The Best UK Hotels for a Christmas Family Break

The Goring, London

It’s hard to find a more enchanting spot than London at Christmas time. From the twinklingly lights to the towering tree in Trafalgar Square, the capital in December is truly magical. To immerse your family in the wonder of it all check into The Goring. This legendary family-owned five-star in Belgravia is marvellous for families because you get all the sparkle of a city at Christmas, but with a wonderfully cosy hotel to retreat to when little legs have had enough

The three-night Christmas stay is wonderfully traditional, with Champagne on arrival, a superb breakfast each morning, Christmas Eve dinner, a special Christmas Day feast and Boxing Day lunch or dinner. Then there’s time for family walks through the Royal Parks, presents by the fire and plenty of festive treats. The Goring is also particulalry good at making children feel properly special. Families can book spacious interconnecting rooms or Garden Family Suites, while little guests get their own Goring passport, activity packs, dressing-up boxes, books, bath toys. There’s a children’s menu, afternoon tea and babysitting can be arranged too

Walk to Buckingham Palace, explore the Christmas lights and shops around Belgravia, head to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, see a festive show or go ice skating. After all that excitement, come back to the Goring, curl up beside the roaring fire and order something delicious. It’s Christmas in London, but with the magic and luxury dialled right up

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Bedruthan Hotel, Cornwall

If your dream Christmas is all windswept beaches and roaring fires, then Bedruthan is a winner. Perched on the Cornish coast, this excellent family hotel is in the most scenic spot and also gets properly into the festive spirit, with Christmas activities that little ones will be totally wowed by and a feet-up, kick-back stay that parents can certainly get on board with

The ‘A Day Before Christmas’ experience is a particularly sweet way to start things off. Children get their own 30 -minute festive hangout with Father Christmas in an awesome grotto (created by the team in the hotel’s basement), complete with a story and a special present, before everyone heads off for food in the Wild Café. Or go one better with the ‘Night Before Christmas’ package which guest book in for year after year. Settle into your cosy room overlooking the waves, then get ready for a very special festive evening as the hotel transforms into a sparkling Christmas wonderland. Add in the hotel’s swimming pool, spa, coastal walks and super family-friendly dining and Bedruthan at Christmas looks very appealing indeed

Read our first-hand family review here

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MacDonald Resort, Aviemore

If you can’t make it to Lapland, then simply head to Highlands of Scotland where the wintery vistas and picture-perfect snow-capped scenes offer the same magical feel. Stay at the Macdonald Resort Aviemore in the heart of the Cairngorms where you’ll find a whole programme of festive events running from November to January. Little ones will love visiting Santa in his Grotto, taking part in activities in the Elves’ workshop and meeting a real-life Rudolph and his friends who are part of the UK’s only free-range reindeer herd. This four-star hotel has family accommodation sussed with clever bunk rooms for four where children have their own separate bunk area. Cots and highchairs can also be provided. There’s an onsite cinema showing festive movies, an indoor swimming pool with a wave machine and child-friendly dining options. The soft play centre and outdoor play park are handy ways to keep little ones entertained in the resort or pop just outside to the lovely little town and enjoy some skating at the Aviemore Ice Rink where hotel guests can enjoy a 30% discount

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The Grand Hotel, York 

Explore quaint cobble streets and pretty Christmas markets without the hassle of travelling to Europe with a stay at The Grand in York. The former headquarters of the North Eastern Railway Company, this beautifully renovated hotel has bags of old-world festive charm and is the ideal base from which to see one of the UK’s most historic cities in all its Christmas splendour. Their family rooms are the perfect size for four (extra beds can be requested too) with views over the famous York Minster. Once you’ve explored the markets, head back for a seasonal afternoon tea complete with Frosty the Snowman and Santa’s Hat cakes. Book into a festive parent and child cookery class at the Grand’s excellent cookery school (for kids aged eight and upwards) and make the likes of gingerbread figures and delicious Christmas cupcakes. Children are most welcome in the dining room or ask the concierge to book a babysitter if you fancy a grown-up night out while the kids watch Home Alone or Santa Clause The Movie and tuck into rooms services treats

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Watergate Bay Hotel, Cornwall

If you want a festive break with coastal vibes then Watergate Bay in Cornwall ticks all the boxes. One of the UK’s best beach hotels, this outstanding resort is certainly not just for the summer months. In December they swap surf for Santa with the opportunity for kids to meet the man in red and receive a personalised gift. They can also make the most of fun supervised sessions in the awesome Ofsted-registered Kids Zone that caters for children aged from six-months, while teens will love their very own hangout zone complete with pool table and computer games. There’s mince pies and mulled wine on arrival, wreath making workshops and carols around the beach bonfire with hot chocolate – as well as the hotel’s very own outdoor ice rink to skate on. Watergate Bay has an impressive range of accommodation from self-catering to family suits and interconnecting rooms, plus it’s dog-friendly too. There are three restaurants to choose from (all of which welcome children), a stunning indoor pool overlooking the Blue Flag beach and a spa that grown-ups can enjoy. And if you are feeling brave you can even take a dip in the sea with one of the instructors from the onsite surf school – just remember to hire a wet suit!

