Macdonald Leeming House

Matt at the bar was a real highlight, warm and attentive, and his recommendations made a difference. The Polish staff were friendly and welcoming too, and dinner was excellent, with a professional, engaging restaurant team. The rooms were comfortable and a good size. The lakefront location is beautiful, and the views look just like the photos, though parts of the hotel feel a bit tired and could use some basic sprucing up to match the setting and price. The welcome at reception with Steven was disappointing. It felt lacklustre and unwelcoming, with little direction or sense that we were being welcomed. When I asked politely for food or restaurant suggestions, he just said, “I’m not a foodie.” I feel reception staff have a basic duty of care to offer some guidance or alternatives. In my honest opinion, that set a poor tone from the start. I’ve read similar reviews and our experience echoed many of those themes. Even so, the food, bar service, location, and most of the staff made the stay enjoyable. I’d return, but hope the front desk welcome improves.

Matt made excellent cocktails, taking real care with the quality of each drink, and he was lovely to chat with. We spent much of the evening in the bar with him serving us. The restaurant manager and I also had a nice conversation about our shared interest in cats. Everyone was friendly and helpful, and the food was amazing. The rooms were gorgeous, and the setting was beautiful. My wife and I stayed one night on our road trip for our 20th anniversary. It was the final stop, and we definitely saved the best for last. We’ll be back, though next time we’ll stay longer than one night.

The whole day ran smoothly and everything was so well organised that we could relax and enjoy it. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. We also loved how intimate the setting felt: it was personal, and neither we nor the other guests ever seemed in each other’s way. The house and location are stunning, but the team made our wedding unforgettable. Everyone was warm, attentive, and committed to making the day special from the moment we arrived. We’re grateful to them all, especially Lesley and Monika, who went above and beyond. We’ll definitely come back. Highly recommended if you want to feel supported throughout.

I’ve never written a hotel review like this, but my stay at Macdonald Leeming House, Ullswater was so shocking that I feel people should be warned. I had no clean or safe accommodation, and no support from management, so I had to leave entirely. With no suitable alternative I could find nearby at such short notice, I ended up driving all the way back to Scotland late at night. No four-star hotel should leave a guest in that position. The manager wasn’t on site. I was told one would call, but nobody ever did, leaving me to deal with two unsafe rooms and staff I felt hadn’t been honest with me. In the hotel, I checked the Macdonald Hotels website and Booking.com and saw several upgraded rooms listed for that same night. Before getting my key, I’d asked whether I could upgrade and was told clearly and confidently that none were available. I accepted that and went to the room, only to find it filthy with dust and grime, plus medication and belongings from a previous guest. That seemed like a health and safety failure and showed it hadn’t been properly cleaned, if at all. Reception moved me to a second room, but it was just as dirty and neglected. I felt misled from the beginning. This was more than poor service, it was complete misrepresentation. The hotel may have beautiful surroundings, but inside I found filthy rooms, misleading information, and no management presence when something went wrong. I strongly advise people considering it to think twice. What you see online and what you get may be very different.