15 Top Family-Friendly Hotels In The UK
The Fish, Cotswolds
For a high-end experience, it doesn’t get much better than the three treehouses at the Farncombe Estate’s Fish Hotel. Sleeping up to two adults and two children, each treehouse has two bathtubs on an outdoor deck, underfloor heating, Nespresso machines and a well-stocked mini bar. One of the treehouses is also dog friendly, while all come with views of the surrounding woodland. Guests are welcome to indulge in any of The Fish’s on-site dining options, including Hook, a seafood-inspired restaurant helmed by Farncombe’s culinary director, Martin Burge, and the outdoor Feasting on the Deck.
From £370 per night.
Visit TheFishHotel.co.uk
The Ickworth, Suffolk
Set on 1,800 acres of National Trust parkland, The Ickworth was made for family breaks. Located in the historic town of Bury St Edmunds, children can roam freely within the grounds and make the most of the play areas, tennis courts and heated outdoor pool, equipped with floats, armbands, and noodles. Parents can hire special iCandy pushchairs to tackle the different types of terrain on the estate, while little ones will enjoy spotting deer and exploring the woodland trails. There’s also a babysitting service and on-site créche which offers an impressive selection of activities and a children’s breakfast club. Hotel staff can even heat bottles and bring fresh morning and evening milk to your room, free of charge, and you can ask for puréed food for babies from the chef. If that wasn’t enough, kids can also enjoy a specially-catered high tea in the afternoon, choosing from mocktails, sandwiches, mini meatballs, pizza, and ice-cream from the children’s menu at the restaurant.
Rooms from £140 per night.
Visit IckworthHotel.co.uk
Lucknam Park, Wiltshire
Just six miles outside of Bath in the picturesque Wiltshire village of Castle Combe, Lucknam Park has everything you need for a family staycation. The house, which dates back to the 18th century, is surrounded by 500 acres of listed parkland and is also home to an equestrian centre with 35 horses. Guests can stay in spacious interconnecting family rooms or private cottages dotted around the grounds for self-catered stays. The hotel has an impressive range of facilities for kids, including two outdoor tennis courts, an adventure play area, and mini croquet lawns, as well as activities like horse riding, archery and even ‘duck herding’. Parents will also appreciate the babysitting service and fun kids’ menu at The Brasserie.
Rooms from £350 per night.
Visit LucknamPark.co.uk
Beaverbrook, Surrey
Just over an hour’s drive from London, and ten minutes south of the M25, Beaverbrook is a stunning Victorian mansion which has been reinvented as a glamorous country house hotel. There's a reason the estate has become a firm favourite for family getaways – it has several spacious interconnecting rooms, plus a Shakey & George kids' club at the weekend where children can enjoy everything from bug hunting and den building to laser tag. If the weather takes a turn, there’s a roomy indoor space where they can try arts and crafts or play boardgames, and there are designated pool times and film screenings in the cinema during the afternoons.
Rooms from £650 per night.
Visit Beaverbrook.co.uk
Watergate Bay, Cornwall
With views stretching across a beautiful Cornwall beach and luxe, New England-style interiors, Watergate Bay has something to keep everyone occupied. Ideal for outdoorsy families, guests can embrace the two-mile stretch of sand by learning to surf, kitesurf and even wave ski at the hotel’s Extreme Academy. There’s also a Kids' Zone which is open all day, with dedicated crèche hours for child-free time, as well as organised games, crafts and activities, and evening entertainment for slightly older children. The best bit? The baby monitoring service – a secure iPad-like device with a specific Ethernet cable, which allows you to watch and hear your little ones after they’ve gone to bed, so you can enjoy your evening.
Rooms from £185 per night.
Visit WatergateBay.co.uk
Limewood Hotel, New Forest
This boutique country hotel in the New Forest is home to some of the most stunning views in the country. The hotel itself has sleek interiors and a variety of generous rooms, as well as forest cabins and cottages for families. Surrounded by meadows, cabins have king-sized beds, bunk beds for children and en-suites with rainfall showers and freestanding baths, while cottages also have kitchenettes, and a dining and living area with snug log fires. Parents can relax at the spa and enjoy rustic fare from Italian restaurant Hartnett Holder & Co (by Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder) while children can swim in the hotel pool during allocated family times, and explore the estate on the hotel’s bikes.
Rooms from £405 per night.
Visit LimewoodHotel.co.uk
Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa, West Sussex
Set on a 30-acre estate, this luxury hotel is easily reached from London via a two-hour drive, where you’ll find beautiful parkland and an award-winning spa for adults. It’s also a short walk from Climping beach, with several walking trails in the nearby area. Kids can also swim in the indoor and heated outdoor infinity pool, play on the tennis courts, and relax with their parents in a hot tub. You can order room service or enjoy leisurely family meals at the on-site restaurant, where the kid’s menu is ideal for fussy eaters – think spaghetti Bolognese, sausages and mash, and halloumi goujons with fries. Be sure to check out the children’s library and selection of boardgames, too.
Rooms from £315 per night.
The Anchor Inn, Dorset
For a staycation by the sea, the small family-run Anchor Inn is perched on a hill just above Seatown Beach in Dorset, just a few miles from West Bay. A popular summer hotspot, the hotel is in a great location to explore the Jurassic Coast for family days out. There are just three rooms to choose from, Thorncombe being the most stylish, complete with a king-size bed and single sofa bed, a spacious en-suite with a lovely roll-top bath and beautiful sea views. Families can also ask for another single bed or cots to be added to the room. Downstairs, the pub serves seasonal dishes made with local produce, and there’s a children’s menu with colouring sheets to keep them entertained.