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Another Place

If you like the idea of Christmas being a proper family adventure rather than four days spent eating Quality Street in your pyjamas, Another Place is your ideal escape. Right on the shores of Ullswater, it’s gloriously cosy and surrounded by some of the Lake District’s most picture-perfect scenery. They also know how to take the hassle out of planning a festive break with a a four-night Christmas package that’s tailor made for families and full of magical little moments. Arrive on 23 December, grab a mince pie and mulled wine by the fire, settle the children into Kids’ Zone and then head straight onto the lakeside ice rink for some skating. Feeling brave? There’s even a starry lake swim before live music by the fire – not for the fainthearted though!

Christmas Eve brings snowy-fell walks, more skating, Little Chef’s Pizza School for the kiddos and a meeting with Father Christmas (obvs) and a champagne tasting for the big folk – so far, so jolly. On Christmas morning, wake up in a beautiful hotel suite or a self-catering cottage overlooking the lake, which can be kitted out in Christmas decorations. Then once the presents are opened, head off for a Champagne breakfast, followed by a full festive lunch with all the trimmings. Next it’s Christmas movies, popcorn, walks by the lake and plenty of time to unwind together. Boxing Day is just as fun, with a family activity, more skating, a rather bracing lake dip and gin tasting for the grown-ups. It’s Christmas with all the magic, none of the cooking and plenty to keep every generation happily occupied. And the good news is you can still bring the Quality Street too!

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Three Mile Beach, Cornwall

Escape to your own little corner of Cornwall for Christmas with a stay at Three Mile Beach where you can wake up in a beautiful holiday home with your own Christmas tree, the whole site sparkling with fairy lights and the Cornish coast just waiting outside. Sounds dreamy eh? These stylish, spacious self-catering properties are a genuine home-from-home with proper bedrooms, generous living spaces and well-equipped kitchens, so you have all the freedom of a house where you can snuggle up and watch festive films, but, importantly, the ability to shut the door on the kitchen when someone else is in charge of the cooking

The festive touches start the moment you arrive, with a Christmas hamper packed with local chocolate and homemade mince pies. Then, throughout December, a little advent surprise arrives each day – perhaps a hot chocolate, homemade sloe gin, mulled wine kit, freshly baked cookies or a personalised Christmas decoration. It’s such a lovely touch from a team who go all out to make it extra special for guests. Ideal for large family groups who can each have their own pad and feel free to bring the dog along too. Christmas lunch can be pre-ordered, ready to heat and eat, leaving more time for beach walks, exploring the coast, relaxing together and doing absolutely nothing at all. Christmas at Three Mile Beach is all about having your own space and your own traditions just with a lot less stress

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Moonfleet Manor, Dorset

As a member of the Luxury Family Hotel group, Moonfleet Manor is a brilliant family escape at any time of year, but Christmas is when this grand old Dorset manor really comes into its own with a great range of festive activities – like Carol singing, gingerbread house making and s’mores around the fire pit. It’s the perfect spot if you want an chance to really chill out. With an Ofsted Registered kids’ club, a cool cinema and games room, an outdoor play area and a swimming pool, Moonfleet is a firm favourite for those with young children who appreciate extensive child-care provision and generous family suits, as well as clever little touches such as stylish Bugaboo highchairs and Yoto story players

The setting is pretty special too, sitting right on the Jurassic Coast overlooking Chesil Beach, so there are coastal walks and fresh-air adventures on the doorstep when everyone needs to burn off a few mince pies. And then there’s the all-important grown-up bit. While the children are busy, parents can make the most of the hotel’s spa, relax with a treatment or simply settle somewhere cosy with a drink. It’s a lovely combination of big-house Christmas charm, family fun and grown-up relaxation – with none of the cooking, clearing up or entertaining required at home

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Celtic Manor Resort, Wales 

The vast but welcoming Celtic Manor Resort in the Welsh countryside really does have something for everyone with a packed programme of on-site activities. Grown-ups will love the golf, spa and health club with its yoga classes and state-of-the-art gym, while kids can make the most of the adventure playground and forest high ropes course, or all have fun together with family swimming sessions in the huge pool. At Christmas this five-star resort lays on a host of special themed activities too, including tea parties with Santa, design your own stocking classes and treasure hunts with the Elves. The decorations are really something to behold with a giant twinkling tree in reception surrounded by the cutest Christmas model railway that will mesmerise little guests. There are several family-friendly dining options and enormous, comfortable family suits, some of which can sleep up to six, or check out the large self-catering Hunter Lodges which can accommodate up to 10 people – ideal for larger or multigenerational groups

