A proper break.
Close to home.

Ascot, Berkshire

Probably the best-thought-through kids' set-up of any five-star near London: a whole playhouse of themed rooms, a teen den so older ones don't feel babied, and real ponies in the stables. Parents get Dorchester-level service and a gorgeous eco-spa, all twenty minutes from LEGOLAND.

Auchterarder, Perthshire

The rare five-star that takes children as seriously as golfers. Little ones get a proper crèche, older kids a den of their own, and everyone can have a go at falconry or driving a Land Rover across the estate. Parents get dinner in peace and a spa that is genuinely grown-up. Expensive, but it delivers.

Penrith, Cumbria

The North's answer to the best family hotels anywhere: parents get a design-led lakeside hotel and a pool facing the fells, children get a registered Kids' Zone doing den-building and crafts at no extra cost, and everyone can try paddleboarding on Ullswater. It manages to feel adventurous rather than precious.

Leatherhead, Surrey

The rare five-star that genuinely plans for children: a kids' club built around getting muddy in the woods, popcorn film screenings every afternoon and bunk-bed rooms, while you get Lord Beaverbrook's art-deco house, a serious spa and excellent food. Forty minutes from London, it's the easiest 'proper' weekend away going.

New Milton, Hampshire

The rare five-star that genuinely wants children there. The kids disappear into a treehouse club with its own goats while you book the spa, then everyone regroups in a stilted treehouse suite in the woods. The New Forest ponies and a shingle beach are minutes away, so nobody gets bored by Sunday.

London, Greater London

Your children will be trained as junior butlers, ride ponies in Hyde Park and hunt for treasure in their suite, then swim in the spa pool. It's old-school London grandeur where kids are treated as VIPs rather than tolerated. Book the multi-bedroom suites for space.

Hook, Hampshire

An hour from London yet it feels like a private estate: children can ride from the hotel's own stables, splash in the indoor pool and roam huge parkland, while the polished Four Seasons service quietly sorts cots, extra beds and connecting suites. Ideal when you want luxury without a long drive.

Lyndhurst, Hampshire

Laid-back luxury in the middle of the New Forest. Grab one of the self-contained forest cottages so naps don't wreck dinner, then spend the day spotting ponies on bikes before a family swim slot in the gorgeous Herb House. The relaxed Italian restaurant is happy to feed small people well too.

Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

Wooden cabins with log burners, bikes to cycle between pools and pizza ovens, and a Teeny Barn where children feed guinea pigs and fly down a zip line. Note you need a Soho House or Soho Friends membership to stay, but for members it's the ultimate Cotswolds family weekend.

Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh

Step out of the door into Princes Street and Edinburgh's best family sights are all walkable. The Balmoral's kids programme is tailored by age, so teenagers aren't patronised and babies get bottle warmers. A grand, central base for a castle-and-museums weekend.

Bruton, Somerset

One of the most beautiful places to stay in Britain, and it actually wants your children. In the holidays they're off to forest school and tree climbing while you wander the gardens; rainy hours go on the Beezantium and the Roman villa. Under-8s stay free, which takes the sting out of the bill a little.

London, Greater London

Few things beat watching your child pipe icing alongside Claridge's pastry chefs. Add morning family swims, the children's afternoon tea and a connecting room thrown in, and it's the ultimate special-occasion London weekend. Save it for a birthday or Christmas treat and book the pastry class early.

London, Greater London

Steps from the river, Trafalgar Square and Westminster, with big bright rooms that connect. Kids get welcome gifts and morning swims, parents get one of London's best spas, and the South Bank is an easy stroll. Ask for a river-facing connecting pair if you can.

Witney, Oxfordshire

Members'-club glamour that hotel guests can book. Kids head to The Nook or the pony paddock, there's a 25m pool for family splashes, and the woodland cabins are ideal for a multi-generational weekend. Blenheim Palace's playground and maze are fifteen minutes away for a ready-made Saturday.

Chippenham, Wiltshire

Proper grown-up grandeur that doesn't flinch at muddy wellies. Little ones disappear into the Hideaway playroom, older kids get falconry, archery and pony time at the stables, and everyone gets bikes with trailers to roam the 500-acre park. Book a cottage for space, then sneak to the spa during family pool hours. Bath is twenty minutes away.

Masham, North Yorkshire

A real castle with turrets, but the magic is how much is laid on for children without it feeling like a holiday camp. Rainy day? Cinema, cookery school, craft barn and a pool. Dry? Owls, archery, bikes and an enormous estate to roam. Kids-stay-free holiday dates make it unusually good value for this level of polish.

London, Greater London

Polished but warm, with family swim sessions at the gorgeous Aman Spa pool and a babysitter on call so you can try the restaurants. Hyde Park and the Diana playground are a ten-minute walk. Ask for the activity book on arrival and plan a museum morning in South Kensington.

London, Greater London

Theatre-land on the doorstep and the river out front: catch a West End musical, then come home to a family room where the kids have their own space. Free breakfast for under-12s and the pool make a central-London weekend surprisingly easy.

Maidenhead, Buckinghamshire

It's genuinely grand, but the kids won't notice the gilt: they'll be lost in the yew maze, splashing in the famous outdoor pool or chugging up the Thames on a boat. Spring Cottage, down by the river with its own children's room, is the dream family hideaway.

Braemar, Aberdeenshire

A Highland hotel that doubles as an art gallery – Picasso on the walls, Bowie-era quirk in the bedrooms – and somehow still makes children feel welcome. The art room and forager-led treasure hunts are clever touches, and the Cairngorms are on the doorstep for red squirrels and burns to splash in.

Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire

Just inside the M25 yet it feels like a mini holiday: book the little ones into Anouska's for crafts, Lego and stories behind the walled garden, then grab a spa hour or a round of golf. Summer adds the outdoor pool and beach, and the buffet restaurant is a lifesaver with fussy eaters.

Tetbury, Gloucestershire

The hotel that made 'luxury with kids' feel effortless. Rooms arrive kitted out with cots and bath toys, the Playbarn crèche buys you a spa afternoon, and kids' tea at five means grown-up dinner later. The treehouse rooms are a brilliant treat, and Westonbirt's autumn colour is ten minutes down the road.

Brockenhurst, Hampshire

If your children are under eight, this is about as easy as a weekend away gets. Free nursery-style childcare every night, a pool, a popcorn cinema and a games room mean parents actually get a long lunch, and Peppa Pig World and Paultons are a short drive through pony-dotted forest.

London, Greater London

Its courtyard entrance feels like stepping into a private mansion, and the family rooms genuinely connect. Walk to the British Museum, Coram's Fields and Covent Garden's street performers, then come back to a room set up with treats for the kids.

Newquay, Cornwall

You step off the terrace straight onto two miles of sand. Little ones disappear happily into the free Kids' Zone while you swim lengths looking out at the surf, then everyone meets up for a lesson with the beach school. Family suites with their own bunk rooms mean bedtime doesn't end your evening.

Balloch, West Dunbartonshire

Under an hour from Glasgow airport yet it feels like the Highlands: a baronial hotel right on the bonnie banks, with boats leaving from the bottom of the lawn. Take a lodge if the kids are small and you want a kitchen, then wander up for a swim and a proper dinner.

Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

Matfen has clearly thought about children rather than tolerating them: bunk-bed suites with games consoles, a proper kids' menu with wood-fired pizza, children's afternoon tea and golf made fun in the Golf Lab. It's also a smart base for Hadrian's Wall and Kielder, with Newcastle half an hour away.

Newquay, Cornwall

A grand red-brick hotel on its own headland above Fistral. Little ones get a splash pool of their own, teenagers get a surf school on the doorstep, and everyone gets pitch and putt and space to run. The cottages are brilliant if you'd rather cook your own tea.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Staying in a stately home where nobody minds a toddler in wellies. The Ickworth has the full family kit — nursery-style kids club, pool, cinema, games room — and a huge National Trust park to run wild in. Parents get a real breather; children think they live in a palace.

Lechlade, Gloucestershire

Self-catering freedom with hotel extras. Bag a lakeside cabin, let the kids paddleboard and zip-wire their way through the day, then everyone flops in the spa pool at family swim time. Spa access comes with the stay, and the Cotswold Wildlife Park is a short drive when you fancy rhinos.

Frome, Somerset

The original cool-parents' country house, and non-members can book bedrooms at public rates. Teeny House gives children aged one to sixteen their own space with two free hours a day, so you get the spa and a long lunch. Frome's Sunday market and Longleat are both easy outings.

Newquay, Cornwall

Probably the most child-organised hotel on the north coast: a crèche for the little ones, a holiday club for the bigger ones, soft play for wet afternoons and a cinema room for wind-down. Mawgan Porth's sheltered beach is a short walk down, and there's even a sensory spa garden older kids can try.

Newton Abbot, Devon

A grand moorland manor where the weekend is all falconry, archery and bushcraft rather than screens. Older children love the sense of adventure, there's a pool and spa for downtime, and the lodges give families their own front door. Dartmoor's tors and ponies are right outside.

Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

All the space of a cottage with hotel-level polish: log fires and four-posters for you, three playgrounds, a Wendy house, ride-on cars and an indoor pool for them. Brilliant for a big family get-together with grandparents in the Cotswolds. Bring the whole clan.

Fowey, Cornwall

A turreted mansion above Fowey's estuary that is built entirely around the under-eights. Hand the baby to the Four Bears Den for a couple of free hours, book a treatment, then wander down to the harbour for crab lines. Eden and Heligan are both close enough for an easy day out.

Chertsey, Surrey

Built around families rather than just tolerating them: soft play with zip lines, a pretend high street, toddler shallows in every pool and an outdoor pool heated all year. Book a family suite with its adjoining kids' room and you'll barely need the car all weekend.

Weymouth, Dorset

Built around children rather than merely tolerating them. Rainy day? The Play Barn swallows hours with mini golf, escape rooms and a science room, while the crèche hands parents two hours to themselves each night. Outside it's Chesil Beach and the Fleet lagoon, and Abbotsbury's swannery is a short hop along the coast.

Iver, Buckinghamshire

A Georgian mansion brought back to life with a big modern spa, a cinema and pools inside and out. Kids get their own robes, holiday activities and bikes to whizz round the park, and you're barely 20 minutes from LEGOLAND and Windsor.

Saxmundham, Suffolk

Like borrowing a beautifully restored country estate for the weekend. Choose a barn with its own heated pool, let the children loose around lakes and meadows, and bring in a chef if nobody wants to cook. Southwold and Dunwich beaches are a short drive away.

St Ives, Cornwall

It's the sheltered, turquoise bay that sells it — safe, shallow and right outside the door. Children head off to the kids' club for sandcastles and craft while you book the spa, and the beach lodges and houses give families real space. St Ives is a gentle coast-path stroll away for ice creams.

