With the summer holidays well and truly here, many of us may not have yet had a chance to visit somewhere to get away from it all this summer. As we all know, travelling abroad in the summer holidays can sometimes triple the price of a holiday thanks to increased air and hotel fares, so more and more families are choosing to take a staycation instead. The UK is home to so many beautiful locations and, if the weather is right, can be just as good if not better than a holiday abroad.
However, many family-friendly hotels and accommodation are budget-friendly and cheerful and, whilst there is nothing wrong with that, if you’re wanting something a little more luxurious, then it can be hard to find a decent, family-friendly hotel which offers much more than just a standard hotel. Thankfully, the UK is home to plenty of luxury and family-friendly hotels, so here are 5 of the best you should consider this summer.
Woolley Grange, Wiltshire
Woolley Grange belongs to a luxury hotel group, which has a number of different family-friendly hotels located all across the UK. Woolley Grange is a Jacobean stone house set in the heart of Wiltshire and is just a 25-minute stroll down the canal path to the charming town of Bradford-on-Avon.
The house is a box of delights and has plenty of sprawling gardens to keep children entertained for the duration of your stay. Woolley Grange is catered to allow both children and their parents a much-needed break and combines areas and activities which lets both enjoy their stay. The lounges are inviting and cosy and have chests full of toys and games, meaning that children can play together whilst parents enjoy a drink by the fire.
Dogs are welcome here too, with the house even having its own spaniel which roams the grounds during the day. With breakfast clubs, babysitting services, a creche and a kids club room, this is the perfect place for a few days away from it all.
The Blakeney Hotel, Norfolk
The Blakeney Hotel is a traditional family-friendly hotel which sits right on the quay, overlooking the Norfolk estuary. If the British weather takes a turn whilst you’re away then you’re in the right place at the Blakeney Hotel. There’s nothing better than relaxing on one of the sofas in the Boat Room lounge with a hot chocolate watching the rain hit the beaches, but whilst you’re catered for if the weather is a bit grim, the best activities are outdoors, where you can go mud sliding, seal watching, cycling or just sit on the beach with fish and chips.
If you stay here with children, then you only pay for their breakfast and there are special menus for lunch, tea and dinner and half-portions can be ordered for children. Be sure to pack your fine-wear, girls occasion dresses and boys shirts - you can sit for a high-tea in the restaurant, which the whole family will love.
Augill Castle, Cumbria
Augill Castle is known for being ridiculously fun for all the family. With rooms, turrets and castle towers to explore, the castle also has acres of lawns and terraces to enjoy as well. All the rooms here are decorated to a grand scale and make the most of the extensive amounts of space which is on offer. There are numerous rooms for you to explore, from playrooms to a cinema, as well as over 20 acres of grounds made up of lawns, fields and tennis courts. Hens, roe deer and squirrels roam free around the grounds and dogs are welcome here too. For something fun and memorable, ask the owner, Wendy, about parent and children cooking classes!
Moonfleet Manor, Dorset
Children have been gripped by the tale of Moonfleet since 1898, thanks to J Meade Falkner’s high tale of smugglings, which is all centred on this Georgian manor which overlooks the sea. Moonfleet Manor is a stunning and luxurious family-friendly hotel and works around firing young children’s imaginations. Children come first here and the staff are all well-trained in dealing with the demands of little ones, often prioritising their requests for jokes over discussions on the lunch menu.
Thanks to the wide range of facilities available for all ages, Moonfleet Manor stands out from the rest of hotels in the surrounding areas, including tennis courts, mini cinema, sandpits and the UK’s first escape room within a hotel. There are also spa treatments for parents who want to relax and a drawing room bar to unwind in. Be sure to say hello to Snoopy, the hotel’s cocker spaniel!
The Ampersand Hotel, London
If you and your family want to enjoy the tourist sights and sounds of London, then be sure to stay at The Ampersand Hotel in Kensington. It is a beautifully converted hotel right in the middle of South Kensington, which fits in with the surrounding theme of local museums and the French quarter. It’s an incredibly smart hotel and warmly welcomes children of all ages, but also adds touches of luxury which parents are sure to appreciate, including L’Occitane products in all the bathrooms, king-sized beds and freestanding baths.
Whilst this is the perfect base for families who are exploring the sights of London and the surrounding Kensington suburbs, be sure to spend an evening looking around the hotel. With afternoon tea, Mediterranean food and cocktails on offer, this is a lovely location for families wanting a little more opulence.
