Overview
Escape to the country, for a stately staycation with oodles of outdoor experiences. A mere 15 minute train ride from North London, you can be sipping an evening beverage on your terrace in less time than it usually takes to commute home. The former dwelling of the Earl of Clarendon has been immaculately restored to combine classic yet contemporary interiors with 5 star service, as would befit the previous owners
This all-singing-all-dancing hotel has it all; from an excellent spa and championship golf course for adults to endless entertainment for children. Year-round tiny travellers can try their hand at driving Mini Landies, splashing about in the indoor pool, burning off steam in the ample grounds or hitting the Kids Club on a Saturday, but the school holidays are when activities really shine for smalls. The event calendar then reads like a tantalising tick list for tiny people; wooden role play Pocket Town, tick; indoor softplay, tick; rugby and football camps, tick; 7 day a week childcare, tick. Bookmark a staycation from Easter onwards to experience Ralph’s Beach – a genius slice of summer living, with an al fresco swim spot, sandpit and games, plus Everyman cinema showings inside the Walled Garden
The surroundings may be grand, but the service here is warm and personal. Sticky-fingered toddlers are given the same A list treatment as the regularly-returning celebs. And, in our opinion, the premium price tag is more than justified by the stand out staff and acute attention to detail. Luxury is felt at every turn and during every second of your stay – from the sweet dream tea left at turndown to the whatsapp concierge service and fleet of buggies ready to whisk you around. All this, just a hop, skip and jump from the Capital. Hands down, it’s the best quickie we’ve ever had
Mama
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Nearest station
Approximately a 15 minute train ride from central London or 30 minutes from Heathrow
Best time to visit
The grounds are glorious for grown ups at all times of the year, but the school holidays are when the agenda for children is exceptional, with the Pocket Town and softplay both in action. Ralph’s Beach is open from Easter through to the summer, where, when the UK weather plays ball, you could easily believe you were sunning it up in Europe. At Christmas The Grove pulls out all the stops, with decorations and festive flair. You’d be hard pushed to find a more magical winter wonderland for families. During term time the Kids Club is open Saturday only, so for weekday slots it’s best to book a school holiday getaway
Favourite room
Rooms and suites are fully equipped to cater for families, with cots, additional beds and interconnecting rooms available upon request. Our favourite are the Deluxe Rooms with Garden Views in the West Wing – the name says it all really, with windows overlooking the expansive grounds. Tiny Travellers will LOVE the Scandiborn Sleepover package. For an additional fee of £75 rooms come kitted out with a tepee tent (that doubles up as a bed for toddlers), treasure trove of toys to play with, and even a take home gift
Nearby
‘Resorts’ are commonly associated with Europe’s beachfront boltholes, but with 300 acres of grounds to call its own, ‘hotel’ alone doesn’t do The Grove justice. If only visiting for a weekend there’s no need to leave, with Mini Landies to ride and woodlands to walk, but wannabe wizards will be delighted to hear the Harry Potter Studio Tour is only a 5 minute drive away
Price
from £445 p/night in low season or £465 p/night in high season
FAQs
What family facilities are there, and how much do they cost?
Childcare at The Grove starts from age 2 and extends all the way up to 9, at OFSTED-registered Anoushka’s Kids Club. During the school holidays this is open 7 days a week, whilst the rest of the year, it is available on Saturday, with hours split between two sessions – 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm.Where possible, we would definitely recommend prebooking as it is very popular with tiny travellers! A three hour slot costs £45 per child, and while parent’s can’t stay and play, you can rest assured tiny travellers will be having the time of their lives, enjoying arts and crafts, interactive games, story times, role play fun, Lego building and more
Babysitting is available as well, for all ages – in this instance, prebooking is essential and slots have to be a minimum of three hours long (charged at £26.40 an hour). Trust us, you won’t have any issues filling the time between the gorgeous spa, dreamy dining options, and opulent drinks lounges (did someone say cocktails?)
And when it comes to fun-for-the-whole-family activities, The Grove really pulls out all the stops. Year-round options include driving mini Landies around the huge estate, splashing in the indoor pool, indulging in a spot of tennis, borrowing bikes (including lots of options for little ones!) to tackle the woodlands, exploring the musical trail, trying your hand at archery or axe throwing (minimum ages apply), and burning off energy in the playground
Plus lets just say The Grove are known for really embracing the holiday seasons! Think: egg hunts, a giant bunny and petting zoo at Easter, a pumpkin patch at Halloween, showstopping decorations & a grotto at Christmas, and we’re barely scraping the surface. The best way to keep an eye on what is going on is to take a look here. Half terms are treated with the same boundless enthusiasm too – The Grove regularly hosts ‘Pocket Towns’ (a wooden role play world) as well as setting up soft play and holding face painting, cupcake decorating, glitter tattooing and balloon modelling sessions for kids (some of these are complimentary and others charged, with booking required – again, you’re best bet is to keep an eye out here, where activity guides are released in advance of each school holiday stretch)
Last but by no means least – let’s talk summertime! The Grove’s gorgeous (heated) outdoor pool in their Walled Garden tends to open from Easter until the end of September, and right next to it you’ll find Ralph’s Beach – a huge sandy spot filled with tonnes of loungers, a toy tent (with chalkboards, buckets and spades, a wooden pirate ship & more), lawn games and it’s own little beach bar, serving up everything from light bites to Aperol Spritz straight to your sunbed. A few steps away you’ll also find the epic Everyman pop up cinema, with a terrific timetable of family favourites, new releases and cult classics throughout the season (again, head to The Grove’s summer guide for more deets)
What equipment is available to borrow for babies and children?