Newport, Newport

Wales's big all-rounder: you can genuinely fill a weekend without getting in the car. Free family swims, crazy golf, a scramble net strung through the trees and a toddler corner indoors for rainy hours. Book a Hunter Lodge if you're travelling with grandparents, and watch for the half-term children-stay-free offers.

Hook, Hampshire

One of the most beautiful hotels in England, and pleasingly unstuffy with children. There's no kids club, so it suits families who want long walks round the lake, egg-collecting vibes on the biodynamic farm and properly good food together. Book a cottage if you have little ones, and know the pool is grown-ups only.

Benderloch, Argyll and Bute

You cross a little bridge onto your own island, badgers come to the terrace at dusk and the children can roam safely. It's properly five-star but relaxed about families – free extra beds for little ones, a pool, bikes and babysitting so parents can still enjoy that dining room.

Braunton, Devon

That glamorous white hotel sitting above three miles of sand at Saunton. A free daily playroom session buys you a swim or a treatment, there are pools inside and out, and the beach and dunes do the rest. A 'Baby Go Lightly' package means you can leave half the baby kit at home.

Dorchester, Dorset

Classic Hardy-country house hotel with a soft spot for children: a playhouse in the garden, treasure hunts, and kids eating free while you enjoy the restaurant. Cottages with linked rooms mean no shushing at bedtime, and the Jurassic Coast is close enough for a morning hunting ammonites at Charmouth.

Ambleside, Cumbria

Langdale is one of the Lakes' most dramatic valleys, and this estate makes it doable with small children: a warm pool with a baby pool, soft play for wet afternoons and pizza-friendly menus. Choose the luxe Brimstone suites or a lodge, then walk out of the door into the fells.

Kingsbridge, Devon

A classic, beautifully run family hotel above a string of South Devon beaches. Big T's club keeps 6–12s busy in the holidays, there are pools inside and out, and kids' supper means a grown-up dinner later. Rock pools at Thurlestone Rock are a short walk away.

St Austell, Cornwall

Everything a young family needs within a stroll of your cottage door: goats to feed, eggs to find, a pony ride, an indoor pool and a play barn for rainy hours. Grown-ups get babysitting and treatments, and Heligan, Eden and Mevagissey's harbour are all within a few miles.

Broadway, Worcestershire

Sister to The Fish but more polished: think hot-tub suites, a gorgeous spa and food worth staying in for. Kids get a goodie bag, their own menu and daily pool slots, and the Farncombe estate's falconry and archery are right there. Broadway Tower's deer park is a lovely short drive for a picnic.

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

A smart members'-club feel on the Broads: woodland cabins, a heated outdoor pool, lake activities and a zip wire for the kids, plus a clubhouse that does good food. It strikes a rare balance between grown-up style and genuinely active days for children.

Ballymena, County Antrim

Northern Ireland's showpiece resort, half an hour from Belfast, with a river running through 550 acres. Pick a log cabin or forest den, book falconry or a pony ride, and let the children loose in the woods while you take turns in the famous riverside hot tubs.

Ballantrae, South Ayrshire

A real fairy-tale castle on the Ayrshire coast, with turrets, walled gardens and views to Ailsa Craig. What makes it work for families is the bookable fun – den-building with a ranger, meeting the Highland cows, archery on the lawn – so children have their own adventure while you soak up the luxury.

Newby Bridge, Cumbria

Location is everything here: the lake steamers pull in just outside, the Lakes Aquarium and Lakeside & Haverthwaite steam railway are next door, and the bunk-bed family suite gives children their own den. Add a pool for wet afternoons and kids-eat-free early suppers, and the logistics of a Lakes weekend more or less vanish.

Bala, Gwynedd

Proper five-star polish in the Dee Valley that doesn't shoo children away. Ask for adjoining rooms, book an evening of babysitting and enjoy dinner, then spend the days on the estate trails or at Bala Lake, with the steam railway and white-water rafting nearby for older kids.

Westhall, Suffolk

A small cluster of converted farm buildings where children wake up to goats and alpacas outside the window and can swim in a covered, heated pool whatever the weather. The three smaller lodges have proper children's beds and terraces that link up, so two families can share easily. Southwold beach and Africa Alive are each about 20 minutes away.

Darlington, County Durham

Rockliffe pulls off the rare trick of being a serious five-star spa and golf resort that's genuinely relaxed with children. The Wonderland-themed play area is a hit with under-tens, family swim sessions are long, and there's proper kids' food in the restaurants. Easy to reach off the A1 for a two-night reset.

Whitby, North Yorkshire

Newly reinvented and right above Sandsend's sweeping beach, Saltmoore keeps families in its own Beach House with a children's pool, so parents don't feel they're disturbing the spa crowd. Days write themselves: rock-pooling, fish and chips in Whitby and steam trains across the moors.

Eastbourne, East Sussex

Old-school seaside glamour that still loves children. The outdoor pool is open to kids all day, the beach and pier are across the road and there's afternoon tea for the grown-ups. Simple, joyful and an easy train ride from London.

Truro, Cornwall

Old-school luxury done warmly: the garden opens onto a safe sandy beach, children have their own early dinner while you dress for yours, and staff will arrange a babysitter. Grandparents love it too, which makes it a lovely three-generation weekend. Take a trip out on the hotel's own boat.

Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Each room is its own hideaway scattered around lakes and woodland, so a family gets privacy rather than a corridor. Children love the treehouses and the outdoor pool; parents love the three-rosette restaurant. It sits handily for Alton Towers and the Peak District, though the grounds aren't fenced, so little ones need eyes on them.

