Which Luxury Family Hotel is right for your family?

Our Insider Intel

Rightfully crowned ‘Family friendly hotel of the year 2024’ by The Times, it’s almost impossible to find a box Fowey Hall doesn’t tick. A stunning stately mansion with sparkling seaside views, whether it’s impeccable interiors, endless entertainment or a chic spa you’re looking for, Fowey Hall is the answer

Best bits:

• One of the slickest Luxury Family Hotel outposts (the interiors are straight from a glossy design magazine)
• A short stroll into the beautiful coastal town of Fowey, a best of British beach spot brimming with local restaurants, cute boutiques & sandy shores
• There are lots of gorgeous (and giant) reception rooms to snuggle up in (all within baby monitor stretch as well), equipped with comfy chairs, boardgames and children’s books (with a great bar very nearby)
• Both the indoor and outdoor pool are simply stunning, and the spa treatment menu leaves nothing to be desired

Bear in mind:

• Fowey Hall is one of the most expensive Luxury Family Hotels locations
• It’s a bigger outfit than some of it’s sister hotels, for example Woolley Grange, so can feel a bit busier especially during peak
• While we haven’t heard any complaints on the food front, we also haven’t received the same glowing reviews as some other LFH spots – again, using Woolley Grange as an example

‘I’ve been to three Luxury Family Hotels now, and each is grand, with serious stately manor house vibes, while still being warm & homely. Fowey Hall in particular has undergone an amazing recent renovation and is the epitome of cool & contemporary, with quirky designer touches from bespoke wallpaper to restored antiques. It overlooks a beautiful Cornish fishing town where you can watch the boats, wander cobbled streets, dip into boutiques, and enjoy great coffee & lunch spots’

@poshlemons

‘A lot of hotels tout their family friendliness, and most nowadays will provide cots, highchairs & babysitters at most. But Fowey really goes above and beyond to create a luxury home from home experience – from bibs at breakfast to complimentary childcare & storytime. What I really loved about the hotel was its location, easily walkable into Fowey itself (which might just be the most gorgeous seaside town I’ve ever visited), with a gorgeous a sandy cove’

@frankie1204

‘Fowey Hall in Cornwall is stunning and they go above and beyond to cater for kids: travel cots, bottle warming service, high chairs and a kids menu in the restaurant, plus a child-friendly pool (my son had his first swim there). The best is the wifi baby monitors which allow parents to have an adults only dinner downstairs whilst keeping an eye on the kids’

@frankiegraddon

Our Insider Intel

An eclectic country pile straight out of a great British rom com, Woolley Grange makes for the perfect higgledy-piggledy rural retreat, combining lungfuls of fresh air with plenty of cosy corners. Proving the best things come in small packages, this charmingly intimate escape expertly balances family fun with rest and relaxation – think slow paced outdoor exploring, an inviting library full of games & books, and laidback swimming sessions. Having just been through a recent renovation, the interiors have never looked better – think quirky and artfully eclectic. Expect vintage fairground horses hiding round corners, life-sized woolly sheep for kids to clamber over, exposed beams and pretty little lamps you’ll want to smuggle home in your handbag. We can’t think of a better place to do nothing at all (without anyone complaining ‘I’m bored!’)

Best bits:

• The incredible, tight knit team who instantly make you feel like family
• The food is definitely worth writing home about!
• The outdoor spaces are especially magical – from the Fairy Garden to the huge front lawn strewn with trampolines, goal posts and countless garden games, and the sprawling Vegetable Garden (with resident ducks) and little play frames
• The (incredibly warm) indoor pool & spa will take your breath away – for all the right reasons

Bear in mind:

• The hotel is a little out of town, so bearing little legs in mind, you will realistically need a car if you want to get out and about, for example to try a local restaurant
• It is smaller than some of it’s sister hotels, meaning there’s a little less going on (probably best for 7 & under)

‘Woolley Grange restored my faith in holidays with a little person. I felt like I had more of a break in the two nights we were than I did in previous week long holidays with our little boy. They went above and beyond with the baby amenities, even providing a baby monitor in the room that works anywhere in the hotel. My husband and I were able to go to dinner in the evening (AMAZING food by the way) and watch our son on the monitor’

