97
General satisfaction with the stay, enthusiastic about returning.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-20 12:53

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

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • 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.
    People no matter the age 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.

  • 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.

Location

Guest Reviews

7.9
Based on 1134 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.5
Service: 8.15
Location: 8.51
Room Quality: 7.86
Amenities: 7.69
Value for Money: 7.15
Food and Beverage: 8.4
Overall Experience: 7.97
D
Dieter couple de
8
2026-05-23 via Nuitee
N
Nic couple gb
9
2026-05-23 via Nuitee
P
Pam couple gb
10
The reception to the waiter staff were exceptional
Pros:

The staff and location were outstanding.

Cons:

The bedrooms and bathrooms needed a deeper cleaning

2026-05-22 via Nuitee
I
IXXPHARMA solo_traveller be
8
2026-05-21 via Nuitee
R
Robert solo_traveller gb
9
Comfortable with good staff, good facilities and good food
Pros:

Very comfortable

Cons:

A lift would have been a help

2026-05-21 via Nuitee
T
Terence couple gb
4
Great location, mediocre hotel.
Pros:

The setting was lovely and the Victorian architecture was very pleasant. The staff were, generally, very good if a little quirky.

Cons:

The place is verging on the edge of mediocrity with a freshening up badly needed. Paint was peeling or worn. The food was very poor on occasion, with beef, lamb and chicken dishes being tasteless despite the availability of good local produce. The wine was of fairly poor quality and hugely overpriced. The owners need to make a big effort to match the quality of the establishment to the price level.

2026-05-20 via Nuitee
R
Roger couple gb
4
Dissapointed I was expecting a better dining experience. 3 star would be more appropriate.
Pros:

Property is nicely situated and staff were generally helpful

Cons:

Driveway entrance difficult to see oncoming vehicles due to badly placed signage.
Dinner menu was the same for 2 consecutive nights.
Dinner was overpriced £19.50 supplement for a steak leads one to assume standard food costs are vastly overpriced
Bathroom plumbing outdated
Never managed to connect my Iphone to the guest wifi.

2026-05-17 via Nuitee
S
S H 123 solo_traveller gb
5
Disappointing
Pros:

The staff were great as was the location and views

Cons:

Unfortunately this hotel is in urgent need of care and attention to justify its prices , it is really sad to see such a historical building is such bad repair. Rooms unused due to broken balconies, peeling paint and unsafe steps within the grounds were a shock to see.
Breakfast was lovely but surcharges of £6 for some items on top of an already hefty £26 were simply just greedy , as was £4 extra for a latte.
For the same price ( and less) you can get equally stunning views within the area but with the comfort of modern interior and an upkept hotel.

2026-05-17 via Nuitee
J
Janis couple gb
10
2026-05-10 via Nuitee
B
Banns couple gb
8
Beautiful location and spacious rooms. The food was very good and the staff were lovely.
Pros:

The extensive gardens and secluded sitting areas within the gardens. The direct access to the lake is an added bonus.

Cons:

Although the room was lovely, in terms of size and views, it had a musky 'dog' smell and the chairs were stained. Furniture wasn't as clean as I would have expected.

2026-05-08 via Nuitee
B
Bill couple gb
10
Lake District Heaven
Pros:

A beautiful property to celebrate our engagement - the staff went above and beyond to make it a stay to remember! Would definitely reccomend adding half board and enquiring about celebration packages!

Cons:

Slightly dated in places and in need of a lick of paint… more than made up for by the incredible views!

2026-05-05 via Nuitee
R
Raphael couple gb
2
Overpriced and showing its age.
Pros:

The location was great, but like all Lake District locations they are great

Cons:

Building maintenance isn’t up-to-date and or done cheaply. The ceiling of my balcony had crumbling Concrete bathroom sealant look like it had been done by a two-year-old. The whole place needs to be refreshed with skilled tradesmen.

2026-05-03 via Nuitee
I
IXXPHARMA solo_traveller be
8
2026-05-01 via Nuitee
J
Jeffrey solo_traveller gb
6
The view saved it
Pros:

Position

Cons:

Looks a bit tired

2026-05-01 via Nuitee
J
John extended_group gb
8
Pleasant
Pros:

Lovely traditional hotel

Cons:

It really could do with a bit of a makeover, looks a little tired. It wouldn’t take much. It’s a lovely old building but definitely needs a bit of TLC.

2026-04-30 via Nuitee
R
Robert solo_traveller gb
10
2026-04-30 via Nuitee
S
Scott couple gb
3
2026-04-28 via Nuitee
S
Saket family_with_children gb
7
Average
Pros:

Location is why even people will consider to stay rest all is just average

Cons:

Old furniture in bad shape. Reception staff. I continued to ask change my room as I was not liking it and I said do 4 days paying 1600 pound which is a lot of money with no one to concider my request.

2026-04-25 via Nuitee
H
HONG couple gb
8
stylish room and friendly staff
2026-04-25 via Nuitee
D
david solo_traveller gb
9
2026-04-25 via Nuitee