Lechlade, Gloucestershire

A whole Cotswold village to call your own for the weekend. Take a cottage so the kids have room to sprawl, eat farm-to-fork in the Ox Barn, and spend sunny afternoons at the pool. Gentle cycles along the lanes and pub suppers at The Swan make it feel like the slow weekend everyone needed.

Woolacombe, Devon

Woolacombe's three miles of golden sand are a two-minute walk away, and back at the hotel there's a lido, an indoor pool, a cinema with daily family films in the holidays and acres of lawn for ball games. Connecting rooms and two-bed suites make sharing easy.

Crieff, Perthshire

Scotland's original family hotel and still the easiest weekend for parents: hand the under-12s to the kids club, ride a pony, try archery, swim, repeat. It isn't the plushest place on this list, but nothing beats it for keeping every age busy without ever getting back in the car.

Narberth, Pembrokeshire

One of the most grown-up hotels in Wales that still makes children feel expected: a little teepee waiting in the room, a travel cot already sorted and lawn games outside. Pair the cottage suites for a private family wing, then use it as a base for Folly Farm and the Tenby beaches.

Bryher, Isles of Scilly

Getting there is half the adventure — helicopter or boat to a tiny car-free island. Then it's rock pools, shrimping nets and an outdoor pool, with high tea for the kids and a proper dinner for you. Suites have separate bedrooms, so it really feels like a holiday.

Edenbridge, Kent

Anne Boleyn's childhood home becomes your playground once the gates close. Medley Court is a grand, roomy house for the whole clan, with the water maze, adventure playground and lakeside paths all included. A brilliant pick for grandparents-plus-cousins weekends.

Fort William, Highland

Queen Victoria loved it and it still feels like a private castle, with Ben Nevis filling the windows. Best for older children who'll appreciate the drama – steam trains over Glenfinnan, gondolas up Aonach Mòr, waterfalls in Glen Nevis – rather than toddlers needing a playroom.

Enniskillen, County Fermanagh

Built on its own peninsula between two loughs, with lodges that make a weekend feel like a proper holiday. The fairytale trail through the woods is a lovely touch for younger children, and the Marble Arch Caves boat trip nearby is unforgettable.

Hythe, Kent

Waking up to giraffes outside your treehouse is about as magical as a UK weekend gets. Stays include the safari truck and the dinosaur trail, so the whole reserve is your adventure playground, and it all supports conservation work. Pricey, but this is the break the kids will talk about for years.

St Columb Major, Cornwall

The rare resort that keeps teenagers happy: they can surf the FlowRider, bounce across the inflatable aqua park and try wakeboarding while parents book the spa. The barns and hot-tub lodges feel genuinely smart, and Padstow, Watergate Bay and Newquay's beaches are all within a short drive.

Broadway, Worcestershire

Treehouse-with-room-service is the dream, and The Fish nails it: bunk beds for the kids, a steaming outdoor bath for you and woods all around. Borrow wellies from the boot room, wear everyone out in the woodland playground, then pizzas and soft serve at the bar. Broadway's toy shops are a short walk.

Tresco, Isles of Scilly

No cars, so children can cycle off to the beach on their own and you can actually relax about it. White sand, turquoise shallows, the subtropical Abbey Garden and boat hops to the other islands — it feels like abroad. Best for a long weekend given the journey.

Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire

A creaky, lovable Jacobean manor where the crèche takes babies from twelve weeks — rare and genuinely useful. Kids rotate between the cinema room, games room and garden animals; you get a proper dinner. Freshly refurbished, it's a short drive to Bath and makes a brilliant base for Longleat's safari.

Keswick, Cumbria

Where else can you walk from a Victorian country house to see zebras and meerkats? The wildlife park sits on the estate, alongside alpaca walks and archery, so children are busy all weekend. Child swim times are tight (early morning), but the lake, Keswick and Whinlatter's forest trails more than fill the gaps.

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Cool, playful and relaxed — this is the Cotswold manor for families who'd rather skip the kids' club. Bunk-bed sofas in family rooms, a games room and that dreamy outdoor pool keep children busy, while the cascades and lakes in the grounds make for brilliant explorations. Teenagers will think it's the coolest hotel they've stayed in.

Alnwick, Northumberland

Doxford is all about location: Bamburgh's beach, Alnwick Castle's broomstick lessons and the Farne Islands puffin boats are all close. The hotel makes the evenings easy, with a pool children can use, a kids' menu, family rooms for four and a refreshingly straightforward approach to under-twos.

Salcombe, Devon

A stylish clifftop hideaway with jaw-dropping sea views and a cove below for rock-pooling. Book a residence so the kids have their own rooms, swim in the glass-walled pool, and save the cinema room for a wet evening. Salcombe's crabbing pontoons are a short hop by ferry.

Bath, Somerset

A playful Georgian house in the valley below Bath, with free cots, interconnecting rooms and a pool you can swim in whatever the weather. Kids' menus done well mean dinner isn't a battle. Take the train one stop into Bath, or follow the canal towpath to Avoncliff for a waterside lunch.

Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd

Children treat the whole place like a giant playset: pastel houses, hidden woodland paths, a giant chessboard and a sandy estuary at low tide. Staying means having it after the day visitors leave, plus a heated outdoor pool in summer. The Ffestiniog steam railway is right next door.

Masham, North Yorkshire

If the castle feels too formal, the Bivouac is the same estate with mud on its boots. Children sleep up in a wooden tree lodge, wake to the woods and spend the day on sculpture trails, bikes and owl encounters, with the bigger Swinton activities a short drive away. Cosy, wild and very easy with kids.

