Macdonald Leeming House

Hotels
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
7.9 (1167 reviews)
Watermillock , Watermillock , gb

Free
Children allowed
Pets 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:
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
A deposit may be required at the property.

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 1167 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
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
M
Mark couple gb
9
2026-07-22 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
C
Cheery Macleary solo_traveller gb
10
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
J
Junpeng couple gb
9
2026-07-20 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
D
David couple gb
9
Pros:

Breakfast was great and we really liked the lounge menu for the evening meal. The view from the room was amazing and the walk down to the lake itself was beautiful.

2026-07-19 via Nuitee
S
stewart couple gb
7
2026-07-19 via Nuitee
W
walker solo_traveller gb
10
2026-07-19 via Nuitee
R
Rachael solo_traveller gb
1
Such a shame
Pros:

Location was excellent beautiful view of the lake.
Staff were really nice and trying really hard. Staff were probably the best part of our stay. It was our anniversary and they had even left us a nice card.
Room had a great view.

Cons:

The venue is beautiful but very dated.
We paid for a room upgrade but apart from the view (which was admittedly beautiful) I'm unsure what the upgrade paid for the room was really dated the furniture was worn and the armrests of the chair were thread bare.
The room had mould in the bathroom and the floor tiles were stained the grout was brown in the centre and white at the edges.
There was an extractor fan that went on all night and we couldn't turn off.
The venue accepts dogs which is great apart from there being dog muck in the grounds when we went for a walk.
I was woken at 5 by dogs barking and growling at each other.
The adjoining room wasn't sound proof so we could hear our neighbours romantic weekend away.
The food was of a really poor standard the tea was week the coffee undrinkable, the breakfast was really poor. The vegan breakfast was one sausage a burnt mushroom half a poached tomato and dry vegan haggis which I couldn't eat.
Such a shame as you could tell with the right investment it could be a beautiful place I actually felt really disappointed we had spent so much on our anniversary weekend away.

2026-07-19 via Nuitee
T
Theron Williams couple pt
10
Beautiful setting for this hotel.
Pros:

Location was great for meeting up with family. Loved the views from the outside areas. Our curry was very good. Staff were attentive and polite. Weather was fantastic. Breakfast was varied and ample for our needs. Plenty of tea/ coffee.

Cons:

It was all good. Next time we shall try for a garden view.

2026-07-19 via Nuitee
B
Brian couple gb
8
2026-07-17 via Nuitee
L
Lily family_with_children gb
10
Fantastic staff, stunning location
Pros:

The staff were fantastic, and the location was absolutely breathtaking

2026-07-17 via Nuitee
J
Jonathan couple gb
9
Good
Pros:

Lovely quiet location. Good choice for breakfast. Lovely view from room. Good menu. Pleasant service.

Cons:

Can't think of anything we didn't like !!

2026-07-16 via Nuitee
P
Peter solo_traveller gb
10
We only stayed one night, dinner was exceptional, good night’s sleep. Nutritious breakfast before our journey home
Pros:

Location, atmosphere, decor fabulous room

Cons:

Nothing to dislike

2026-07-16 via Nuitee
B
Beate couple de
8
Pros:

Eine ganz außergewöhnliche Lage

Cons:

Das Haus ist schon etwas in die Jahre gekommen und das Frühstück hätte besser sein können

2026-07-16 via Nuitee