Rooms from £120 per night.
Calcot Manor Hotel & Spa, Cotswolds
If you’re visiting the Cotswolds, stay at the beautiful Calcot Manor. Easily reached from London via 90-minute drive, the hotel sits on 220 acres of grounds, just four miles from Tetbury. The property oozes country charm, with dreamy furnishings and original property features like exposed brick walls and oak beams. Families can stay in a choice of four rooms – Cosy and Comfy rooms sleep four (with two smaller beds for little ones), while Generous family rooms and suites are spread over two floors. Calcot also has a babysitting service, a child-friendly spa and swimming pool, and a separate ‘Playbarn’ with a crèche, arts and crafts station, video games, and a 12-seater cinema. Kids will also love the children’s menu at the on-site pub The Gumstool Inn, which serves small bites, healthy meals and mini puddings.
Rooms from £365 per night.
Visit Calcot.co
Four Seasons Hampshire
This hotel underwent an extensive renovation last year. Located in the quaint Hampshire village of Hook, it’s surrounded by 500 acres of parkland on Dogmersfield Estate. Rooms range from spacious doubles to luxury suites, including the Speciality Suites which have separate living areas for families to relax in. Later this year, kids will be able to be dropped off at the kids’ club to enjoy arts, crafts and games, while adults relax at the on-site spa or enjoy a romantic meal at the Wild Carrot restaurant or drinks at the cocktail bar. Children will even be given their own bathrobes and ‘passport’ to document their visit.
Rooms from £555 per night.
Woolley Grange, Wiltshire
The sister property to The Ickworth, this hotel also has a well-rounded offering for families. A smaller estate spanning 14 acres of land, Wooley Grange is a little more relaxed, with plenty of activities to keep kids occupied, as well as complimentary childcare. The hotel itself is set inside a Jacobean manor house, while glamping suites that sleep up to four are dotted around the estate. Drop the kids off at Woolley Bears Den to enjoy candlelit dinners at the restaurant or treatments at the spa. During the school holidays, there’s an exciting roster of activities on offer, and the outdoor pool opens up in the summer. The hotel also has swimming instructors for ‘baby’s first swim’ lessons, a baby sensory room, and a Hen House – a cool hangout for older children, with a pool table, air hockey and table football.
Rooms from £650 per night.
Visit WolleyGrangehotel.co.uk
Bedruthan Hotel & Spa, Cornwall
The Scarlet is an adult-only hotel in Cornwall, but its sister property was made with children and families in mind. Just north of Watergate Bay, Bedruthan is right on Mawgan Porth beach, which is full of fun rockpools and hidden coves. Rooms are bright and colourful, with three family options, including Sea View Family rooms which have king-size and single beds, and a balcony with beach views. The Clifftop Kitchen serves healthy and hearty family meals made with local produce – think squash curries, thickly-crusted pies and bright salads – while sharing breakfasts involve fruit juices, cereal, pastries and homemade bread. While parents book in at the spa, little ones can be dropped off with a babysitter or take surfing lessons at the local surfing school.
Rooms from £150 per night.
Visit Bedruthan.com
Chewton Glen, New Forest
A sister property to Cliveden House, most will know Chewton Glen in the New Forest as the grand dame of country house hotel and spas. In addition to its impressive offering for couples and groups, the hotel is also a fantastic spot for families, with fun activities from tennis and mountain biking to outdoor swimming and woodland trails. Here, kids stay free throughout the school holidays and have their own Busy Bee’s Children's Club housed in a new treehouse, with complimentary supervised fun in the morning and afternoons so parents can relax in the spa and explore the hotel’s facilities. Kids can also take part in cookery classes at The Kitchen, learn to duck herd with a live gaggle of ducks, and walk the hotel’s sheep, Teddy. Stay in in one of 72 rooms or book one of the luxury treehouses for a special treat.
Rooms from £325 per night.
Visit ChewtonGlen.com
Mollie’s Motel, Various Locations
For something a bit more relaxed, Mollie’s has two locations: Buckland in Oxfordshire and Bristol. One of the most affordable options on this list, the motels have been designed by the same team behind Soho House, with simple yet chic interiors and a child-friendly design. Families can spread out in double and single rooms with bunk beds or connecting rooms with two bathrooms and two super king-size beds. Rooms are air-conditioned with Egyptian cotton sheets, rainfall showers and Cowshed products in the bathrooms. Kids will love the 1950s-style American diners at each motel, which serve mini cheeseburgers, chicken bites, mac and cheese, and ice-cream sundaes for kids.
Rooms from £55 per night.
Visit Mollies.com
Hotel Café Royal, London
Located between the West End and Soho, five-star Hotel Café Royal offers a real central London staycation, where families can stay in interconnecting rooms with views over Piccadilly, St James’s Park and onto Westminster. You might not expect somewhere that was a favourite haunt of Oscar Wilde, Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill and David Bowie to come with good kids’ facilities, but that’s exactly what Hotel Café Royal does. Its children's club is complimentary for families staying at the hotel during the school holidays and is open from 10am to 5pm, packed full of events and activities suitable for children of different ages, such as cookie decorating, balloon crafting and slime making. The club also has large TV screens that can stream the latest films, plus a huge range of games and toys.
Rooms from £590 per night.
Visit HotelCafeRoyal.com
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