The Grove ticks all of our parent pleasing boxes and then some, from the practical (cots, highchairs, and bottle sterilizers) to the thoughtful (children’s toiletries) and down-right adorable (mini slippers and tiny robes)
And I *urge* you to add on the Scandiborn sleepover setup (£75) – it’s the stuff childhood dreams are made of. As well as opening the door to find tonnes of gorgeous wooden toys, little ones have the option of sleeping in a teepee bedecked with fairy lights (just be warned, they’ll be begging you to recreate one at home afterwards!)
What are the pools like?
The are two family friendly pools at The Grove. The indoor pool is open year round, and has a whole host of floats and noodles that little ones will love, as well as a separate shallow section which is perfect for splashing around with really tiny tots. The outdoor pool is open from around Easter til the end of September, and has wide, gradual steps at one end. It is heated, though it obviously helps if the sunshine is on your side! Very handily, it is only steps away from the indoor pool so switching between the two couldn’t be much more convenient (plus they have super chic changing rooms, piles of fluffy towels, and toilet facilities as well)
Is there evening entertainment?
During the summer, you have the option to elevate your escape with an evening out to the Everyman pop up cinema. While that’s where the organised entertainment ends, the sprawling grounds make gorgeous post-dinner stroll territory, and the family friendly lounges await, with a fab cocktail menu and stack of board games to indulge in before bed
What is the protocol for allergies?
.The Grove have a very robust allergy protocol in place, and upon request, can provide extensive allergen and dietary information for all food prepared and sold throughout the hotel
What is the dining set up?
First things first – all of the stunning restaurants at The Grove are family friendly, so you needn’t worry about missing out if you’d rather not book a babysitter. To run through them one by one –
The Glasshouse: The Grove’s main restaurant takes the form of a super spoiling buffet spot. Imagine plates piled high with langoustines, cooked to order pasta, stacks of meticulously rolled sushi, roasts to rival your nana and fragrant, expertly spiced curries. The desserts… well, words will never do them justice (a bit like the buffet breakfast too, actually). Eat as much as you like for £69 per adult Monday to Thursday, increasing to £88 Friday to Sunday. Children up to 3 years old eat for free, whilst 4 to 12 year olds are half price
The Stables: An a la carte option with stunning views out over the golf course, The Stables serves up a modern take on Great British classics, showcasing seasonal and locally grown ingredients in a very special setting
Madhu’s at The Grove: Famous for their aromatic Indian banquets, expect flavoursome feast in the heart of The Grove’s historic mansion house
The Lounges: A maze of seriously sumptuous, interconnected lounges furnished ceiling to floor in designer decor, this is the ideal place to grab a sandwich, salad or some sushi for lunch (and as always, the kids are invited, with their own mini menu to choose from)
Pop up dining: The Grove is also no stranger to statement, pop up dining experiences (the kind that are so impossibly pretty, they are prone to go viral over on Insta!). From ‘Feast in Cloud 9’ in the iconic striped hot air balloons, to ‘Hawksmoor in the Woods’, exciting dining activities are aplenty around the estate
You can read more about dining options at The Grove here
Meet the family...
Munveer
Parent to Tiny Travellers aged 5 months, 18 months & 6
The hotel was very luxurious. An 18th century manor with slick 21st century amenities. Activities for children are endless. We visited with a 7 month old, 2 year old and 5 year old. All of whom loved their stay. Borrow a bike and tour the 300-acre grounds, you’ll find giant games of Jenga, Connect 4 and even a six-metre-tall giraffe
Worth waking the baby for
01
Harry Potter Studio Tour
Explore the wonders of the Wizarding World at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, where wannabe wizards can walk down Diagon Alley, drink (child friendly) butterbeer and learn the secrets behind the filmmaking magic. Guaranteed to delight diehard Potter fans and have muggles marvelling
02
Ralph's Beach
In the summer, the Walled Garden houses Ralph’s Beach. The ultimate seaside sanctuary in the city, guests are treated to a heated pool, deck chairs, ice cream hut and cocktails a plenty
03
Outdoor adventures
You’re spoilt for choice with outdoor adventures for all the family on the Grove’s glorious grounds. Children and adults alike can try their hand at horse riding, axe throwing, tree climbing, archery lessons, shooting experiences and more
Reviews from other parents
Perhaps the ultimate summer staycation spot, there's honestly nothing The Grove hasn't thought of. This more than just a hotel stay - it's an entire five star holiday just outside of London (meaning you can mix and match it with some sightseeing, too). We absolutely adored the outdoor pool, the beautiful daybeds and the huge 'beach' sandpit -sat sipping on an Aperol Spritz, I honestly could have been somewhere in Italy! Driving the mini Landies was a huge highlight for our little girl, and evening walks around the estate after dinner were a real 'how lucky am I?' moment
@bec_pb, mama to Tiny Travellers aged 4 & aged 7 months
With 300 acres of grounds to call its own, 'hotel' alone doesn't do The Grove justice. We visited at the end of November, where the Christmas decorations were nothing short of magical. With an indoor swimming pool, outdoor playground and Mini Landies (3+) to test drive, we weren't short on fun to fill our day, but we’re itching to come back in the summer to experience Ralph’s Beach. The award for the best hotel breakfast I've ever experience hands down goes to The Grove. An event in itself, there's food for all tastes (and tolerances), and dare I say the pastries are better than I've had in France. We booked the special sleepover package in collaboration with Scandiborn. My two were in awe at the magical tepee tent (which doubles as a bed for toddlers), train set, bbq and fishing toy waiting for them. The additional spend is well worth the money in my opinion, both for the distraction (and little extra downtime it gives parents), plus the super sweet gift tiny travellers are welcome to take home
@frankie1204, mama to Tiny Travellers aged 4 & 1
