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#1 of 1 hotels in Uphall
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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Arriving via a drive that winds through the trees, guests are presented with the magnificent site of Houstoun House. The striking 16th century tower house of this hotel in West Lothian, situated in 22 acres of woodland and gardens, retains its historic glory while offering visitors a comfortable, relaxed stay. With antique filled feature bedrooms, an atmospheric Tower Restaurant, cosy Vaulted Bar, and peaceful spa Houstoun House is the ideal place for a peaceful country retreat or romantic wedding.
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The Macdonald Houstoun House Hotel receives high marks for its cleanliness and the professionalism of its staff, who are noted for their attentive service. Guests are charmed by the quaint atmosphere and cozy rooms, although opinions on the room conditions and amenities vary, with some suggesting updates are needed.
While the spacious rooms and leisure facilities are popular, the value proposition is questioned by many travelers, particularly concerning the cost of spa treatments and dining options.
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Mixed
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Satisfactory
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This hotel is to the west of Edinburgh meaning its location is quiet, hidden behind walls and trees. We liked this hotel from the positive and generous welcome to the very pleasant restaurant spread across 3 different rooms all with spotless wooden floors. Our only reservation was the view from our room which was in the dark side of the hotel meaning we got little light through the small and poorly maintained window which showed its age. Staff are warm, friendly and professional. We dined here and enjoyed the meal - breakfast choice was a bit limited but enjoyable each day. The pool was nothing fancy but very usable, though we had to book.
We enjoyed our room with a generous sofa and comfortable bed and adequate bathroom. The hotel is situated in beautiful grounds. The room was clean.
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Date of stay: August 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Boe, General Manager at Macdonald Houstoun House
Responded Sep 15, 2021
Thank you so much for taking the time to review your recent stay with us and I am so pleased you had such a good stay and the team looked after you so well. Our location is perfect and as you say very quiet so ideal for a relaxing break. I am sorry you did not have the best view from your room and I hope the next time you visit we can improve this. The food offering is very good and we are looking to make further improvements over the coming months. I do hope we will get the opportunity to welcome you back again in the near future. Kind regards Andrew
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Impressive scenery and and tranquil location. The staff were the most helpful and nicest and patient. The food was traditional, hearty and delicious dinner. Our staycation was lovely. The rooms are sanitised, staff wear masks and all the measures are in place for social distancing. I felt at ease and glad it wasn’t over crowded for the summer. The breakfast pack was the least favourite part but not a biggie it’s a choice. The pool is closed just now but some spa treatments are available to book in-house. Bigger rooms are in the extension, Annex, and the oldest rooms are 14-21 one of them haunted rooms in the turret.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Boe, General Manager at Macdonald Houstoun House
Responded Jul 26, 2020
Thank you so much for taking the time to review your recent stay with us and I am delighted you had such an enjoyable time even with the current situation we are in. The team at Houstoun are a real asset and I am so pleased you experienced this during your time with us, with a smaller team than normal we are working very hard to ensure all our guests are still looked after how they would expect. Our location is stunning and the grounds as you say are tranquil and very quiet. We are hoping to get the pool area back up and running once we get the go ahead from the government and then we will be back to our normal but keeping up with the social distancing and cleanliness. Look forward to seeing you again soon and thank you again for the lovely review Kind regards Andrew
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We have just got back from an excellent stay at MacDonald Houston House. The accommodation and food were first class, all of the staff, went the extra mile to ensure our stay was as comfortable as possible. We were celebrating two birthdays while we were there, my Daughter's and my Wife's. Ou Dining Room was decorated with Balloons and we received a Slate with sweets and fruit with Happy Birthday piped on it. We were accompanied by our Granddaughter aged 2 and the staff catered to every need we had with a smile. In addition to our two-night Bed & Breakfast Deal, we booked a Lunch on the first day and arrived early. We were a party of 6 adults and the 2-year-old and enjoyed a private exclusive Dinning room. the second day we enjoyed a delightful afternoon tea. All of the food was of high quality and beautifully presented. We made use of the Swimming Pool both days and enjoyed strolling in the lovely gardens and surrounding. I have no hesitation in recommending this establishment and will certainly return again. a sincere thank you to Andrew, Linsey and the rest of the team for making our stay so enjoyable.