Forest Row, East Sussex

A grand old house in the very forest that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. Play Poohsticks at the real bridge, come back for a swim in the children's sessions, and let the little ones show off their welcome packs. Comfortable rather than cutting-edge, but very easy with kids.

Narberth, Pembrokeshire

Think Center Parcs with Welsh charm and the Pembrokeshire coast twenty minutes away. You park up, the kids get wristbands and freedom, and days split neatly between the Blue Lagoon, Camp Smokey and an afternoon on Saundersfoot or Tenby beach. The lodges are spacious and the pace is gentle.

Sheerness, Kent

The only nature reserve in the UK where you can sleep over, and it's magic with children: glass-fronted huts on the marshes, hares and marsh harriers outside the window and nothing to do but explore. Pick a large hut with the kids' hammock and you'll be back.

Egham, Surrey

Moats, topiary and a house built for Henry VIII-era hunting parties make this feel like sleeping in a storybook. Children get their own scavenger-hunt kits and a proper kids' afternoon tea; you get one of Surrey's best restaurants and LEGOLAND twenty minutes away.

Bude, Cornwall

Proper cottages rather than caravans, each with its own garden, on a farm where small children can help feed the goats before breakfast. The spa is a genuine treat for parents, and Widemouth and Summerleaze beaches are minutes away for bucket-and-spade afternoons. Dogs are welcome everywhere.

St Andrews, Fife

Overlooking the most famous golf hole in the world, but the family touches are thoughtful rather than token – splash time in the pool, clue-hunts round the hotel and milk and cookies at bedtime. Walk to the beach from Chariots of Fire and the town's sweet shops.

Chepstow, Monmouthshire

Glamping done thoughtfully: real beds and your own hot shower in the tent, then a weekend of dens, rope swings and paddling in the brook. A nature club gives parents a quiet hour, and it's barely 30 minutes from the Severn Bridge, so ideal for a Friday-night escape.

Bagshot, Surrey

A grown-up spa hotel that still makes children feel welcome: arrival packs, a games trunk, summer swims in the outdoor pool and acres of lawn. Best for parents who want a treat-yourself weekend with LEGOLAND and Windsor close enough for a day out.

Helston, Cornwall

A relaxed clifftop hotel above its own little cove on the Lizard. The garden playground and film room keep small people busy, the kitchen happily does purees and warm bottles, and older children can try coasteering with the hotel's activity partner. The villas are a good shout if you want your own kitchen.

Poole, Dorset

Step off the terrace straight onto one of Britain's best beaches. Older kids can book windsurfing or paddleboard lessons at the watersports academy, little ones dig in the sandy playground, and the indoor pool saves a grey day. Hop on the chain ferry to Studland or Brownsea Island's red squirrels.

Rhoslefain, Gwynedd

A small, well-finished cottage on an old Welsh estate where the garden is fully enclosed and the grounds are made for pottering, with a swing tyre, woodland and a heated indoor pool for the inevitable wet afternoon. The sea is a short walk away, and Tywyn's beach and the Talyllyn steam railway are ten minutes by car. It sleeps four, so it suits a couple with two children (or one plus a baby in the cot) best.

Yarmouth, Isle of Wight

Glamping where the kids never run out of things to do: farm animals, an inflatable aqua park and archery all within a short stroll of your tent. Book one of the safari tents with a hot tub and your evenings are sorted too. A great reason to take the ferry.

Dunblane, Stirlingshire

Andy Murray's country house hotel near Dunblane is grown-up and gorgeous, but the kids package is genuinely sweet – a teepee in the suite, a squirrel to take home, a bedtime story. Easy from Edinburgh or Glasgow, and Blair Drummond Safari Park is fifteen minutes away.

St Andrews, Fife

Big skies, sea views from almost everywhere and a proper pool for wet afternoons. The manor homes are the clever choice for families – four bedrooms and a kitchen with hotel service on tap – and St Andrews' West Sands beach and ice-cream shops are ten minutes away.

Cardigan, Pembrokeshire

The glamping site design-lovers rave about, and children love it for different reasons: woods to disappear into, canoes on the river and pizza from the wood oven. Domes have proper stoves, so autumn works too. Grown-ups get a wood-fired sauna and the farm pub.

Ripon, North Yorkshire

This is a grown-up treat rather than a toddler break: Grantley only takes children from eight, so think of it for a special weekend with a tween or teen who appreciates proper hospitality. Book interconnecting rooms, walk the restored gardens, and pair it with Fountains Abbey or a day at Brimham Rocks just down the road.

Maidstone, Kent

Sleeping in the grounds of 'the loveliest castle in the world' feels properly special to children, and you're on site before the day visitors arrive. Lodges named after dragons and unicorns, a hedge maze, falconry and huge playgrounds make it an easy, affordable-feeling weekend.

Windsor, Berkshire

Not luxury, but pure joy for under-tens: sleeping in a pirate room full of LEGO, hunting for treasure before bed and getting into the park before the crowds. The guests-only splash pool is the cherry on top after a day of rides.

London, Greater London

A London weekend with a twist: sleep metres from Land of the Lions, sip hot chocolate on your cabin veranda and join guides on tours once the day crowds have gone. Pair it with Regent's Park and Primrose Hill for a brilliant, mostly-walkable break.

Kirkham, Lancashire

Not boutique, but brilliantly organised for little ones: flumes, soft play, playgrounds and a packed entertainment schedule all included, so you barely need the car. When you do, Blackpool's Sandcastle Waterpark, zoo and tower are twenty minutes away. Upgrade to one of the newer cottages for extra comfort.

