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Reviews of Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa 4 stars

23 Church St, Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 3DF, United Kingdom

#16 of 16 hotels in Bowness-on-Windermere

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 2486 hotel reviews

7.7

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    8.4

  • Comfort

    8.5

  • Location

    9.5

  • Facilities

    7.9

  • Staff

    8.5

  • Value for money

    6.7

  • Free WiFi

    7.5

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Showing 76 – 100

  • Reviewed: 18 February 2024

    8.0
    Lovely family stay rooms were spacious clean and well presented and family had a fab time in the pool!
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Deluxe Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    nothing but pol was very cold and bad needed music

    size of rooms, facilities and hotel felt renovated not at all tired

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 17 February 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Balcony Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Getting tired and a bit shabby round the edges. Not cheap - you expect attention to detail for a premium price - living off the location

    Great location

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 17 February 2024

    7.0
    Beautiful views but better service needed
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Super Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    One thing that was very disappointing was the breakfast service. On our second night we went for breakfast at 9:25 and didn’t get asked our order until 10am. We waited until 10:40 and no food had arrived. The staff were going round asking people what they had ordered again, I think there had been a mix up. Many people just left including us as we had a boat trip booking at 11 and couldn’t wait any longer. I would love to receive our money back for this breakfast.

    The property was in a perfect location. Right by the lake. Had fish and chips one day for lunch at the hotel and it was amazing, highly recommend! Loads of restaurants around if you don’t want to eat at hotel. We stayed in the superior king room which was gorgeous! We had a huge window overlooking the lake. The bed was very comfortable and the room was spacious. Overall a very relaxing stay.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 13 February 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Business trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    all ok spa really nice

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 10 February 2024

    9.0
    very enjoyable
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    More staff at breakfast Coffee and toast appeared at the end. Too late for the toast

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 7 February 2024

    8.0
    Been before, would like to come again.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Deluxe Twin Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Room size disappointing for grade of room. Grade of room looked better on website.

    Location, staff, food, pool, lounge bar room.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 7 February 2024

    7.0
    Good location
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    To be honest I think i got the worth room in the hotel, it was the last room at the corridor, and it was really small and even it is not a regular shape, it is a trapezoidal room. I don’t know why the reception gave me this room and I believe on Monday there should be a lot of free rooms. I doubt that because we are Asian so it gave us the bad room.

    The location is quite good, close to the pier and bus station.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 5 February 2024

    7.0
    Lovely anniversary stay.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Some areas were looking a little tired, breakfast buffet selection was limited.

    Location, location, location.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 4 February 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Car park fees very expensive

    Since we’ve coming to the McDonald the car has double in price !! I realise there’s an up keep but £20 pound a night is expensive.. we have stayed at another hotel in Bowness and there car park is free the charge sometimes stops us from staying at your hotel …

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 1 February 2024

    8.0
    Good hotel. Needs more staff for better service and to reflect price paid
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Staff working hard but not enough of them to cover guests particularly around breakfast and restaurant area. Didnt pick up my requests fir quiet room - room was above gym/spar in turned out and they noise guests next door!

    Expensive hotel. Great location. Staff working hard but not enough of them to cover guests particularly around breakfast and restaurant area

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 29 January 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Standard Twin Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room needs updating, and the bathroom was a bit tatty

    Local was fantastic, staff very good, bed comfortable.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 29 January 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Twin Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    A little expensive

    Friendly staff Clean Great location Good food

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 28 January 2024

    7.0
    I would think carefully regarding room choice and upgrades on offer other than that I enjoyed my stay just feel let down
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room wasn’t cleaned properly found toe nails in the bathroom and considering it cost me over £100 to upgrade the room I was very let down by that I just didn’t see the value for my money

    Location was perfect

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 22 January 2024

    9.0
    Very comfortable rooms and lovely staff.
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Super Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Checking in was a bit slow

    Great location. Comfortable beds. Lovely Staff.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 18 January 2024

    8.0
    A little disappointed in the hotel when you consider the room costs when compared to other providers.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Super Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The so called luxury toiletries consisted of one container of hair and body wash and a small bar of soap, not luxury by any standards.

    Location and lake view. The leisure pool and facilities were very good.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 17 January 2024

    7.0
    We did stay NYE and NYD they didn’t seem well staffed to support people being away, the hotel is a little tired looking
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Super Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    We had no hot water in the shower for the two days we stayed, we did report it too not great for cold / rainy mornings

    Great location

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 16 January 2024

    8.0
    Great central location, all local amenities within walking distance. Good size rooms (superior room booked). Clean com
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Pool was too cold. Bar service was a bit hit and miss. Car park isn’t directly attached to hotel but honestly that wasn’t an issue for us, it was about 2 min walk.

    Great location!! Comfy beds. Rooms good size (we had superior). Nice bar. Spa was nice/treatments good, pool was too cold for us. Good comfy traditional hotel.

    Stayed in December 2023

  • Reviewed: 14 January 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Had to wait over 15 mins to get seated for breakfast. I had a spa treatmeant booked at 12.30 which was the only one available but had to check out of my room at 11am so could not change and refresh

    Well located, excellent breakfast

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 14 January 2024

    9.0
    Superb
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Very clean. Facilities excellent.quality food Staff were polite friendly and helpful. Lovely views at breakfast.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 6 January 2024

    8.0
    Okay
    • Business trip
    • Couple
    • Super Deluxe King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room pictured which I paid extra for was not the room I got, having stayed here on previous occasions, I thought I would pay double the standard room rate for a nicer room, when I questioned this on arrival I was told this was a suite at an extra cost of £120. They shouldn’t use the picture of the suite on the booking as it is, in my opinion, deliberately misleading.

    Location on the side of the lake with lovely views, breakfast was excellent.

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 30 December 2023

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard Twin Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Breakfast, in general, was mostly good but very busy one morning and many complications accurred.

    Good really

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: 30 December 2023

    7.0
    Overall enjoyable and good teip
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Breakfast was poor and small portions

    Good location....good staff...clean room

    Stayed in December 2023

  • Reviewed: 30 December 2023

    9.0
    Cosy and warm.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Standard Family Room 3
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    They didn’t clear the car park of snow not clear the path in front of the entrance to the hotel. It was an ice rink.

    The breakfast was brilliant. Good options to suit every taste

    Stayed in December 2023

  • Reviewed: 18 December 2023

    7.0
    Fabulous Location and amazing food made up for disappointing suite standard
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Deluxe Balcony Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Really awful pillows and tired decor

    It’s a beautiful hotel in a stunning location but some of the areas such as the dining room and our very expensive suite could do with a refurb due to looking very tired and dated.

    Stayed in December 2023

  • Reviewed: 17 December 2023

    8.0
    Excellent location
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Standard Double Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    No on site parking although the car park is only a short distance

    Location is excellent

    Stayed in December 2023

Showing 76 – 100

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