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Date of stay: December 2020
Cleanliness
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Boe, General Manager at Macdonald Houstoun House
Responded Dec 23, 2020
Dear Bill, Thank you so much for your 5 star review and I am delighted we were able to help make your stay a good one and that your daughter and wife enjoyed their birthdays. Exceeding expectations is what we strive to do as a team here at Houstoun House and I am so pleased to read we did this for you and your family during your time with us. it is the little thoughts and gestures that make all the difference. I am glad you enjoyed the three dining experiences you had and breakfast and I will be sure to pass your feedback onto to our Head Chef David Watson and his Brigade. Thank you so much for the recommendation and I very much hope we will get the chance to welcome you back again in the near future. I will pass on your thanks to Linsey and we hope you have a lovely festive period and stay safe. Kind regards Andrew
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Booked a 3 night family stay to enjoy some away from work at home mode to recharge the batteries. We booked the deal which was fantastic which includes dinner bed and breakfast. It has to be said the hotel and staff excelled expectations in the New normal of covid 19 and social distancing. Throughout during breakfast and meals everything was done to follow the guidance and sanitizer stations throughout the hotel. The real gem was the Scottish hospitality led by Andrew and the team who made a special stay as memorable. Hope to return again as everywhere within easy reach and within short car journeys to Edinburgh Castle Linlithgow Palace Stirling Castle the Kelpies Loch Lomond boat trip and Forth bridges and River cruise as well as doing part of the Fife coastal drive. Despite a busy trip still managed to get to use the swimming pool. The evening meals were certainly worth looking forward to and the staff were very attentive.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Boe, General Manager at Macdonald Houstoun House
Responded Oct 30, 2020
Thank you so much for your recent feedback it is very much appreciated and I will be sure to pass on your praises to the entire team here at Houstoun House as they really do make a difference. Yes we are going through difficult times but a smiling face behind a mask willing to help really does make a difference and I am delighted we exceeded your expectations and made your stay a memorable one. Our location is ideal as a base to explore many areas of Lothian and even further afield in Scotland and we have everything you need after returning from a day away sightseeing, relaxing pool, Restaurant, bar and lounge area and not forgetting the quality food offered by our Head Chef David Watson and his team. Thank you so much again for your lovely feedback it really does mean the world to myself and the team. We hope to welcome you back again in the near future Kind regards and stay safe Andrew
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My husband and myself stayed one night on 16.07.20. The hotel had just reopened the day before. We stayed in a tower room, a nice large, clean room with a four poster bed and seated area.We had stunning views of the garden which is very extensive and well maintained. The hotel has put COVID infection control measures in place. Signage for social distancing.staff wearing face masks and hand sanitizer stations. The hotel is quieter and spa and pool closed at the moment. You can walk around or enjoy a drink in the gardens, there are nice seated areas. You have the choice to have an evening meal in the restaurant or in your bedroom. Menu is limited but food is well presented and tasty. Breakfast is served in your bedroom and you order the day you arrive. There was a good choice and enough to eat but different from your usual breakfast experience. It was a nice change to have meals in the bedroom it was nice and relaxed. We were well looked after from staff, Abbi and Andrew made us feel welcomed and nothing was too much trouble. My husband and I are looking forward to a second visit.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Boe, General Manager at Macdonald Houstoun House
Responded Jul 20, 2020
Thank you so much for taking the time to review your recent visit with us and I am so pleased you had such a good time with us. It is all very different but friendly hospitality is something that will never change here at Houstoun House and I am delighted you experienced that on this occasion and it was a pleasure looking after you. We very much look forward to welcoming you back in the near future and please contact us direct and we will arrange everything for you. Take care and thank you again for the lovely review. Andrew Boe General Manager
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Yesterday we visited for a spa package but unfortunately we were really disappointed with the quality of the hotel. Being part of a large chain we expected a little more luxury but it was very tired and needing a lot of attention. Walking into the changing room we were very surprised at how small and cramped it is. It was quite busy when we arrived so lots of people about. The lockers are awful, we tried at least 12 before getting one that worked. Small pool area and quite basic. Banana skin left lying on a table too so there needs to be a bit more attention from the staff for the cleanliness. We enjoyed a swim once there were less people around. Treatments were great and couldn't fault the spa team, felt relaxed until we got back down to the changing rooms. Multiple showers were out of action and only one hairdryer working too. We spoke to a few of the regular pool goers and they mentioned that these things had been out of order for weeks/months. One of the toilets was also out of order and no hand wash, instead shampoo was in place of it. We then headed to our afternoon tea, which was booked for 3.30pm but took over 20 mins for the food to actually be brought out. If we booked a time, why would it take so long to plate up? We were the only people there until another group arrived 3.45pmish. My friend booked the package as a getaway for me as my mum suffered a stroke last year and I'm now her carer. After an awful 10 months this was a chance to relax but we were left very disappointed. We felt that it wasn't worthy of the 4* status as a hotel as the spa/facilities have completely let it down.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Boe, General Manager at Macdonald Houstoun House
