Toddler friendly hotels in UK Post Reply

[golfwidow]

Hello!

Just wondering if anyone can help in recommending a good toddler friendly hotel in the UK for a long weekend break. Ideally, we don't want to waste a whole day driving, and would love somewhere with an indoor pool as our son loves swimming. Beyond that we just want a bit of R&R (as much as our little one will allow!)

Any tips/suggestions greatfully received!

Thanks

[mshahcoulon]

highly recommend the grove, near watford!
Even have toys in the room (depending on age), onsite nursery where you can "off load" your child for a little while while you go to the spa for eg.
Not cheap but worth it!

[Geegee007]

Calcot manor near Tetbury is great, has spa and good food. Been there a couple of times now, most recently 2 weeks ago. Our daughter was happy painting in the crèche for an hour whilst we used the spa. In the evenings we ate in the restaurant - they have a listening service, or can arrange a babysitter to come to your room. We did the latter when our daughter 8-months old and the former the other week (being slightly more confident parents these days ).
They do only let children in the pool at certain times though, but it wasn't that busy. We also borrowed a bike with a baby trailer and cycled a few miles around the grounds.
Got back to Balham in under two hours (travelling at Sunday lunchtime).
Enjoy and I hope to see some other suggestions on here too. X

[jingo_x]

Not a hotel, but our holiday house has an onsite Spa with indoor and outdoor pools and treatment rooms. Under 2 hours drive from SW London and lots to do in the local area. The house is very well equipped with toddler equipment and there are plenty of good pubs in the local area that allow children (or the supermarkets deliver, or there are private caterers that can help you avoid cooking!)
Sorry, a balatant plug for my own place but thought it might fit the bill!

http://www.falcon-house.com

[sw11_]

Massively recommend the Four Seasons in Hampshire. It is so so child friendly, and only an hours drive from here. Calcot manor also good for a trip with kids but too far for us to be regular visitors.

[fionapm]

The Bedruthan in Cornwall is a bit of a drive but is so good it warrants mentioning. 2 pools, 3 playgrounds, 3 kiddy clubs, listening service, etc. Good food, lovely beach, close to The Eden Project.

[SJH Mummy]

Again, not a hotel but Lower Mill Estate (which Falcom House above is part of), is highly recommended, just google it. Good value compared with a hotel.

[valleymama]

We had the most wonderful stay at Moonfleet Manor on the south coast over Feb half term. It was freezing cold outside, but with indoor pool and huuuuuuge indoor games room, we had a ball. If the weather had been a fraction less arctic, we would have spent more time at the beach which was right on the doorstep. None of us wanted to leave!
http://www.totstoo.com/hotel_moonfleet-manor

[momormum]

Hi Golfwidow
Great username! I work in the hotel industry and would definitely recommend that you check out all of the hotels in the 'Luxury Family Hotels' collection. We have been to their Woolley Grange property near Bath and it was great - they got the 'luxury' and the 'child-friendly' parts just right. They also have hotels in the New Forest and elsewhere. We have also been to Calcot Manor which was beautiful, but I heard that they may not be as child friendly as in the past. Watergate Bay in Cornwall is also amazingly beautiful and child-friendly, just a bit far. At Woolley Grange almost all of the guests were families and the facilities for children and adults were fab - great food, spa etc. have fun!
ps - I think Moonfleet manor is in the Luxury Family Hotels collection.

[mumoftwoboys]

Hi

Try Bolt Holes website which lists child friendly hotels and villas in the UK and overseas. A friend of mine uses the website all the time and says they are excellent.

Enjoy your trip!

http://www.babyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk/

[emsken]

Calcot manor is amazing! Very expensive but soooo relaxing

[CitySlicker]

colleagues talking about this group of hotels today.
http://www.luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk/

[Mrs Contractor Mum]

We've just spent this weekend at Cowley Manor in the Cotswolds - took us just over 2 hours. They don't have a kids club if that is what you are looking for but they were very friendly to our son and the spa pool is welcome for kids all day up to 5.30pm. The grounds were what made it for us, its on a huge country estate with lakes and stunning woodland which was fab to explore. Also, the manor itself is very relaxed rather than stuffy with a good childrens menu. We've had a great time.

[monaco]

Second Cowley Manor. Have been there about 10 times, from before our daughter was born through when I was pregnant and with her when she was 6 months old, and every year since then (she is now 5 years and a half).

The key plus for us are a) the pool times: it's one of the few nice hotels where you don't have just tiny 2h slots allowed for the children and b) the atmosphere and the lounges : wide lounges where you can eat at any time and have the children around without anyone (staff or customers) rising an eyebrow. Could be that we were lucky with well behaved children every time but I think it has more to do with the hotel being sympathetic to them without being too "child oriented".

They have a listening service or can arrange a babysitter for the evening you go down to the restaurant. They also have wifi throughout so we saw a couple who had put their ipad with FaceTime looking at their child in the room and were monitoring it on FaceTime on their iphone down in the restaurant ! (need to ask for a room in the main house for this to work though).

In addition, wonderful spa treatments for us ladies and some nice walks around the hotel.

2h max from between to the commons to there if you time your journey right.

[luxlittleones]

Please feel free to look at my website www.luxuryandlittleones.com which has all of the luxury family hotels in the collection as well as loads of others with lots of child friendly services listed in what I hope is an easy to read way.