Macdonald Old England Hotel

Don’t expect an early check-in!!

We stayed at the Old Macdonald Hotel for just one night as part of my 40th bIrthday celebrations and were looking forward to using the facilities. We hadn’t realised that the check-in time was 4pm so we weren’t prepared for having to use the facilities without a room to go back to I like to have a base before I relax!! So with the rain pouring down we went to the Stags Head pub next door and spent a great afternoon with good friendly service good food and rugby on the TV!! I would not recommend the Old Macdonald Hotel for a one night stay because you don’t have time to enjoy it.

Best setting in the Lakes

Hotel is a little pricey but you are paying for location and quality. Cooked breakfast is extra but it is unusual to get "prepared to order" breakfast. If you don’t want to pay the price then step outside - even if you spent a month here you still would not have eaten in every restaurant. Continental breakfast (which is included) was excellent. Parking is limited but I was lucky enough to get one of the disabled spaces right outside (yes I am disabled). Like many hotels where parking is at a premium there were disabled spaces occupied by non disabled guests and hotels generally need to tighten up on this abuse by these inconsiderate individuals. The hotel location is ideal. Once you do get parked you can walk everywhere - there are a lot of hills but take it easy. To see other parts of the Lake the boats are a short walk. The gym and pool is a wonderful area with excellent disabled facilities and very helpful staff. Pool use for children is limited but to be honest this is not really a hotel for children. It is more suited to couples seeking a bit of luxury and peace to unwind. Would be a superbe wedding venue. Really enjoyed my stay-would I go back? yes but if you are looking for an inexpensive family hotel this one is not for you.

Traveller's tip on local attractions

Freedom of the Lakes ticket is a good buy for the Steamers. You can spend a whole day travelling around the Lake on different routes rather than negotiating the narrow winding roads in a car. Good value for money and you can tie it in with tickets for other attractions such as the steam railway at Lakeside.

Would not go again

I sat for twenty minutes in the lounge just off reception as we could not check into our room until four, the weather was very poor and I was soaked to the skin, I asked a number of times if I could check in before only to be told my room would be ready at four, Could not get an answer as to the possibility it would be ready before, due to the adverse weather conditions that would have been nice. So I sat in the lounge for twenty minutes waiting to attract somebodies attention to order a coffee. Eventually my friend came back from the car park and asked a member of staff could we order, I personally found the member of staff to be arrogant and rude, he actually shouted at us, that we would be served when he had finished doing what he was doing,and he only had one pair of hands, I was appalled at his customer service and that for me means I will not go back. There is a huge difference in being professional and down right curt, we we found this to be the case we a couple of members of staff.