@bethang83

‘You know a hotel is doing something right when it rains the *entire* 3 days you’re away (bar about 30 minutes!) and there is still more than enough to entertain your very hyperactive 3 year old! Highlights included the stunning indoor pool, home-from-home library jam packed with toys and books, and more children’s activities than I could name (from reptile handling to t-shirt decorating). The food was knockout and the team unbelievably warm & welcoming – including the gardeners who coaxed the ducks over to say hi, and packed us off with artichoke bulbs to plant at home’

@bec_pb

‘Woolley Grange is like coming home to family friends, the staff are the hotel’s best asset and treat you like friends from the moment you step through the door. Nothing is too much trouble, they learn your children’s likes and dislikes almost immediately and it’s such a warm and friendly atmosphere. We have been for Christmas for the past 3 years and couldn’t love it more. It works in all seasons, with the vast gardens and outdoor pool in the summer, to the cosy lounges and open fires in the winter’

@mrsannapearson

Our Insider Intel

A beautiful base to explore the Devon coast (if you can drag yourself away from all the on site entertainment), grand Moonfleet Manor is packed with over 400 years of history – from soldiers to smugglers, and most recently, families. Proudly perched above Chesil Beach, the house has lovingly been resorted to it’s former Georgian glory, with a little added extra contemporary comfort

Best bits:

• With three indoor pools, not to mention the great British coast right on your doorstep, water babies will be in their element at Moonfleet Manor!
• While none of the Luxury Family Hotels are exactly struggling in the entertainment stakes, it’s fair to say Moonfleet goes above and beyond, with a sandpit, skittles alley, crazy golf, play areas, cinema & escape room. Outside, fossil hunts, crabbing & sprawling coastal walks await
• Recently renovated, the interiors are impeccable – timelessly elegant with bright, playful pops

Bear in mind:

• If you’re hoping to get out and about to nearby villages while you’re away you’ll need a car as opposed to exploring on foot
• If you’re booking a summer break, it’s worth remembering that there is no outdoor pool
• The play barn is currently being given a little extra love, to make sure all the toys and games are top notch

‘The hotel has recently undergone a pretty extensive renovation and everything looks BEAUTIFUL. It’s the perfect blend of decadent and comfy. It gave me Beauty & The Beast vibes. The rooms manage to be airy and roomy plus very homely at the same time. Alongside the necessities you’d expect from a luxury hotel, Moonfleet really go the extra mile and have thought through all of the added extras you need as a parent (and may have forgotten to pack). There’s pull out toddler beds, cots, highchairs, strollers, buckets and spades, kites, goggles and tonnes of other items you can borrow’

@susiejverrill

‘We’ve just had a few days away at Moonfleet Manor – it’s such a fab place! My three absolutely loved it. It was exceptionally family friendly with entertainment for all ages, which is great if you have more than one tiny traveller. The Four Bears Den was fantastic – my girls loved the ladies running it and the activities, especially making s’mores in the woodland and painting canvases. The rooms were clean and spacious and I loved the added extras like the free coffee machine in the indoor play area, and the bedtime milk and cookies’

@sheandhem

‘We booked a lovely two bedroom suite, and the room was set up perfectly on arrival with all the elements we had asked for (bed guard, potty, baby monitor) as well as a lovely bed and treats for our dog! The food was delicious and the kids menu had lots of options. We had pre-booked for our little man to have his dinner at 5.30pm, and it was lovely for him to be able to eat in the lounge so we could relax with a glass of wine by the fireplace. We made use of 90mins free childcare daily at the Four Bears Den Kids Club and our little man had an amazing time, often not wanting it to end!’

Mama Sarah

Our Insider Intel

Calling out to all little nature and wildlife lovers – we’ve found your perfect pad in the New Forest. With resident ponies and deer to befriend, countless woodland trail adventures and a spoiling spa for mum and dad, New Park Manor is purpose built for restorative family breaks – where there’s little on the agenda besides relaxation and recreation

Best bits:

• Two words: Peppa Pig. If your toddler is a fan of our pink pal (and let’s face it, which tot isn’t?) earn some serious parent brownie points with a day out to her world (and actually, it’s quite…. good?!)
• Another hotel proudly waving it’s recently renovated flag, New Park Manor only reopened earlier in 2024 and we can confirm, there are no chinks to be found in its interiors armour – it is immaculate
• Just like sister hotels Fowey Hall and Woolley Grange, the choice of indoor and outdoor pools ensures big boxes are ticked whatever the weather

Bear in mind:

