Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa

The location is first rate, with wonderful views over the Lake. We had a very comfortable bed in a spacious, cosy room, and enjoyed good breakfasts, an excellent dinner and very good afternoon tea. There’s also a pool and sauna. The staff in the dining room and lounge worked hard and were excellent. Some public rooms felt chilly in winter, and on holiday weekends the hotel could feel stretched. Parking isn’t cheap. The tea bags, towels and coffee could be better in quality or choice. Still, we had an excellent visit and were impressed by the staff.

We hadn't planned this stay, but it turned out really well. The standard king room was compact, with a beautiful view of Lake Windermere, and the bed and pillows were so comfortable that we slept very well. Check-in was quick and easy, and the staff member was helpful. The night concierge also kindly got us a drink. Breakfast was included in the price option we booked and was good, with locally sourced produce and a nice selection of cereals and pastries. The staff were professional, polite and efficient. We didn't use the spa, but there’s also a lovely bar and coffee lounge open through the day. The location is ideal for the centre, right beside the boat tour point. Parking is off site and costs £25 overnight.

We left the spa that morning feeling completely relaxed and refreshed, thanks to the wonderful staff on shift. We visited on the morning of Tuesday 12th May, and from the start every person we met made us feel welcome and looked after. They were warm, accommodating and professional, with so much care and attention. Nothing felt like too much trouble. The atmosphere and attentiveness made the whole experience outstanding, and the customer service was some of the best I’ve had anywhere. Thank you all so much for making our day feel perfect. You should be incredibly proud of yourselves, and we’ll definitely return!

We stayed for 2 nights (27/05/26 & 28/05/26) and upgraded to a balcony room. The balcony had cobwebs on the chairs and was dirty. Staff cleaned it after we asked, but the attention to detail still felt lacking. The heatwave made the room very warm, though I understand it’s an old hotel and it has no air conditioning. The restaurant windowsills were dirty, with dead flies. We also saw a female staff member set a table and put cutlery directly on the seat. Breakfast was okay and the staff tried hard. In the bar, nobody was on duty for stretches of the late afternoon, so people queued. The location is great, and staff were polite and helpful. It’s an old hotel that needs some reinvestment to bring it up to standard.