Sitting directly on the shores of Lake Windermere, the Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa is a 4-star property in Bowness-on-Windermere that draws attention for its location and spa amenities. This guide aggregates guest ratings, pricing data, dining details, and practical logistics so you can assess whether it fits your Lake District travel plans.

Last checked: 2026-09-27

Hotel name: Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa · Location: Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake District, Cumbria, England · Star rating: 4-star · Key amenities: Award-winning restaurant, ELEMIS spa, indoor swimming pool, thermal suite

How we researched this guide

Last checked: 2026-09-27.

Sources reviewed: official hotel website (macdonaldhotels.co.uk), TripAdvisor listing and reviews, Hotels.com listing, booking aggregator Offpeak Luxury.

We did not conduct an on‑site visit, interview staff, or independently verify pricing beyond published rates on official and third‑party sites.

  • 3.8 out of 5 from approximately 4,410 reviews (TripAdvisor)
  • 4‑star luxury hotel
  • On the shores of Lake Windermere, short walk to Bowness‑on‑Windermere

Guest ratings from TripAdvisor and Hotels.com

The hotel holds a 3.8 out of 5 on TripAdvisor based on roughly 4,410 reviews (TripAdvisor). On Hotels.com the property earns 8.0 out of 10 from 1,001 reviews (Hotels.com).

Note: The two platforms use different scales and review pools, so scores are directional rather than directly comparable.

Pricing and guest feedback

Caveat: We could not locate an official current menu or tariff from the hotel. TripAdvisor. Hotels.com displayed a sample October stay at GBP 115 per night (before taxes and fees, totalling GBP 139) (Hotels.com).

Self‑parking costs GBP 25 per day and breakfast is approximately GBP 18 per person when not bundled (Hotels.com). Spa treatment prices are listed separately on the hotel’s website and through third‑party booking sites; we did not find a published price list for treatments in our research.

Map location: 23 Church Street, Bowness‑on‑Windermere, LA23 3DF – directly on Lake Windermere.

We recommend confirming with the property at the time of booking.

We could not confirm a pet policy from the sources reviewed.

References

  • TripAdvisor – Hotel
  • TripAdvisor – Detailed
  • TripAdvisor – Restaurant
  • TripAdvisor – Guest review
  • Official hotel website (macdonaldhotels.co.uk) – referenced for amenity claims