• New Park Manor isn’t in a village as such, but instead is surrounded by rolling countryside as far as the eye can see – which is gorgeous, but does make things a little more tricky without a car
• Some of the rooms are a little on the small side, so double check in advance that the size you’ve selected is sufficient for your family
• One of the more boutique feeling hotels, New Park Manor doesn’t have the same level of entertainment as Moonfleet Manor, but there’s plenty to explore on its doorstep

‘There’s a lovely English country house vibe to the decor at New Park Manor; think bright and airy rather than stuffy. We stayed in the one-bedroom suite, which had a separate living area where we found the travel cot set up for us. It was heaven to put our toddler to bed and still be able to watch TV! There was a big bathroom with a bath and kids’ toiletries, as well as Bramley products for the grown ups. My favourite thing was opening the curtains in the morning to watch a misty sunrise over the beautiful New Forest countryside – bliss. If you’re travelling with preschoolers, this hotel caters for your every need’

@sophie_hines_

‘ We stayed in a two bedroom suite at New Park Manor which was very spacious (and I’d highly recommend if you have more than 1 child). There were even bed rails up ready and waiting, which was a lovely touch instead of us piling pillows around. In the heart of the magical New Forest, it is 20 mins from Paultons Park (& Peppa Pig World) – the perfect pad to retreat back to after a day of adventure’

@poshlemons

‘We’ve just got back from two nights over half term at New Park Manor. It’s recently been refurbished and is beautiful! It has an indoor and outdoor pool, which children are *always* allowed in, open from 7.30am every day. It has brilliant onsite childcare – we actually booked extra sessions too, as well as the complimentary 90 minutes every day – as my 5 year old absolutely LOVED going to the Den. Parents – this means you have time to relax in the adults only hot tubs, or share a cocktail at the bar!’

@olivia_wilsongraham

Our Insider Intel

If your idea of holiday heaven is having (almost) unlimited room to roam in spectacular countryside surroundings, hold the phone – we’ve found your spot. With 1,800 acres of National Trust parkland to enjoy whenever you feel like it (even out of hours), The Ickworth packs a punch when it comes to outdoor adventures

Best bits:

• If you’ve got children who’d rather be outside than in, The Ickworth is the natural choice. The sprawling National Trust estate it calls home is unlike anything else in the collection, with woodland trails, lakes, gardens, bike rides and enough room to turn every walk into an adventure
• It’s not every day you get to stay in the wing of one of Britain’s finest stately homes. The historic setting gives The Ickworth a real sense of grandeur, but without sacrificing the warm, family-first feel the group is known for

Bear in mind:

• As with Moonfleet Manor, there is no outdoor pool to enjoy during summer months

‘You name it, The Ickworth supplied it. Cots, changing mats, nappy bins and bottle warmers in the room, highchairs in the restaurants and a handheld baby monitor or babysitters for post-bedtime wining and dining. For muddy walks, there were even wellies to borrow,. The family-friendly touches meant kids could keep occupied whilst parents actually had a holiday. In the day, there were outdoor playgrounds next to sun loungers, daily storytime sessions, an indoor games room for older children and a pool with children’s floats. You also get 90 minutes of free childcare per day at the Ofsted-registered Four Bear’s Den, so you can drop your little one off and cycle around the stunning scenery, play tennis or have a romantic walk around the walled garden. Movie screenings supplied with popcorn were on the agenda at night, where parents enjoyed a cocktail on the comfy sofas nearby’

@laurendaniellequinn

‘We had a room overlooking the parkland – we actually chose The Ickworth as during your stay, you get out of hours access to the National Trust estate which is amazing. Long after it is shut to the public, you can go out and make the most of the kids adventure play area, and the beautiful buggy friendly track through the grounds out to the sheep fields, which is absolutely stunning. The family friendly facilities are almost endless – the amazing swimming pool was super warm, which was great for the kids and came stocked with lots of floats and pool toys. Another hit was the outdoor trampoline, and the on site mini cinema. The food was brilliant too – it was all in the attention to detail’

@rebeccaloves__

‘My personal favourite of the Luxury Family Hotel is The Ickworth – a grand country house but totally baby, child & dog friendly – as in there were children (including mine) playing the ‘floor is lava’ on cushions in the library at one point and nobody blinked an eye. There are rooms of all different sizes available, baby monitors (which work anywhere in the hotel) are given for free, 90 mins of complimentary crèche time a day, child-friendly mealtimes and menus (they’re quite happy to whip you up a specific vegetable purée), a pool, bikes to hire and it’s also on a National Trust site with an epic playground!’

@thelittlestylist