Family Friendly Hotels UK
Over the years we have visited so many hotels as a family so I thought it would be good to put them all in one place in case you are looking for family accomodation inspiration across the UK.
So here are the family hotels we’ve visited across the country and a little about what we thought of them. Click through on each one to read the full review and you can even navigate straight to a relevant part of the country by using the contents table below.
Cornwall Family Friendly Hotels
The Esplanade Hotel – Newquay
You cannot get a better location in Cornwall for a family than the Esplanade Hotel. Right opposite the beach in Newquay and with buckets and spades on hand for guests to use it really is a wonderful base to stay. There are always organised free activities for children and a great children’s menu too. It has a lovely indoor swimming pool, a small soft play for younger children and an outdoor play area as well.
You can find out more about our break at the Esplanade Hotel here.
The Alverton Hotel – Truro
Staying at the Alverton Hotel in Truro was an absolute joy. You can see the hotel for miles around and driving up the driveway we were excited to see what the hotel would be like. Many of the rooms can accommodate children and with child sized robes, welcome packs and children’s menus it turned out to be a really luxurious base to explore more of Cornwall.
You can read more about our time at the Alverton Hotel here.
Devon Family Friendly Hotels
Langstone Cliff Hotel – Dawlish
The Langstone Cliff Hotel has lovely family rooms, great food and a dedicated children’s tea time. Add to that an amazing location a few minutes walk from Dawlish Warren beach, a little soft play area, indoor and outdoor pools and an adventure playground and you have a lovely base for a family break on the coast. It’s also a great base for exploring Dartmoor National Park too.
You can read more about our time at Langstone Cliff Hotel here.
Dorset Family Friendly Hotels
Knoll House Hotel – Studland
We spent two nights at Knoll House Hotel and it was a great base to explore the local area. It had indoor and outdoor pools, a playroom, a fantastic adventure playground and two bedroom suites that were perfect for families. It was a very dated hotel and is in need of modernisation but we still had a really lovely weekend in Dorset whilst staying there.
You can read more about our Knoll House Hotel stay here.
Wiltshire Family Friendly Hotels
Lorne House – Bath
Unlike the other hotels on this list, Lorne House is actually a B&B but a very family friendly one so I thought I’d include it. Located just outside Bath it’s well situated for everything Bath and the surrounding area has to offer. With spacious family rooms, travel cots available on request and an abundance of children’s books and DVDs to borrow it is a great place to stay as a family.
You can read more about our Lorne House stay here.
The Cotswolds Family Friendly Hotels
Calcot Manor Hotel – Tetbury
When I look back at all the family hotels we have stayed at, Calcot Manor is definitely a highlight and our first choice of the luxury family hotels we have visited. With a kids club, beautiful pool and spa, a baby listening service, bikes to hire, grounds to explore and the most amazing family rooms it got full marks from us. The food was incredible and it was a wonderful place to stay as a family.
You can find out more about our family break at Calcot Manor here.
The Falcon Hotel – Painswick
The Cotswolds are fantastic for country inns and The Falcon Painswick is a really family friendly option in the heart of Painswick village. With really spacious family rooms, a lovely children’s menu and beautiful decor it’s a great option for families looking to make the most of everything the Cotswolds have to offer.
You can find out more about our weekend at the Falcon Painswick here.
Buckinghamshire Family Friendly Hotels
Novotel – Milton Keynes
Like with any chain hotel, the Novotel Milton Keynes was such a great stay but much the same as other Novotel breaks we have been on. It had simple but functional family rooms, fantastic food, a great leisure complex and was a fantastic place to stay to explore Buckinghamshire or break up a long journey.
You can read more about how we broke up a long journey at Novotel Milton Keynes here.
Hampshire and Berkshire Family Friendly Hotels
The Wellington Arms – Stratfield Turgis
We loved staying at The Wellington Arms in Stratfield Turgis on a weekend adventuring at Wellington Country Park. It’s a newly renovated country inn that has so many rooms, a beautiful restaurant and is easily accesible from the local area. With adjoining rooms as well as family rooms, so many activities for children and even milk and cookies, it’s somewhere we’d love to stay again.
You can read about our family stay at the Wellington Arms here.
Potters Heron Hotel – Romsey
We stayed at the Potters Heron Hotel when having a weekend in Southampton to visit Peppa Pig World and Paulton’s Park. The country house hotel was a really great base for the local area, accommodated families well and had really nice food too.
You can find out more about our break at the Potters Heron Hotel here.
The Bell Inn – New Forest
We love staying at country inns and it’s so lovely to come across one as family friendly as the Bell Inn. Set in the New Forest it’s in an utterly beautiful location and has a really welcoming feel to it. The food was fantastic, the family rooms are bright and spacious and there’s even giant chess in the garden.
