We love to travel around the UK as a family so I thought I would put together some of the self catering holiday options we have experienced to give you more inspiration for your next family holiday.
You can click the categories below to jump to the part of the UK you are most interested in or just scroll through to see everywhere we have stayed across the country.
Cornwall Self Catering Holidays
Porthleven Holiday Cottages – Porthleven
When we visited Cornwall for February half term we stayed at Beach Cottage, one of the Porthleven Holiday Cottages portfolio of holiday homes. It was set right in the heart of Porthleven, had the beach right outside the front door and had everything we could need from a self catering holiday let on the Cornish coast.
You can read more about our stay in Porthleven here.
The Coach House – Menheniot
We went to Cornwall for a wedding and stayed at the Coach House. Even now – a few years later – we look back at this holiday as one of our favourite family holidays. The Coach House was such a great place to stay to explore the local area, it was quirky and homely whilst being perfect for families. Plus, they now have a swimming pool too.
You can find out more about our break at the Coach House here.
Devon and Dorset Self Catering Holidays
Hedley Wood – Bude
We spent a very cold and wet half term at Hedley Wood on the Cornwall/Devon border. In nicer weather it would be such a great place to stay, close to the Devon coast and so many attractions. It’s a really quiet holiday park with a shop, restaurant and play area and it’s open to touring as well as having static caravans and glamping tents to hire.
You can read more about our trip to Hedley Wood here.
Caalm Camp – Shaftesbury
We had our first yurt experience at Caalm Camp and it couldn’t have been more family friendly. The yurts are definitely a luxury glamping experience and each yurt has its own lockable shower room with sink and toilet. There are shared kitchen and dining facilities as well as play areas for the children. Caalm Camp is well located to explore all of Dorset’s attractions and we went to Monkey World whilst we were there.
You can read more about our Caalm Camp glamping experience here.
Crealy Meadows Glamping – Exeter
We went glamping for the first time when we visited Crealy Adventure Park and stayed in a safari tent in their Crealy Meadows. This is such a fantastic family break with access to the adventure park throughout your stay as well as being a great base to explore more of Devon’s attractions and beautiful coastline. The safari tents had three bedrooms and basic cooking facilities with modern toilet and shower facilities on site.
You can read more about our Crealy glamping break here.
Somerset and Wiltshire Self Catering Holidays
SACO Apartments – Bath
Bath is such a great place to explore and the SACO apartments in the city centre are a fantastic place to stay to make the most of everything that Bath has to offer. The apartments are fairly basic but have everything you need for one night or a few days away and their location is second to none.
You can find out more about our family trip to Bath here.
Hampshire Self Catering Holidays
Hoburne Bashley – New Milton
We love Hoburne Holiday parks and the Hoburne Bashley site in New Milton is a great place to stay. Set in the heart of the New Forest it’s fantastic for exploring the local area and has great facilities to suit the whole family.
You can find out more about our break at Hoburne Bashley here.
Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay – Isle of Wight
I love a holiday park trip and Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay was the perfect break for a family. With beautiful holiday chalets, so many activities for the children, a great swimming complex and a coastal location it couldn’t have been a nicer way to spend the school holidays.
You can read more about our time at Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay here.
Sussex Self Catering Holidays
Lodges at New House Farm – Etchingham, East Sussex
We spent a weekend just before Christmas at the Lodges at New House Farm and really loved it as a self catering break away. The Long Barn was a communal area with a children’s den upstairs plus there was so much outside space to run around and explore. The children got to feed animals and the lodge had everything we needed for our weekend away.
You can read more about the Lodges at New House Farm here.
Butlins – Bognor Regis, West Sussex
Butlins is such an iconic British self catering holiday and one that you just have to experience as a family. We stayed in the hotel and had a dining plan although we still had snacks and lunches we made ourselves. Butlins accomodation comes with a lot of different options and there is entertainment to suit every member of the family as well as fantastic swimming facilities. There’s endless family friendly activities and the little ones always have a great time.
You can read more about our Butlins Bognor Regis break here.
London Self Catering Holidays
East of England Self Catering Holidays
Center Parcs Woburn Forest – Bedford, Bedfordshire
When you think of UK self catering holidays Center Parcs is usually one of the first places people think of. We visited Center Parcs Woburn Forest and loved how family friendly it was, the amount of activities and entertainment options on offer, the fantastic swimming complex and how there was something for every member of the family.
You can read more about our Center Parcs Woburn Forest break here.
East Midlands Self Catering Holidays
Darwin Forest Luxury Lodge Holidays -Matlock, Derbyshire
If you are looking for a complete country retreat then Darwin Forest has everything you could need for the whole family. With a great leisure complex, activities for the whole family, soft play, crazy golf and adventure playgrounds. The luxury lodges have everything you would expect from a luxury lodge holiday and there’s a restaurant and takeaway options if you don’t feel like cooking either.
You can find out why we loved Darwin Forest here.
Sandybrook Luxury Lodge Holidays – Ashbourne, Derbyshire
We had a winter weekend at Landal Sandybrook and it was such a nice break after the hectic Christmas period. Darwin Forest’s sister site is a quiet retreat in the heart of the countryside. There’s a pool, mini golf, restaurant and nature trail. A lovely break for the whole family.
You can read more about our weekend at Sandybrook in Derbyshire here.
Butlins – Skegness, Lincolnshire
Our first Butlins experience was visiting Butlins in Skegness and staying on their caravan site. The entertainment options were fantastic and the children had a great break especially as we visited over Halloween and there were fireworks and other themed activities on all family breaks.
You can read more about our Butlins Skegness break here.
North West Self Catering Holidays
The Heart Apartments – Media City, Salford Quays, Manchester
We had a festive weekend in Salford Quays and stayed in the Heart Apartments during it. The apartment was perfect for families with lift access, reduced parking charges and views across the Quays. It’s well located to experience everything that the Quays has to offer and has great facilities to eat in as well as the abundance of restaurants and takeaway options that the Quays have to offer.
You can find out more about our stay at the Heart Apartments in Salford Quays here.
Center Parcs Whinfell Forest – Cumbria
We had a term time week at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest before the children started school and absolutely loved it. The accomodation was great, the swimming complex was fantastic and there were so many activities too.
You can read more about our Center Parcs Whinfell Forest break here.
Scotland Self Catering Holidays
Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort – Dundee
On a trip to Scotland we were looking for somewhere to stay that would enable us to see some of the local area and visit attractions with the children. Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort in Dundee ticked all our boxes and ended up being a complete oasis in an otherwise fairly residential area full of beautiful lodges and amazing views.
You can read more about our Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort stay here.
Wales Self Catering Holidays
Bluestone National Park Resort
If you’re looking for a rural retreat in Wales there really is nothing better than Bluestone National Park Resort. It has fantastic views and scenery, set in the heart of the countryside, and there is so much for every member of the family to do including play areas and the Bluestone spa.
You can read about our Bluestone holiday here and also what we thought of Bluestone’s Kingdom of the Elves when we visited at Christmas.
We’re planning a lot more travels around the country and I’ll be updating this post with everywhere we visit. If you have any family friendly self catering recommendations please do let me know – I’ll add it to our list of places to visit and write about.
Tracey Williams says
This is such a great and informative post Donna. You have certainly made your way around the UK x
Donna Wishart says
I’m looking forward to seeing where the next months and years take us! x