Macdonald Bear Hotel

4.0 star property

Photo gallery for Macdonald Bear Hotel

Stately entrance with a decorative archway, adorned with a garland and a chandelier.
Enjoy a formal meal in this beautifully set dining hall with tables, floral arrangements, and soft lighting.
A formal wedding chair sits atop a table with a floral arrangement, surrounded by elegant decor.
Guests can check in at the welcoming reception area, featuring a traditional facade and a well-maintained space with seating.
Traditional charm fills this room with a four-poster bed, bedside tables, and a vase with flowers.

Popular amenities

  • 24/7 front desk
  • Bar
  • Room service

Explore the area

Map
Park Street, Woodstock, England, OX20 1SZ
  • Oxfordshire Museum
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Blenheim Palace
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • University of Oxford
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Oxford (OXF)
    ‪5 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Room, 1 King Bed (Standard King)

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(9 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Suite, 1 Double Bed (Deluxe Suite)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(10 reviews)
  • 29 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed

Standard Room, 1 Double Bed (Standard Double)

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(20 reviews)
  • 24 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Deluxe Room, 1 Double Bed (Deluxe Four Poster)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(3 reviews)
  • 25 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Similar properties

About the area

Woodstock

Macdonald Bear Hotel is centrally located in Woodstock, a 1-minute walk from Oxfordshire Museum and 12 minutes by foot from Blenheim Palace. .This eco-certified hotel is 7.2 mi (11.5 km) from University of Oxford and 9 mi (14.5 km) from Thames River.

What's nearby

  • Oxfordshire Museum - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Blenheim Palace - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • University of Oxford - 13 min drive - 13.6 km
  • Oxford Castle - 17 min drive - 18.8 km
  • Bicester Village - 18 min drive - 20.1 km

Getting around

  • Tackley Station - 10 min drive
  • Heathrow Airport (LHR) - 67 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Oxfordshire Pantry, Blenheim Palace - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪The Royal Sun - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪The Punch Bowl - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪The Killingworth Castle - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Costa Express - ‬7 min drive

About this property

Macdonald Bear Hotel

Eco-certified hotel with a 24-hour front desk and a restaurant
Macdonald Bear Hotel offers 54 accommodations with safes and coffee/tea makers. Digital television is provided. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations, bathrobes, slippers, and complimentary toiletries.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Additionally, rooms include hair dryers and irons/ironing boards. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Make yourself at home in one of the 54 guestrooms. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and desks.
Take in the views from a terrace and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services. Additional features at this hotel include wedding services and a banquet hall.
Enjoy British cuisine at The Restaurant, a fine-dining restaurant which features a bar/lounge, or stay in and take advantage of the 24-hour room service. Full breakfasts are available daily from 8 AM to 10 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include express check-out, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour front desk. Planning an event in Woodstock? This hotel has 1938 square feet (180 square meters) of space consisting of conference space and meeting rooms. Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.
Full breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 8 AM and 10 AM.
The Restaurant - This fine-dining restaurant specializes in British cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and light fare. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
The Churchill Lounge - This bar specializes in British cuisine and serves lunch, dinner, and light fare.
Late night fare is available from 24-hour room service.

Awards and affiliations

Eco-Certified Property
This property participates in Green Tourism Program, a program that measures the property's impact on one or more of the following: environment, community, cultural-heritage, the local economy.

Languages

Chinese (Mandarin), English, Hungarian, Italian, Lithuanian, Romanian, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Uncovered parking on site (GBP 5 per day)
  • Limited on-site parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 8 AM to 10 AM for a fee: GBP 26 per person
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Restaurants on site

  • The Churchill Lounge
  • The Restaurant

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Newspapers in lobby
  • Safe at front desk
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • 1,938 square feet of conference space
  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 1 accessible parking space
  • Assistive listening devices
  • No lift
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk (90 centimetre high)
  • Wheelchair-width doorways (76 centimetre wide)

More

  • 3 buildings
  • 3 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 1232
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Dressing gowns
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • TV with digital channels

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service
  • Coffee/tea maker

More

  • Connecting rooms available
  • Desk
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Contactless check-in available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after midnight please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Guests checking in after 11 PM will need to ring the bell for check-in assistance upon arrival.

