The bank holiday is just around the corner, and with long airport queues to enter Europe, a family break in the UK is looking more tempting than ever. Thankfully, you can find hotels in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that treat children as mini VIPs, rather than a hassle – meaning parents can carve out some much-deserved time to relax.
Whether you’re looking for a city break with plenty of attractions to keep the kids entertained, a rural adventure in the countryside, or a seaside escape with scope for rockpooling and water sports, we’ve scoured the country to find the perfect place for you and your clan. You can even stay in a luxury treehouse – surely a dream come true for many kids.
We’ve covered all kinds of locations, too, from Cumbria to Cornwall. These are the best family-friendly hotels in the UK to make time away with your loved ones extra special.
The best family-friendly hotels in the UK
At a glance
- Best coastal hotel:Fowey Hall hotel
- Best boutique hotel:The Victoria hotel
- Best hotel for water sports:Watergate Bay Hotel
- Best country house hotel:Woolley Grange hotel
1. Another Place hotel
Cumbria
The sight of Ullswater’s dramatic lakes through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the swimming pool got everyone’s attention when Another Place – a contemporary country hotel – opened in 2017.
Joyously, it’s not just spa bunnies who will enjoy this shoreside retreat. The hotel piles on fun for families, and its relaxed, non-chintzy atmosphere makes it a firm favourite for modern-day Swallows and Amazons.
Days can be spent wild swimming, paddle boarding or kayaking on Ullswater. The Ofsted-registered Kids’ Zone offers free childcare each day and there’s babysitting available too. Even the tiny but gorgeous shepherd huts, out in the grounds, have bunks for younger children.
The hotel also looks after The Brackenrigg Inn, a refurbished country pub down the road, where guests can also dine if they wish.
Address: Lake District National Park, Another Place The Lake, Ullswater, Watermillock, Penrith CA11 0LP
Price: From £287
Read more: Best family hotels in the Lake District
2. Plas Weunydd hotel
Eryri National Park (Snowdonia)
Set in an area of slate mines, Plas Weunydd has views from its terrace of distant ridges in the Eryri National Park. The hotel has recently been refurbished and, while basic, it’s modern and great value, with family suites that offer plenty of space. Bedrooms are decorated with bold splashes of colour, there’s a log burner for warming up beside and a simple restaurant.
Families with teens will want to tackle Snowdon’s slopes, but there is fresh-air fun to be had closer to the hotel, too. The Zip World Slate Caverns lie on the doorstep for whizzing through dramatic valleys and colourfully lit caves. There are also biking trails close by, while the Ffestiniog Railway’s “Quarryman” service can trundle train-mad families from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog, through landscapes shaped by industrial history.
Address: Plas Weunydd Hotel, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3NB
Price: From £86
Read more: The best holiday homes for a UK summer staycation
3. Fowey Hall hotel
Cornwall
Situated above Fowey estuary, the lawn of this Victorian hotel looks across rooftops that spill down to the harbour. Fowey Hall’s multi-million-pound expansion and refurbishment in 2023 saw new spa suites and an outdoor pool, providing panoramic views of the ocean added to the site. Children are allowed in the spa, which has an indoor pool and offers treatments, from soothing massages to revitalising facials. Most of the spacious bedrooms take extra beds for little ones, too.
While parents read or sip cocktails on the terrace, kids can burn off energy at The Four Bears Den kids’ club for under-eights, with up to two hours of free childcare provided daily. If you fancy going further afield, grab a picnic and discover the idyllic coves nearby – one of which is less than 10 minutes away.
Address: Hall Hotel, Hanson Dr, Fowey PL23 1ET
Price: From £360
Read more: The best walks in Cornwall, from coastal routes to countryside ambles
4. The Victoria hotel
Norfolk
Located between glorious parkland where kids can run freely and the undulating dunes of Holkham’s beach, “The Vic” is an appealing setting for families.
The two period buildings (housing 20 bedrooms) are attractive, with creeper-clad brickwork and the air of a welcoming inn. The rooms are simply dressed, with some featuring wooden beams and include large family suites.
