Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa

Location, spa, spa guy was great, bar staff helpful.

The hot water was just barely warm for both mornings - yes we did advise reception. Disappointing car parking facility - and NO it was not explained in the Booking.com site that there would be a charge of £25 per night, coupled with a surly reception guy. Grout missing in bathroom floor tiles - sharp edges. TV remote missing - had to get another from reception (broken but taped together) and found out the slippers also missing for spa. No room phone - use your own mobile. Overall a very tired feel to the pokey/small rooms.

We went to the old England at Bowness for a surprise afternoon tea for a friend that’s battling breast cancer, she has always wanted to experience afternoon tea. We booked for 2pm arrived about 1.45pm got a drink the barman from London was brilliant really friendly chatting away to us all, there should have been 6 of us but unfortunately one of our party was ill on the morning so couldn’t come, we did explain this when we arrived. We Went and sat outside as it was a glorious day weather wise. Had a few drinks a couple bottles of Prosecco time went on, in the end I went and asked at 3.20 where the afternoon tea was as we had booked it for 2pm arrived about 3.30, It was £30 a head to say I was shocked was an understatement. A 3 tier stand for 2 people there was 1/2 a pork pie each 4 triangles of sandwich each 1 scone each with only jam and butter no cream and 3 little cakes about the size of a ten pence piece each for £30 a head, tea or coffee.When we went to pay they also charged us for the person who unfortunately was ill so an extra £30. I know it’s the lakes but was expecting a bit more than that would I recommend it to people no I wouldn’t very expensive for what you got. As a professional head chef I no how much that would have cost to arrange that was a rip of

Location is excellent and very close to everything easily

Toilets is neat to the restaurant was not in a good condition and cleaning was not great

The hotel was lovely, bedroom beautiful clean and large, king size bed, fabulous mattress, pillow menu , bathroom large good shower, clean, NO mold anywhere. , breakfast was good plenty choice. .fab views fron dining room. Staff pleasant helpful . .

Price of drinks eye watering..

Location on Windermere Lake edge fabulous

We splurged for an upgraded Deluxe King room and were placed at the rear of the building overlooking the garbage collection and an alley.

Amazing location right on the banks of the lake and the staff were extremely friendly, however the hotel itself lets it down… If your room number starts with a 3 your in the 1960’s/70’s concrete add on to the side of the main building and the rooms are so dated, paintwork fading/cracking… The dining room is dirty, loads of flaking paintwork and caulking around the windows falling out. Also I do not understand paying for breakfast in advance and then having to pay another £6 if you want a ‘breakfast special’ since when was Eggs Benedict a special… The Spa area is nice, the saunas are very good but without a Jacuzzi/Hot Tub area it lacks a true ‘Thermal Circuit’ feel. My fiancé had a facial treatment and said it was fantastic however. The ‘Lounge Bar’ area is very nice to relax in but it is not open until 11am so there is nowhere to enjoy a morning coffee or tea other than the restaurant and if you ask to get a coffee to sit in the lounge they make you have a takeaway paper cup. Overall the hotel is average, the staff do there absolute best to make sure you have an enjoyable stay and I cannot fault them at all, but they are being let down by a clear lack of investment in the hotel property. With its location this place has so much potential it just needs some ££ spent on refurbishing the decor/rooms.

Matt was amazing behind the bar and Ahmed is always fantastic. Real credit to the hotel.

Fantastic location, friendly and helpful staff, large clean rooms. Top notch food in the restaurant for evening meal and breakfast. Good spa facilities, lovely indoor pool with sauna, steam and ice room.