Responded Jun 29, 2022
Dear Rachel, Thank you so much for your honest feedback in relation to your recent Spa day with us and I appreciate you taking the time to review your experience. Firstly I am delighted your treatments were as expected and you were able to relax during the experience, Katie and the Spa team do a fantastic job and I am pleased you experienced this. In relation to the condition of the facilities, I can't disagree with you but can assure you the flaws that you highlighted are all getting actioned but we have been let down with regards delivery dates to allow us to complete the works, especially for the showers are we are replacing them all. With regards the other maintenance issues I will be sure to address this with the team and get the shortfalls resolved as soon as possible. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do with regards the size of the changing area, but we do need to have everything in working order. I am sorry there was a delay with your afternoon tea, we do make these up fresh once you are seated at the table, we did use to pre plate but unfortunately in the past we have had a number of no shows so we had been wasting food, so now everything is plated at the time, but it should not have been over 20 minutes and I can only apologise. I am so sorry it was not the experience you were looking for and as I have mentioned we are working hard to make improvements to the condition of the facilities. I do hope you will give us another opportunity in the future and I really do appreciate your honest feedback. Kind regards Andrew
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Spent 5 nights here on a business trip and had some issues. The hotel is set in lovely grounds a short walk from a small town and adjacent to a golf course. I didn't use the pool and spa but had a look and it seemed ok. The staff here are friendly but the hotel seems to be understaffed and lacking in investment by the MacDonald group.
My issues were as follows:- 1st morning freezing cold shower. Day 1 and 2 room not cleaned not even emptying the bin or clean towels. The receptionist advised that I should leave a hanger on my door asking for cleaning even though the check in letter than everyone gets states 'if you are staying for more than one night your room will be serviced'.
Having returned from work with some take out food I was really disappointed that the room had not been cleaned for the second day in a row so went to the reception to get it sorted. Initially I was advised the above about the door hanger but the manager appeared and explained that they had a member of staff call in sick. Fair enough it that's the case call me (They had my mobile number and check if they could delay cleaning). Even leave some towels and empty the bin.
The manager apologised and came to the room sorting the bin and towels himself he also provided a glass of wine to compensate. This and the nice staff saved my review from being 2 stars. There was also a loud alarm late at night at least three times during the week, very disturbing.
Later in the week they ran out of milk at breakfast....seriously! How can that happen. This hotel could be brilliant. It is a lovely setting and is a beautiful building. The people I dealt with here were also very nice. I really believe that the issues here are down to a lack of investment by the MacDonald group perhaps due to Covid but the price should reflect that. Also £10.50 for a glass of supermarket quality wine is not good value.
Hopefully there will be investment in this lovely building perhaps by a company that care about it.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Boe, General Manager at Macdonald Houstoun House
Responded Jul 3, 2022
Dear Mary, Thank you so much for your honest review and I appreciate you taking the time to feedback on your stay. I am so sorry there were issues with the servicing of your room and as I mentioned at the time we did unfortunately have manning constraints during your stay which meant we struggled to service all the rooms within the property. It was not where we wanted to be and I am sorry again you were affected by this. The least we could have done was offer to service the room when you got back. We are aware the property is tired in areas and we are very much looking to resolve these areas, we are still recovering from a very difficult couple of years for hospitality but intend to improve the tired areas over the coming months. I am pleased you found all the team members to be nice and friendly and once again I am sorry you were left disappointed with regards the servicing of your room. I do hope you will give us another opportunity down the line and thank you again for your review. Kind regards Andrew
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Highly recommend. We had a two night stay with our 3yo daughter and it was wonderful. Friendly staff and everything felt child-friendly. Good quality food, excellent service, beautiful grounds to explore. We went in the pool everyday which is in a pretty setting surrounded by trees (was like swimming in the woods!) and a nice warm temp for the kids. Although the decor is dated, they have is spot-on with what counts i.e. pristine white linens, comfy beds and pillows, spotlessly clean and great water pressure which tastes nice to drink too! I also made use of the spa treatment which was great. We felt genuinely welcomed and accommodated the whole time, just how a hotel should feel. Thank you!