Renovations and closures

The following facilities or services will be unavailable from August 27 2025 to August 28 2025 (dates subject to change):
  • One of the bars/lounges
  • One of the dining venues
  • Breakfast
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Laundry facilities
  • Meeting facilities

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of GBP 15.00 per pet, per night
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Food and water bowls are available

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
2 children, up to the age of 12 years, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately GBP 26.00 per person
  • Uncovered self parking fee: GBP 5 per day
  • Pet fee: GBP 15.00 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation

Property is also known as

Bear Macdonald
Macdonald Bear
Macdonald Bear Hotel
Macdonald Bear Hotel Woodstock
Macdonald Bear Woodstock
Bear Hotel Uk Woodstock
Bear Hotel Woodstock
Hotel Macdonald Bear
Macdonald Bear Hotel Hotel
Macdonald Bear Hotel Woodstock
Macdonald Bear Hotel Hotel Woodstock

Macdonald Bear Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 478 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 323 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 123 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 49 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 29 out of 1002 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Shirley

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great stay at the Bear

Perfect location for our trip to Blenheim for a special birthday. The room had a lovely cottage feel to it. Value for money, all the staff were helpful and pleasant. Would definitely visit again.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Last minute stay for the weekend. Customer service was excellent, the lady who checked us in was polite and welcoming. We booked a deluxe double room, which was nice but somewhat lacking in cleanliness - visible cobwebs, some broken furniture, considering the price of the room it let the experience down slightly, under stocked tea/coffee as what was advertised for the room. A nice short stay but the room doesn’t match up to the price. We didn’t sample any of the catering, but, the food we saw looked good.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Lovely Room, Great Location

We had room 6 which was lovely, we ate in the hotel and the meal was very good but the restaurant was very quiet. Breakfast was good, lots of choices on the continental side as well as a decent selection of cooked. There were also vegan alternatives for dairy products at breakfast. The staff were friendly and helpful. We had a really lovely 2 night stay in Woodstock.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Jewel of the Cotswolds

Lovely hotel in a great location. Met with friends for a weekend, lovely rooms. Good food in the restaurant. Had breakfast and dinner. Great service from Jose in the bar!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Zoe

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice three night stay at The Bear with an upgrade to a lovely spacious room which was welcome. Breakfast was quite good also. Right in the heart of Woodstock and next door to Blenheim Palace so very good location.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Andrew

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Sophie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Property and location was beautiful, very quiet and staff were very friendly and helpful. I don’t, however, think that bookings should be taken for 2 adults and 1 child in the standard room, one king size bed, with 2 mattresses forming it so there is a seam down the middle made for a very poor quality sleep with two adults and a 12 year old in the one bed! Took dog with us, struggled with there being no garden or grassy area at all within the hotel grounds! Would stay again, but not in the same room for three of us!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Neil

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great place really central and the room was lovely
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A hotel close to Blenheim Palace

We have stayed here several times , it’s in the heart of Woodstock in a prime position to visit Blenheim Palace , lovely stay as always
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew, Guildford

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Bear is in a fantastic and convenient location for both Woodstock village and Blenheim Palace. All the Staff we encountered were excellent and helpful (as always! Especially the reception staff and Breakfast staff. We had an outside room in the area next to the car park which are larger and more modern than some of the rooms in the main hotel (on this stay the room was faultless room). The breakfast was excellent and a great example for tourists of the ‘Traditional English Breakfast!’ I still maintain that this hotel needs some money spending on it and some of the furniture and TVs in certain rooms definitely needs a refresh!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

Maricel

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A gem

Friendly hotel in charming period building. Rooms are a good size
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diane Jane

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

David

Travelled with partner
Note to Expedia. When we booked the hotel we specifically booked a room with a large King bed. At the hotel we ended up with a smaller four poster which I did not accept as an upgrade from you. The discomfort spoilt our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

fran

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

An ok stay

Great parking at the rear of the hotel. Large immaculately clean room off the courtyard on the ground floor. Nice bathroom with bath/shower - perfect for us. Breakfast was really good with ample choice, service was also good - very friendly staff.The only down side was an annoying ticking/dripping noise behind the wall of the headboard ! We initially thought it was maybe the heating going on an the pipes expanding but it kept my husband awake for most of the night.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

4/10 Poor

Philip

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Room comfort
All ok but no heating in my room only had stand alone electric heater and was freezing overnight would have been warmer in my van
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sarmjit

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Characterful property in Woodstock. Lovely staff and spacious rooms.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Tina

Great location!

Stayed there a few times - great location in the centre of Woodstock which is a beautiful place. Lots of nice pubs and restaurants and dogs are welcome. McDonald charge £15 per night per dog which is pricey as they don’t provide anything for them. Hotel is quaint and traditional but it’s tired. Windows are rotten but I’m sure it’s a huge cost for upkeep. Electric charging point and parking is a plus.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

ELIZABETH

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Spotlessly clean. Heating not working so very cold - 3 heaters not enough. We generally felt the hotel was overpriced.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

6/10 Okay

Caroline

Travelled with partner
Communication not great Friendly welcome at reception but when problems arose communications broke down. Breakfast was average. Extra charges for anything other than full English
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025