Bakewell, Derbyshire

The joy here is the walk: out of the door, through a gate and across the park to Chatsworth's farmyard and adventure playground, which children will happily do every day. The hotel itself is calm and grown-up, with a token £10 child charge, so it suits families who'd rather spend days outdoors than at a kids' club.

Skipton, North Yorkshire

The headline for families is letting an 11-year-old drive a Land Rover off-road on a dual-controlled course, which tends to be the story of the weekend. Add estate walks around the lake, an indoor pool and interconnecting rooms, and it's an easy Dales base for families with tweens and teens.

Broadway, Worcestershire

A 600-year-old inn on Broadway's handsome high street, ideal if you want village life on the doorstep rather than a remote estate. Kids stay free in the holidays, there's a pool for rainy hours, and Broadway Tower and its nuclear bunker make a cracking morning out.

Brockenhurst, Hampshire

The original PIG and still a joy: shabby-chic rooms, a greenhouse restaurant cooking from its own garden, and the forest on the doorstep. It's not a kids-club place, so it suits families happy to fill the day with bike rides and pony spotting and come back to a brilliantly relaxed dinner.

Canterbury, Kent

The lodges are the trick here: kids get their own bunk room, you get a log burner and fields outside, and the 17th-century house serves some of the best food in Kent. Canterbury, the beach at Whitstable and two wild-animal parks are close enough to fill a weekend easily.

Arundel, West Sussex

Tucked into the downs above Arundel, with chalk-hill walks from the door, a castle down the road and big sandy beaches half an hour away. Book a family-sized room, wear the kids out outdoors and enjoy one of the PIG's laid-back garden-to-plate dinners together.

Ashbourne, Derbyshire

A proper treehouse adventure without roughing it: two bedrooms up in the canopy, a hotel restaurant and thermal spa a short stroll away, and the dog's welcome too. Ashbourne is the gateway to Dovedale's stepping stones and the Tissington Trail, which make perfect bike rides with children.

Calne, Wiltshire

The secret weapon here is Bowood's adventure playground — one of the best in the country — included with family breaks in the open season. Spend the day on the pirate ship and zip wires, then retreat to a calm, comfortable hotel with an infinity pool and kids' swim slots. Lacock is fifteen minutes away.

Chester, Cheshire

A big, polished estate where everyone can do their own thing: golf or the spa for parents, Segways and outdoor activities for older kids, and a pool for everyone. It's twenty minutes or so from Chester Zoo, and the hotel even sells zoo packages, so it makes an easy, low-stress school-holiday base.

Bodmin, Cornwall

A farm holiday made for small children: wellies on after breakfast for the feed run, eggs to collect, goats and pigs to meet, then soft play or the mud kitchen while you put the kettle on. The lodges are roomy and the north coast beaches are around half an hour away.

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Waking up next door to a rare-breeds farm is pure joy for small children. Free farm park entry means you can pop in for lamb feeding before breakfast, retreat for nap time, then return for the zip wire and bouncy pillows. Evenings in a hot-tub lodge feel decidedly grown-up.

Portreath, Cornwall

A clifftop lodge park that genuinely thinks about kids: the soft play is enormous, there's a dedicated under-threes zone and the pool saves a wet afternoon. Walk down to Portreath for rock pools and chips, then retreat to a hot-tub lodge with sea views once the children are asleep.

Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Swallows and Amazons in the Cotswolds. Every cabin comes with its own rowing boat and little beach, so kids spend the weekend messing about on the lake, toasting marshmallows and spotting kingfishers. You get a hot tub on the deck and blissful privacy. Brilliant for a big-family get-together in the larger lodges.

Dunstable, Bedfordshire

Lying in bed listening to the zoo wake up is something children never forget. The torch-lit night tour is the highlight, dinner and breakfast are sorted, and you get two days in the park. Family nights sell out fast, so book the moment dates are released.

Richmond, North Yorkshire

One of the most beautiful places to stay in the North, and quietly good with little ones: bunk-bed family rooms, cots and baby monitors on request, and acres of garden to toddle round. There's no kids' club, so go for the food, the spa slots and the walks, then spend a day at Richmond Castle or the Forbidden Corner.

Wadebridge, Cornwall

Between Polzeath's surf and the calm sands of Daymer Bay, this white art-deco hotel gives you both a beach day and a pool day. Two pools, tennis and the Cowshed spa cover the in-between hours, and the self-catering options are handy if you're juggling nap times.

Skipton, North Yorkshire

The Bolton Abbey estate is a ready-made family day: priory ruins, stepping stones over the Wharfe, ice creams and the wooded Strid. Staying at the Devonshire means you walk to it, with a pool booked for after and a brasserie happy to feed children. Babysitting can be arranged for a grown-up dinner.

Ventnor, Isle of Wight

The island's grande dame is a lovely surprise with children: an outdoor pool in a sub-tropical garden, rooms for the whole family and the sheltered beach a short wander downhill. Rock-pool all morning, swim all afternoon and eat well in the evening.

St Davids, Pembrokeshire

Wales's first art hotel, a short walk from Britain's smallest city. Best for a parent-and-child trip or families with teens: an early conservatory supper, then Whitesands beach, puffin boat trips and coasteering on the doorstep. Not the place for a big brood, but brilliant for a special weekend.

Brodick, Isle of Arran (North Ayrshire)

The ferry crossing is half the adventure, and once you land Auchrannie has every wet-day base covered: two pools, a huge soft play barn and lodges with room to spread out. Then Arran does the rest – seals, beaches, castles and Goatfell for the keen ones.