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Date of stay: May 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Room 43 nice large room
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Boe, General Manager at Macdonald Houstoun House
Responded May 24, 2021
Dear Alex, Thank you so much for your recommendation and I am delighted you have had such a great stay with us and you were made to feel welcomed throughout your stay. For a family stay we do have everything required and our little guests are just as important as our adult guests.... I am pleased you had the opportunity to experience our Head Chef, David Watson and his teams cooking and also managed to squeeze in a treatment. Thank you again for the lovely review and we look forward to welcoming you back in the near future. Kind regards Andrew
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The grounds are beautiful. I stayed with family and all four bedrooms were spacious and comfortable. The staff were noticeably very friendly and helpful.
We loved the swimming pool which was great, as were the steam room and sauna. The depth remained constant for the length of the pool so the children could have fun and not worry about the deep end. The pool area was very clean.
We loved the tennis court and enjoyed some good knock-abouts.
The food was great - the breakfasts were varied and tasty, and the dinners delicious. The same menu was offered in the bar and restaurant, which was varied and interesting.
If I was to offer a constructive point it would be to clear the tennis court of the overgrown ivy to help poor players to find their balls more easily!
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Boe, General Manager at Macdonald Houstoun House
Responded Aug 4, 2021
Thank you so much for your recent feedback and I am so pleased you had such an enjoyable time with us. The team at Houstoun really do make a difference and I am pleased you experienced this during your stay. The property is ideal for a family gathering and a great location to have as a base which you explore the surrounding area. The pool is a great size and a nice temperature and you feel like you are swimming in the middle of a forest. The Tennis court is getting a tidy this Thursday so hopefully the next time it will be easier to find the balls. Thank you again for your lovely review and hope to see you again soon. Kind regards Andrew
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We booked The Houstoun House Hotel for a birthday treat for our 80 year old Mum’s birthday. After a speedy check in we headed to the luxurious Spa where we were pampered with massages. The girls working in the spa were excellent, friendly and professional and made our experience a very relaxing one. The rooms in the hotel are warm, exceptionally clean and very comfortable. There’s everything you need from a coffee maker, to a hair dryer to the Elmis toiletries. The views across the extensive, well kept grounds were stunning at this time of year. Sadly the weather put paid to us exploring them on foot! We had pre dinner drinks in the quaint wee bar, over looked by the impressive stag heads! Dinner was then served in a grand private room for just our family. We experienced the 7 course taster menu created by Head Chef, David Watson and his amazing team. The food was to die for. Small, delicious plates of local produce, presented beautifully. Our waitresses were amazing too, professional and friendly offering an amazing service. The really looked after us well. Following a relaxing night in a very comfy bed we headed to breakfast. A wide range of delicious choices, delivered to our table in a timely manner, pipping hot. Continuous supply of tea, coffee and toast. Once again the staff were amazing and at hand to accommodate all our requests. The General Manager, Andrew, appears to have a great relationship with all his staff and has a big presence throughout the hotel and was happy to fulfil all our wishes. All in all a fabulous stay in a stunning building in beautiful surroundings.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Boe, General Manager at Macdonald Houstoun House
Responded May 29, 2021
Dear Sue, Thank you so much for your lovely review and I am so pleased Team Houstoun were able to help make your mums birthday such a special one. It was a pleasure looking after you all for the evening and ensuring everything went to plan. Katie and Ashley in the Spa are amazing and I am delighted you enjoyed your relaxing treatments and your wee glass of fizz... David Watson and his brigade do an amazing job in the kitchen and the food they produce is spectacular and I am glad you got to experience a special tasting menu. Team Houstoun are very much a family and we all work together to ensure the end goal is the same, all our guests have a fantastic stay and I am so pleased this was the case for you. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you again Kind regards Andrew
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There are more places to choose from in the Uphall area.
PRICE RANGE
C$182 - C$301 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
macdonald houstoun house hotel livingston, macdonald houstoun hotel, macdonald houstoun livingston, houston house hotel
LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandWest LothianUphall
NUMBER OF ROOMS
70
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Macdonald Houstoun House - UPDATED 2024 Prices, Reviews & Photos
Frequently Asked Questions about Macdonald Houstoun House
Which popular attractions are close to Macdonald Houstoun House?
Nearby attractions include St Machan Church (0.8 km), The National Bonsai Collection Of Scotland (1.0 km), and Strathbrock Parish Church of Scotland (0.8 km).