The fabulous restaurant is a boon, serving seasonal food made from quality produce, such as local seafood and vegetables from the Holkham Estate’s walled garden. Children can expect a dedicated menu for both lunch and dinner.
Address: Park Rd, Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea NR23 1RG
Price: From £260
Read more: The best cheap UK holiday destinations, including Liverpool and Lake District staycations
5. No. 1 by GuestHouse York hotel
York
Set within York’s city walls, this ravishing boutique hotel has pleasing Georgian proportions and is well-placed for visits to the Jorvik Viking Centre, York Minster, Harry Potter filming locations and The National Railway Museum. GuestHouse is a small chain of smart, great-quality hotels and offering services designed especially for children which are top-notch.
Interconnecting rooms are furnished before arrival with a tipi play tent, card games, a Yoto audio player and a Polaroid camera so kids can take family snaps while out and about. The restaurant Pearly Cow also has a fun children’s menu, called Pearly Calves.
Address: 1 Clifton, York YO30 6AA
Price: From £120
Read more: The best hotels in York for a history-filled city break
6. Cary Arms & Spa hotel
Devon
This traditional seaside hotel caters for families in the old-fashioned way, by providing ample buckets, spades and fishing nets for guests to borrow, followed by dinner (with a kids’ menu) in a stone-walled inn afterwards.
Over the years, The Cary Arms has renovated a range of family-friendly accommodation beside its original hotel, which has a small spa. Alongside the two-bedroom suites in the main property are seven seaside cottages of various sizes, with their own working fires, gardens, dining terraces and barbecues.
Families can walk the South West Coast Path together or ride the clifftop railway. Kids will lose track of time pottering between rocks in Babbacombe’s bays.
Address: Babbacombe Beach, Torquay TQ1 3LX
Price: From £69
Read more: The best LGBT+ friendly hotels in Liverpool to book for Pride
7. Crieff Hydro hotel
Perthshire
Wrapped in the Perthshire countryside, grand Victorian hotel Crieff Hydro is perfect for adventurous families who want to let off steam. With on site activities including alpaca trekking, archery tag, treetop ziplines, an adventure park, swimming pool, a three-storey soft play and a den of retro games, children won’t have time to be bored. You can even take them off-site to paddle board on nearby Loch Earn.
Stay either in the main house or in self-catering lodges amid trees in the grounds. Grown-ups can escape to the adult-only Victorian baths and spa.
Address: Ferntower Rd, Crieff PH7 3LQ
Price: From £157
Read more: I stayed in one of Scotland’s most famous luxury hotels – this is what it’s like inside
8. Watergate Bay Hotel
Cornwall
While parents watch waves crash over Watergate Bay’s two-mile beach from a hot tub, older children can sample a range of water sports at the hotel’s popular surf school. Surfing lessons are offered from beginner level, or kids can try paddle boarding too.
Expansive sea views and boho-style furniture combine to make the hotel’s luxurious Beach Lofts particularly tempting for families. The Family Suites are more traditional, coming with a bunk room.
A supervised games room and play space takes care of bad-weather days for older kids, while children from six months to eight years are taken care of by qualified early years supervisors in the toddler and kids’ areas. Babysitting services and baby monitors are also available to borrow. There are three restaurants to choose from, satisfying even the pickiest of eaters (parents included).
Address: Watergate Bay Hotel, Watergate Bay, Cornwall TR8 4AA
Price: From £300
Read more: Watergate Bay hotel review, Cornwall
9. Bovey Castle
Dartmoor
Set within 275 acres of countryside in the Dartmoor National Park, Bovey is an imposing house with plenty for active families to get stuck into. Children will love exploring nature trails through ancient woodland, spotting deer in the grounds and the many organised activities, such as archery, apple pressing, bushcrafting and meeting ferrets.
For adults, there’s the Elan Spa to retreat to, with an Art Deco pool that has views across the hills. Alternatively, enjoy an afternoon tea or just the sound of silence when fly fishing at the lake.
