When you stay at Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa, Chester in Ellesmere Port, you'll be in the historical district, within a 15-minute drive of Chester Zoo and Chester City Walls. .This eco-certified hotel is 13.2 mi (21.3 km) from Royal Albert Dock and 20.1 mi (32.3 km) from Anfield Stadium.
What's nearby
Blue Planet Aquarium - 7 min drive
Chester Zoo - 8 min drive
Chester City Walls - 10 min drive
Chester Cathedral - 11 min drive
Chester Racecourse - 11 min drive
Getting around
Capenhurst Station - 4 min drive
Manchester Airport (MAN) - 35 min drive
Restaurants
The Crafty Tavern Limited - 4 min drive
The White Swan - 5 min drive
Old Wirral Hundred - 5 min drive
Starbucks - 3 min drive
The Straw Hat - 6 min drive
About this property
Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa, Chester
Eco-certified hotel with a full-service spa and a health club
Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa, Chester offers 72 accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Beds feature down comforters and premium bedding. Flat-screen televisions come with digital channels. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries.
This Ellesmere Port hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Additionally, rooms include irons/ironing boards and blackout drapes/curtains. Housekeeping is offered daily and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested.
Recreational amenities at the hotel include an indoor pool, a health club, and a sauna.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
The onsite spa has 6 treatment rooms including rooms for couples. Services include facials, body wraps, body scrubs, and body treatments. The spa is equipped with a sauna. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy. The spa is open daily.
Stay in one of 72 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Your bed comes with down comforters and premium bedding. 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.
Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers body treatments and facials. If you're looking for recreational opportunities, you'll find a health club, an indoor pool, and a sauna. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless internet access, wedding services, and a television in a common area.
Grab dinner at Craxton Wood Grill, a restaurant that specializes in British cuisine. Dining is also available at the coffee shop/cafe, and room service (during limited hours) is provided. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge. Full breakfasts are served on weekdays from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and on weekends from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include a business center, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour front desk. Event facilities at this hotel consist of conference space and meeting rooms. Free self parking is available onsite.
Full breakfasts are available for a surcharge on weekdays between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM and on weekends between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.
Craxton Wood Grill - This restaurant specializes in British cuisine and serves breakfast and dinner.
The Cocktail Bar & Lounge - Overlooking the garden, this bar serves lunch, dinner, and light fare.
Onsite venue #3 - This coffee shop serves light fare only. Open daily.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
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
English, Hungarian, Polish, Spanish
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and public transport
Free self-parking on site
Food and drink
Full breakfast available for a fee 7:00 AM–9:00 AM on weekdays and 8:00 AM–10:00 AM on weekends: GBP 24 per person
1 restaurant and 1 coffee shop/cafe
1 bar
Room service available
Coffee/tea in a common area
Restaurants on site
Craxton Wood Grill
The Cocktail Bar & Lounge
Things to do
Fitness classes
Fitness centre
Full-service spa
Indoor pool
Mini golf
Pilates classes
Sauna
Steam room
Yoga classes
Family friendly
Indoor pool
Laundry facilities
Mini golf
Snack bar/deli
Conveniences
Banquet hall
Guest services
24-hour front desk
Daily housekeeping
Dry-cleaning service
Laundry facilities
Luggage storage
Tour/ticket assistance
Wedding services
Business services
Business centre
Conference space
Meeting rooms
Outdoors
Garden
Terrace
Spa
6 treatment rooms
Aromatherapy
Body scrubs
Body treatments
Body wraps
Couples treatment room(s)
Facials
Manicures and pedicures
Massage/treatment rooms
Sauna
Spa open daily
Accessibility
If you have any requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
This property does not have any lifts
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Wheelchair-accessible lounge
Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
Wheelchair-accessible (may have limits)
More
Smoke-free property
TV in lobby
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bed sheets
Blackout drapes/curtains
Down duvet
Heating
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Premium bedding
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Hairdryer
Private bathroom
Shower/bath combination
Towels
Entertainment
Digital channels
Flat-screen TV
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
More
Connecting rooms available
Desk
Iron/ironing board
Phone
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets allowed for an extra charge of GBP 15 per pet, per day
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total pets
Pets cannot be left unattended
Specific rooms only; pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Fee for full breakfast: approximately GBP 24 per person
Pet fee: GBP 15 per pet, per day
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; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system, and a first aid kit
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Children are allowed in the pool 9-11 AM and 3-6 PM.