Warminster, Wiltshire

Probably the prettiest of the villages: hilly, mature woodland with deer wandering between lodges and a lake at its heart. Pair it with a day at Longleat Safari Park next door and the kids won't stop talking about the weekend for months.

Belford, Northumberland

A stylish base that still thinks about children: a bunk room, a willow den and tunnel to disappear into, and a garden cabin for film nights. Bamburgh's castle and beach are about five miles away and Alnwick is under half an hour down the A1, so it suits a family of four (or five with a little one) who want castles and sand without long drives. The sauna and hot tub are for grown-ups, and children need supervising around them.

Ipswich, Suffolk

A Tudor-to-Georgian country house that has quietly become one of Suffolk's most family-generous stays — kids eat free, stay free in the holidays and find board games waiting in the room. Slow breakfasts, garden explores and Jimmy's Farm or the coast for a day trip.

Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria

Beatrix Potter's own holiday house gives a Peter Rabbit pilgrimage extra charm, and it's a short drive from her world in Bowness and Hill Top. The kids-go-free deal, children's afternoon tea and packed lunches make it a comfortable, unfussy base for a classic Windermere weekend with primary-age children.

Windermere, Cumbria

Pick this for an outdoorsy Windermere weekend: the watersports centre is right on the shore, so a first kayak or paddleboard lesson is a two-minute walk from your room. Parents can escape to the outdoor infinity pools, and everyone shares the indoor pool when the weather turns.

Tenby, Pembrokeshire

A pretty, family-run abbey that looks across to Caldey Island, with a short walk down to one of Tenby's big sandy beaches. Little ones under five stay free, there's an early children's sitting at dinner and interconnecting rooms, so it feels relaxed rather than precious.

Seaham, County Durham

A spa hotel first and foremost, so it works best if you book one of the private lodges and treat it as a luxurious base. Children get dedicated pool slots and the beach below is famous for sea glass, which keeps little treasure-hunters busy for hours. Durham and Beamish are close for a bigger day out.

Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire

The appeal is the position: harbour, sand and coast path right below you, and a two-bedroom apartment with bunks so the kids have their own room. Parents can swap turns in the sea-view spa (it's 16+), and Folly Farm and Heatherton are a short drive away for a wet morning.

Falmouth, Cornwall

A sprawling estate running down to its own creek on the Helford, so the weekend can be spent paddleboarding, chasing round the golf course or swimming in the indoor pool. Trebah and Glendurgan gardens are next door — both brilliant for children with their beaches and maze.

Brandon, Suffolk

Flat, sandy Breckland forest makes Elveden the easiest village for little legs on bikes, and the pool is one of the best in the estate. Thetford Forest's Go Ape and High Lodge are on the doorstep if you fancy a morning outside the gates.

Newark, Nottinghamshire

The original UK village and still a family favourite, with a recently refreshed water park and a proper Robin Hood backdrop. It is especially handy for families in the Midlands and North who want the full Center Parcs package without a long drive.

Penrith, Cumbria

Red squirrels in the pines and the Lake District fells half an hour away make Whinfell feel wilder than its southern siblings. Stay in for the pool and activities when it rains, then head to Ullswater for a steamer ride on the dry day.

Bedford, Bedfordshire

The newest of the UK villages and the closest to London, so a Friday-afternoon getaway really works. The forest is still young but the pool, bike trails and activity list are as good as any Center Parcs — book a Treehouse if you want the special-occasion version.

Dartmouth, Devon

Sleeping in a treehouse with a wood-fired hot tub on the deck is the kind of thing children talk about for years. Tucked in a quiet wooded valley a mile from the Dart, it's easy to add a ferry ride to Dartmouth or a steam train trip to the weekend.

Beddgelert, Gwynedd

Cabins tucked into the woods below Snowdon, a short stroll from one of the prettiest villages in Wales. Older kids can tackle a mountain walk or kayak with the rangers; little ones will love Gelert's Grave and the steam trains puffing through the village.

Crickhowell, Powys

Run by the same family for decades, Gliffaes feels like staying in a friend's grand house: lawns for croquet, a tennis court and the Usk rushing past. Cottage rooms come with baby listening so you can still enjoy dinner, and the Beacons' waterfalls and caves are all close.

Dunbar, East Lothian

Treehouses with wood-burners, goats and alpacas to feed and a huge empty beach through the dunes – this is the simple, magical kind of weekend children remember. Under an hour from Edinburgh, and the no-dogs rule means little ones can roam freely.

Braunton, Devon

An organic farm in a quiet valley where children can paddle in the creek, toast marshmallows by the river and head out on a bat walk. The cottages come properly kitted out for babies, and Croyde and Saunton beaches are about fifteen minutes away.

Tring, Hertfordshire

A friendly Victorian manor where the peacocks steal the show. Kids under 12 stay free, there are crafts and bikes in the holidays, and it's a short hop to the Harry Potter studios and Tring's brilliant Natural History Museum. A relaxed, good-value pick.

Ipswich, Suffolk

Beautifully designed barns with a proper spa, quiet farmland all around and a relaxed welcome for babies and small children in the right barn. Book a two-bedroom Burrow so bedtime is easy, then take turns in the treatment rooms.

Salcombe, Devon

Tucked into its own valley above an almost-private cove, this is a gentle, unhurried weekend: rock pools in the morning, a swim in the saltwater pool after lunch, a coast-path stroll at sunset. Ground-floor rooms open onto the gardens, which makes it easy with toddlers and dogs.