Family rooms are available or, for more space, luxurious granite lodges have kitchens and are a short walk away. Hot meals can be delivered if you want a night off from cooking.
Address: Dartmoor National Park, North Bovey, Newton Abbot TQ13 8RE
Price: From £347
Read more: The best hotels with swimming pools in the UK, from city rooftops to kid-friendly lidos
10. Woolley Grange
Wiltshire
Part of the Luxury Family Hotels group, Woolley Grange is a chic Jacobean manor house that’s a 10-minute train ride from Bath and half an hour’s drive from Longleat Safari Park. It was refurbished in late 2025 with refined interiors reflecting its historic exterior.
Set above the charming wool town of Bradford-on-Avon, the hotel has an Ofsted-registered kids’ club offering free childcare, two large outdoor playgrounds, plus a games room for slightly older children with a pool table, air hockey table and table football. And come the summer, staff lay on all manner of activities for children, from gardening club to pop-up pizza workshops
Children eat early, so adults can enjoy their dinner alone, thanks to a sleep-monitoring service. The spa even offers mini-me treatments for ages eight and up alongside those for parents.
Address: Woolley Green, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1TX
Price: From £230
Read more: Your children won’t want to leave this luxury family hotel near Bath – and neither will you
11. Chewton Glen Hotel
Hampshire
For five-star family fun, Chewton Glen in the New Forest is hard to beat. Children stay for free during the school holidays, and budding chefs, aged eight and above, will rave about the hotel’s state-of-the-art cookery school. The children’s club is supervised, while outdoor activities include tennis, mountain biking, falconry, and horseback riding.
For larger family groups – or for those wanting to seriously splash out – the treehouse suites sleep up to 14 people and have beautiful features, such as wrap-around wooden balconies between the branches and special hatches for food hampers to be delivered.
Address: Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa, Christchurch Rd, New Milton BH25 6QS
Price: From £567
Read more: Why Chewton Glen is the ultimate babymoon retreat
12. The Ickworth Hotel
Suffolk
Little ones are especially well catered for at this hotel, which takes over the wing of a National Trust-owned manor house in Suffolk. As with other hotels in the Luxury Family Hotels group, two hours of free childcare per night is included in the stay at The Ickworth. Children rule the pool (though parents can nip to the spa) and there is an Ofsted-registered creche.
What stands out are the opportunities for walking and cycling through woodland, past roe deer, a magnificent rotunda and the Italianate gardens. The National Trust has bikes for hire – including balance bikes for toddlers – and you can even borrow all-terrain pushchairs from the hotel.
Children eat early, so parents can dine in peace, with a complimentary baby-monitoring device.
Address: Horringer, Bury Saint Edmunds IP29 5QE
Price: From £230
Read more: Where was Rivals filmed? The rural England county behind the rowdy Disney+ series
13. Marine Hotel Ballycastle
Ballycastle
Minutes from Ballycastle Beach and the Causeway Coast, this family favourite is a great base for a seaside getaway. There’s a play park opposite it on the seafront and you’re in prime position to explore local attractions such as the Giant’s Causeway – Northern Ireland's only Unesco World Heritage Site – and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
Family rooms at Marine Hotel Ballycastle are simple and cosy with a subtly nautical feel, and Marconi’s Bistro offers a local-led menu of comforting classics as well as a Sunday roast.
For those with pooches in their clan, it’s an exceptionally dog-friendly stay, with bowls, beds and treats laid on and 1.2km of beach for them to run on.
Address: 1-3 North St, Ballycastle BT54 6BN
Price: From £125
Read more: The best beach hotels for a coastal staycation in the UK
Why trust us
The hotels featured in this list have been carefully selected by The Independent's expert travel writer, with a deep knowledge of the destinations covered. Our contributors either live in these locations or visit frequently, ensuring a personal and informed perspective. When picking which hotels to include, they consider their own experience staying in the hotels and evaluate location, facilities, service and all the other details that make for an exceptional stay for all types of traveller.