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
Craxton
Craxton Wood
Macdonald Craxton
Macdonald Craxton Wood
Macdonald Craxton Wood Ellesmere Port
Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel
Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel Ellesmere Port
Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel Spa
Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa, Chester Hotel
Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa, Chester Ellesmere Port
Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa, Chester Reviews
Reviews
7.8
Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
We stayed here over 5 years ago and it was great but unfortunately it looks like nothing has been done here for over 5 years. The rooms and corridors are extremely tired. Our toilet flush broke on the first flush, the shower leaked and there was mould on the bathroom ceiling. Its a shame as the staff were great and the food was really good.
A very disappointing experience.
Place is very tired and in dire need of a referb. Room was pokey and grubby. Toilet seat broken. Tv on the wall was very crooked. Cobwebs all around the window and radiator. Bed was comfortable and clean. Bathroom needed a deep clean. Breakfast menu card was rancid covered in old food.
Breakfast buffet on 2nd morning was was luke warm, scrambled eggs the only choice and awful, but a reasonable selection of items available.
Staff were pleasant.
The spa pool is a good size but water clarity was not good, my eyes watered for a good 30 mins after a swim.
The grounds around the hotel could be lovely but no effort made.
I expected more from a Macdonald Hotel. One wonders if hotel management have ever stayed in one of they're own places. On evidence of this weekend that would be a no.
Peter
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
4/10 Poor
Lee
31 Aug 2024
Liked: Staff & service
Dated decor. Terrible bar service. Terrible greasy breakfast that was over cooked. Staff were friendly and polite.
When it came to the evening meal, barely anything was available to have. After two previous choices for my 5 year old were out of stock she had sausage and chips as that was all that was in for her. The sausages were that over cooked they couldnt even be cut with a knife let alone eaten. My other daughter had melon and berries as a snack the water melon was unripe (white) and the berries were a compote which was unedible. No croissants were available for both the breakfasts we attended. No nutella on one of the days and the yogurt was off. There was also no coffee beans to order a latte for the 3 days we were there.
The overall maintance was quite poor, the carpet ripped in places on the corridor, in the conservatory and dining area very large cobwebs and dead bugs were present.
Despite this we made the most of our stay, the staff were lovely and the room was clean. The maids were also very helpful and friendly. The pool area is also very nice with noodle floats for the children which was a nice touch. I would just recommend bot getting dinner or lunch at the hotel. The breakfast is adequate enough. There was a nice realxed atmosphere around the place and other guest were sociable and polite which is always an added bonus.
No complaints with the room we had a deluxe room and it was very spacious. We did not try out the shower/bath as we showered and washed after using the pool facilties.
We booked quite late after deciding to visit Cheshire Oaks nearby and didn't fancy a round trip from The Midlands. The grounds and location were beautiful, it was very quiet and a lovely venue. We stayed in the old part of the hotel which was a great experience and would recommend that to people if they get the opportunity.
I thought the menu was a bit limited and we were disappointed we couldn't get into the restaurant despite trying to request it via Expedia who we booked through, but that could easily have been an issue with them. It was a small inconvenience though and we will certainly consider coming back if we are in the area again.
James.
Our stay was ok but nothing special - more like a 2 star verging on a 3 star
Richard
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
6/10 Okay
J
Travelled with family
15 Aug 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Nice setting but needs refurbishing
Nice setting but hotel now very tired and in need of refurbishment.
J
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024
6/10 Okay
MARK
Travelled with family
15 Aug 2024
Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service
Think the property is as quite short staffed room
was comfortable adequate probably needed updating modernising a bit breakfast great spa area lovely parking was ok and the area around the hotel was lovely drinks expensive my partner ordered a Aperol Spritz it was £12.50 I think that’s a bit extortionate hotel was quite busy at the time we stayed
The hotel is very dated. There was a wedding there at the same time which made it noisy. Breakfast service was slow and half the items were missing
The spa facilities are good and clean
Staff were not friendly at all, hotel needs a massive refurb. Felt like we went back in time.
I’m glad we didn’t stay for a spa weekend or I would have been massively unsatisfied.
Stayed for 4 nights with sons aged 9 & 15yrs.
Room cleaned and tidied daily which was great, We loved the pool, sauna and steam room, but time restrictions for kids wasn’t the best if out sight seeing all day! (kids allowed between 9-11am and 3-6pm only)
Room was huge! Contained a king size bed, single and kids Z bed. Ample parking and free WIFI.
I’m unable to comment on the food as we didn’t eat at the hotel (mainly due to my kids being food fussy and the cost of the meals) but the food smelt delicious.
All in all we had a great stay at this hotel and would recommend.
Needs a serious update - but the worse thing was the food - massively overpriced - we ordered 2 chicken Caesar salads - looked liked they’d picked the salad out of the garbage and the chicken was from Pirelli - waiters walking round clueless with food going cold wandering around looking for tables