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The Grove, Hertfordshire 

Referring to itself as ‘London’s Country Retreat’, The Grove is just outside the M25 in Hertfordshire but feels like a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city in December. The minute you step through the front door (which is adorned with a huge bow thanks to their stylish partnership with Jo Malone) you’ll be met with roaring fires, decorations worthy of a Christmas movie set and a ton of festive treats in store for all the family. Little ones can pop into Dasher’s Den to do festive crafts or be looked after in the Ofsted registered creche, while older children and parents can get creative with wreath making, bauble designing or gingerbread house decorating

This five-star property really does know how to add the magic touch with carols around the firepit, mince pies in the lounge and Santa and his Elves making regular appearances. Head outside for wintery walks around the 300-acre estate or the likes of super-cute mini-Landover driving for kids aged from two to eight. Enjoy a round on the championship golf course or some chill out time in the amazing spa. Stay in one of the dreamy self-catering cottages that are all decked out for the festive season – the hotel will even fill the pantry so you can have a wonderful home-from-home Christmas with all the hassle removed

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Gleneagles

If you’ve ever watched a Christmas film and thought I want THAT Christmas, Gleneagles might just be the real-life version. Come December, this legendary five-star Scottish hotel transforms into a glittering festive treasure trove, with roaring fires, twinkling lights, beautifully dressed trees everywhere. Inspired by the folklore and wildlife of the surrounding Ochil Hills, the decorations bring the woodland indoors, with squirrels, deer, pine martens, robins and geese appearing around every corner. The whole place feels like you’ve wandered onto the set of the most beautiful Christmas film ever made – only here you get to actually stay there

Every detail is thought of in the hotel’s three-night Christmas and Twixmas packages – from ice skating on the famous lawn to a family panto and arts and crafts for children, to whisky tasting and spa treatments for the grown-ups. Santa will definitely make an appearance too. There’s, of course, seriously good food and plenty of opportunities to dress up and feel fabulously festive. Then comes Hogmanay, when Gleneagles transforms into Scotland’s most glamorous house party, with New Year’s Eve in the wonderfully traditional restaurant, The Strathearn and a spectacular fireworks display on the front lawn. It’s magical, indulgent and truly five-star – Christmas memories don’t get much more special than this

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Treworgey, Cornwall

If your perfect Christmas involves a beautiful country cottage, a real tree sparkling in the corner and a backdrop that gives off The Holiday vibes (best Christmas movie ever, right?) then Treworgey is for you. These lovingly restored 5-star period homes are set on a gorgeous family-friendly estate overlooking Cornwall’s Looe River Valley. Dotted around the 170 acre farm, each cottage is decorated with its own real Christmas tree and you’ll find homemade mince pies, local apple juice and festive goodies waiting when you arrive. Outside, fairy lights sparkle through the trees, making even a simple walk back to your cottage feel rather magical

There’s plenty to keep children entertained, too. Christmas kids’ clubs and animal feeding mornings mean they can get stuck into the country life, while parents can enjoy a slower pace and a bit of precious family time. It’s particularly lovely for younger children who will think meeting a donkey is every bit as exciting as Father Christmas. Plus there’s indoor and outdoor play areas, with a separate soft play. And then there’s the cooking – or rather, the lack of it. Treworgey’s Coombe Kitchen prepares a special festive menu of homemade dishes, freshly made before being frozen and popped into your cottage freezer ready for Christmas. So you can enjoy a proper homemade feast without spending the whole day chained to the oven. Mega traditional, mega cosy and right up our street

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Ribby Hall Village 

If your children would happily swap a quiet Christmas by the fire for meeting Santa, pantomimes, swimming, Christmas trains and enough festive activities to fill every waking minute, Ribby Hall Village is going to be right up their street. Set in 130 acres of Lancashire countryside, this is less traditional country-house Christmas and more full-blown Winter Wonderland – and for families with younger children it truely ticks all the boxes. For starters you can stay in anything from a comfortable self-catering cottage to one of their more luxurious Signature Properties or Diamond Cottage which come with its own hot tubs. Plenty of space and freedom, but with a huge programme of things going on outside your front door

The festive line up is seriously impressive. There’s Santa’s Grotto, Christmas games, biscuit and cake decorating, character parties, Christmas ballet, storytelling and an adorable Christmas Train taking families off to the North Pole. Kids will love the family pantomime and the rather lovely sight of Santa travelling through the village in his sleigh. And when everyone needs a change of pace, there’s unlimited access to the tropical-themed leisure pool, plus loads of indoor and outdoor activities and a great spa for mum and dad to enjoy

Christmas Day itself can be completely hassle-free, with festive dining available, while the entertainment keeps going throughout the break. It’s the festive period made easy and definitely without inevitable cries of ‘I’m bored!’ – just swap your sitting room for a cosy cottage and let Ribby Hall do the entertaining

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