You can find out more about our weekend at the Bell Inn here.
Novotel – Southampton
I have come to really appreciate the Novotel brand as with each hotel you know exactly what to expect and the kind of stay you’ll be having. The Novotel Southampton is well located for both the city centre and the coast and would be a great place to stay prior to a cruise trip from Southampton terminal. The family rooms are simple but just what you need with a double bed and sofa bed, there are plenty of activities for children and the food is great too. A great budget option for families.
You can read more about our Novotel Southampton break here.
Marwell Hotel, Hampshire
We stayed at the Marwell Hotel when we were visiting Marwell Zoo and Manor Farm and Country Park as the hotel is so well situated to explore the local area. The hotel has great leisure facilities and a really welcoming feel – we were so relaxed staying there as a family. There were so many activities and great welcome gifts for the children as well as great food too. We had a family room with a double bed and bunk beds that is perfect for a family’s needs.
You can find out more about our family stay at the Marwell Hotel here.
Solent Hotel and Spa – Fareham
We stayed at the Solent Hotel and Spa as a family and had the full hotel Little VIP treatment. The children had matching robes, the spa had children’s treatments and there was even raspberry lemonade for the children to enjoy. Add to that the fantastic family rooms, amazing leisure facilities and great food options this is definitely somewhere we would love to stay as a family again in the future.
You can read more about our wonderful stay at the Solent Hotel and Spa here.
Donnington Valley Hotel – Newbury
We found Donnington Valley Hotel to be a really lovely place to stay as a family. It was situated quite near the motorway and didn’t have much outdoor space but still felt like you were on a real country retreat. With a pool, family suites and welcome gifts for the children as well as a nice children’s menu for both dinner and breakfast it was a lovely hotel for families.
You can read more about our break at the Donnington Valley Hotel here.
Hilton Bracknell
The Hilton Bracknell is a fantastic family friendly hotel for visiting Legoland, Windsor or many other attractions in the local area. With a fantastic leisure complex, spacious rooms and a lovel restaurant it’s a great choice for family travel.
You can read about our time at Hilton Bracknell and a day at Legoland here.
Kent, Surrey and Sussex Family Friendly Hotels
Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club – East Grinstead
I think that Ashdown Park may be one of the nicest hotels we have ever stayed in as a family. It was such a beautiful building and so traditional in style and yet the children were so welcome. There were backpacks full of goodies for them, child sized robes in the room and suites for families to stay in. The country club part of the hotel had a good sized pool and there was a lot of outdoor space to explore. It was a wonderful place to stay and there’s even a llama park nextdoor where you can walk a llama!
You can find out more about our stay at the Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club here.
Old Ship Hotel – Brighton
If you’re looking for a great hotel to explore all Brighton has to offer as a family then the Old Ship Hotel in Brighton is perfect for that. With suites and adjoining rooms for families, a seafront location and great food options as well as parking on site we found it a great base for a family weekend away.
You can find out more about our stay at the Old Ship Hotel here.
Arora Gatwick International Hotel – Crawley
We stayed at the Arora Gatwick International Hotel before going on holiday and it’s definitely the most family friendly hotel we’ve experienced in an airport location. With incredible food, spacious family rooms and a great transfer service to the airport it really is a lovely place to stay before or after a holiday.
You can find out more about our park and fly experience at the Arora Gatwick International Hotel here.
Runnymede on Thames Hotel – Egham
The Runnymede on Thames Hotel is one of the most family friendly hotels we have stayed in. There were so many children’s activities, duck themed welcome packs and rubber ducks to spot all around the hotel. There are full apartments for families, incredible buffet style dining options, an amazing location bordering the Thames and a really lovely pool too. This is a fantastic hotel for families.
You can find out more about our stay at the Runnymede on Thames hotel here.
London Family Friendly Hotels
Hilton Bankside – London
The Hilton Bankside hotel has such a fantastic central London location that is perfect for exploring everything London has to offer. Add to this incredible adjoining rooms that create a whole suite for families and you have a hotel that would make a wonderful base for any family stay in London.
You can read more about our Hilton Bankside weekend in London here.
Holiday Inn London Heathrow M4 J4 – Drayton
We stayed at the Holiday Inn London Heathrow M4 J4 before an early morning flight and found it to be so family friendly. Children stay and eat free – with a fantastic children’s menu, double rooms have a double sofa bed in them and the hotel offers airport parking and shuttle transfers to Heathrow airport too.
You can read more about our stay at Holiday Inn London Heathrow M4 J4 here.