Cromer, Norfolk

A warm, family-run Georgian house where you can mix and match: rooms, a cottage or a woodland tent, all with the indoor pool on site and Cromer's beach and crabbing a short stroll away. Excellent cooking for the grown-ups too.

Aberdyfi, Gwynedd

Old-school in the best way: the beach is straight over the dunes, there's an indoor pool for when the wind picks up, plus a play area, table tennis and a tennis court. Generations of families return because it simply works with kids, and Aberdyfi village is charming for an ice cream.

Pitlochry, Perthshire

A turreted Victorian pile above Pitlochry with a pool for rainy mornings and cottages if you'd rather cook. The town's dam and salmon ladder are a walk away, and the bigger adventures – rafting, canyoning, wildlife safaris – are within half an hour.

Winchester, Hampshire

The easiest Forest Holidays escape from London: a quiet Hampshire wood with hot-tub cabins and treehouses, and Forest Ranger sessions that send kids off den-building and bug-hunting. Winchester and Marwell Zoo are close enough to save a rainy afternoon, and it's barely an hour from the M25.

Coleford, Gloucestershire

One of the best-stocked locations for treehouses, set in ancient woodland that is made for exploring. Hire bikes for the Family Cycle Trail, find the Gruffalo at Puzzlewood's mossy maze nearby, and finish every day in the cabin hot tub.

Peebles, Scottish Borders

Glentress is mountain-biking heaven, with graded trails from wobbly first rides to proper descents, plus Go Ape and lots of treehouse cabins. An hour from Edinburgh, it is a superb two-night escape for active families with children old enough to ride.

Pickering, North Yorkshire

Deep in Cropton Forest on the edge of the North York Moors, Keldy has treehouses and roomy cabins with plenty of space between them. Pickering's steam railway, Dalby Forest's trails and the beaches around Whitby make it a brilliant base for a long weekend.

Penrith, Cumbria

Modern hot-tub lodges looking towards Ullswater, with the fells and lake steamers right on the doorstep. There's no pool or kids' club, so it suits families who want to be out walking, paddling and boating all day, then back for pizza by the lake and a soak under the stars.

Fordingbridge, Hampshire

Old-fashioned freedom on the edge of the New Forest: kids can cycle the forest tracks, meet the alpacas and swim indoors or out, and ponies wander just beyond the gate. Book a hot-tub lodge rather than a caravan for the nicer version, and add a day at Paultons Park for Peppa Pig fans.

Holne, Devon

A calm, characterful barn in its own little valley, with a games room for table tennis and darts, and board games and books for wet evenings. The owners have young children themselves, and families staying here mention the toys and play space. Pennywell Farm, the South Devon Railway and the Dartmoor otter sanctuary are all within about 15 minutes.

Kenmore, Perthshire

Sleeping on a houseboat is the sort of thing children talk about for years. Taymouth's floating homes are smart rather than rustic, the paddleboards are right there, and parents can slip off to the wood-fired sauna on the water. Kenmore village and its crannog are a stroll away.

Norwich, Norfolk

A brilliant art-filled pub with rooms set in a historic deer park, where kids can watch the herd from the windows and dinner is venison cooked on the open fire. The lodges give families space, and the north Norfolk coast is ten minutes away.

Liskeard, Cornwall

A peaceful Cornish wood with treehouses and a play area, far quieter than the coastal hotspots yet only twenty minutes from Looe and Polperro. Ideal if you want Cornwall's beaches and the Eden Project without the summer crowds on your doorstep.

Bishopton, Renfrewshire

A turreted Gothic mansion on the Clyde with a pool, just fifteen minutes from Glasgow Airport – an easy first or last night for families flying in. Woodland trails for scooting, and Glasgow's Riverside Museum and Science Centre within half an hour.

Taunton, Somerset

A proper treehouse for kids to rule, a hot tub for you, and your own pool slot every day so rain never ruins things. It's a gentle, self-catering base for the Quantocks and Exmoor, with the West Somerset steam railway and Dunster's castle within easy reach.

Aviemore, Inverness-shire

Not a boutique bolthole, but in the Cairngorms with small children it's hard to beat: a lagoon pool and towering soft play for wet days, a cinema for the evening, and reindeer, wildlife parks and steam trains a short drive away.

Morpeth, Northumberland

A relaxed, design-led base just off the A1, where linking rooms gives a family a private wing rather than one cramped room. It's well placed for Druridge Bay's sands, Warkworth Castle and the Alnwick Garden, and the cabins in the woods add a bit of adventure for children.

Haltwhistle, Northumberland

A friendly, well-run farm site a stone's throw from the best stretch of Hadrian's Wall. Children love the wigwams and the night sky; parents love the hot-tub pods and spotless facilities. It's a cheaper alternative to the big hotels, perfect for a Roman-forts-and-stars weekend.

Uckfield, East Sussex

Wowo is camping the way you remember it as a child: campfires, a stream, rope swings and woods to vanish into, with yurts and huts so you don't have to wrestle a tent. It's under 90 minutes from London, and the Bluebell Railway steams right past.

Penzance, Cornwall

Right at the far tip of Cornwall, with some of the country's best beaches – Sennen, Porthcurno, Gwithian – within easy reach. The farm itself is calm and wild, the canvas lodges are cosy with wood-fired stoves, and the guest ratings are about as high as glamping gets.

Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey

The easiest Anglesey beach weekend: the sand is across the road, there's an indoor pool for blustery days and the family rooms fit everyone in. Relaxed pub dining with a proper kids' menu, and South Stack's puffins and seabirds are a short drive away.