Apex City of London Hotel – London
Located near St Paul’s Cathedral, the Apex City of London Hotel is a great base to explore all the sights of London as a family. The family rooms are spacious, the breakfast was one of the best we’ve ever had during a hotel stay and the location is fantastic. This is a great option if looking for a family break in London.
You can find out more about our stay at the Apex City of London Hotel here.
Richmond Hill Hotel – Richmond, London
The Richmond Hill Hotel is a beautiful 4 star hotel on Richmond Hill, one of the most idyllic places in London. Just a stone’s throw from Richmond Park and with so much to do in the area, it’s a fantastic place to spend a family break away.
You can read more about our trip to Richmond here.
East of England Family Friendly Hotels
Marriott – Waltham Abbey, Essex
We stayed at the Marriott Waltham Abbey for a weekend at Paradise Wildlife Park and it was a great base to explore the local area. With spacious family rooms, fantastic food and great leisure facilities it had everything you could need for a family break away.
You can find out more about our weekend at the Marriott Waltham Abbey hotel here.
Potters Resort, Hopton-on-Sea – Norfolk
We stayed at Potters Resort for a week of the summer holidays and had a fantastic week. The hotel is has all meals included, all activities included and has a really luxury feel to every break.
You can read more about our break at Potters Resort in Norfolk and see a video we made here.
East Midlands Family Friendly Hotels
Jurys Inn Hinckley Island Hotel, Leicestershire
We found the Jurys Inn Hinckley Island Hotel to be so much better than other hotels close to the motorway. Well positioned for the local area and attractions like Twycross Zoo and Drayton Manor it was great for a family stay. With plenty of standard family rooms, a beautiful pool and a good choice of children’s food options it was a nice family break.
You can read more about our weekend at the Jurys Inn Hinckley Island Hotel here.
West Midlands Family Friendly Hotels
Holiday Inn Telford – Ironbridge, Shropshire
We had a festive weekend in Telford and stayed at the Holiday Inn Telford – Ironbridge. It couldn’t have been a better place to stay. With teddies and milk and cookies for the children, nice family rooms, great food and a pool that we sadly didn’t get the chance to use, it was a really great base for a family weekend away.
You can read more about our festive weekend at the Holiday Inn Telford – Ironbridge here.
Alton Towers Splash landings Hotel, Staffordshire
You can’t talk about hotels in Staffordshire without mentioning the Alton Towers hotel options. We stayed at the Alton Towers Splash Landings hotel and found it really family friendly – as you’d expect. Everything was in keeping with the waterpark theme and the family rooms had a double bed and a set of bunk beds. All of the Alton Towers entertainment was easily accesible and the buffet breakfast in the morning was amazing. This would make a great treat for a child’s birthday or other occasion.
You can read more about our stay at Splash Landings as well as what we got up to across our weekend at Alton Towers here.
Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel – Coventry
We stayed in the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel for my birthday when we were visiting Drayton Manor for the first time. It’s amazingly well located to explore much of what the Midlands have to offer and has fantastic leisure facilities too. Spacious family rooms, great food and a really nice location. It pretty much ticks every box for a family stay in the West Midlands.
You can read more about our Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel stay here.
Drayton Manor Hotel – Staffordshire
We go to Drayton Manor at least once a year and always make a weekend of it, staying locally or in the Drayton Manor Hotel. As you’d expect from a theme park hotel, it couldn’t be more family friendly. With fantastic family rooms and great food it’s the perfect place to stay for a trip to Drayton Manor.
You can read more about our Drayton Manor Hotel Stay and Play experience here.
Campanile Birmingham
For our latest trip to Drayton Manor we stayed at the newly refurbished Campanile Hotel in Birmingham, about half an hour away. They are a budget hotel with interconnecting rooms that are perfect for families, a family menu and lots of games and activities for children too.
You can find out more about our stay at Campanile Birmingham here.
North West Family Friendly Hotels
Worsley Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club – Manchester
We were really surprised to find the Worsley Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club so close to Manchester city centre and yet with the feel of a country retreat. It was a perfect escape from the bustle of the city but a great place to explore everything that Manchester has to offer. With spacious family rooms and a great children’s menu it’s a great place to stay as a family.
You can read more about how we broke up a long journey at the Marriott Worsley Park Hotel and Country Club here.
Wales Family Friendly Hotels
Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel – Cardiff
If you’re looking for a family friendly hotel in Cardiff to explore the local area then the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel would be a great choice. Just a short walk to the city centre and with fantastic amenities, we had a really lovely suite with views across the whole of Cardiff. It was a great place to stay in Wales as a family.
You can read more about how we spent a weekend at the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel here.
We’re booking a lot more travels around the country and I’ll be updating this post with everywhere we visit just as soon as we’ve checked out! If you have any family friendly hotel recommendations please do let me know – I’ll add it to our list of places to visit and write about.
