U.K. Family holidays for 3 under 5s

[redjumper]

Hi, we're expecting our third child soon and we're looking at UK summer holidays (term time). We have previously been to centre parcs but it looks like we won't be allowed to use the pool with 3 young children so will have to rule that out for a couple of years. Now looking for alternatives...
What are holiday parks like? Park Holidays, Butlins, Hoseasons etc?? Would they have kids clubs in the daytime for our 4 year old? That would make it easier for us. Are they nice places? I went to Haven as a teenager a lot and it was very rough! We don't mind paying a bit more for something a bit posh . But is there such a place that will take our 4 yr old off our hands for a few hours each day?
Thanks

[AndNowItsSeven]

Those places have kids club but they are supervised. Your op says family holiday so unsure why you need your four year old " taking of your hands"? Butlins just for tots would be the boat enjoyable for your dc.
Also you will find swimming ratio are the same everywhere. One of you will have to look after the baby and toddler while the other swims with the four year old.

[AndNowItsSeven]

• most NOT boat.

[EdenX]

We go to Butlins in Minehead every year and really enjoy it - swimming pool, softplay, fairground and toddler fairground are all free plus there are lots of mini shows (Fireman Sam, Thomas) during the day. They also have free messy play, football, ballet classes. If you do a Just for Tots week it is all families with under 5s and we've seen nice stage shows with Cbeebies presenters. Plus a lovely sandy beach. No kids clubs you can leave them at though - the only place we've been with those is eurocamp.

[EdenX]

Butlins is definitely not posh - not rough, just ordinary families.

[Elllicam]

Crieff hydro has a really good kids club and 6 hours free childcare a day for over 2's. It has self catering lodges which are nice and not too expensive and a lot of activities. My older 2 loved the pony rides and the nearby wildlife park.

[Bubblysqueak]

Bluestone in Tenby is brilliant for young children .

[NewBallsPlease00]

OP
Depends on your budget and location
In Cornwall the sands resort and bedridden steps both have rooms designed for families with divides, listening service, high tea for kids and childcare services in nice setting plus pools soft play etc
They were excellent for us
And now it's seven - presumably so they can still swim, focus on another child or even have a coffee as 2 adults. It doesn't make it not a family holiday or that they're horrible parents. Your tone is very superior

[redjumper]

Thank you so much for your replies. Crieff hydro looks amazing and I can't believe what value for money given we would have 2 children using up to 6 hours childcare per day. Butlins Minehead also looks lovely with the Lakeside chalets and so much to do for little ones. Both might be a bit far for us though: a 5 hour drive with a six week old baby. We live in Yorkshire, is there anything in the North of England, Central England, maybe Wales? Any other suggestions of places with childcare included? There's no particular budget limit as we're only looking for 4 nights, mid week term time and everything seems very reasonable. Thanks again x

[NattyBatty]

Try a caravan park like Canvas. We went to the Lake District when DS was 1 and it nice.

[mouldycheesefan]

Calcot manor in the Cotswolds has a crèche and is wonderful but still may be too far

[redjumper]

That is a good idea however this 4 night break is forming part of a longer camping holiday in our campervan for 10days. It's going to be our luxury, 'restful' part of the holiday and something a bit different from campervanning so we probably wouldn't look at a caravan park for this bit.

[redjumper]

Cotswolds is doable so I will definitely look at that, thanks

[mouldycheesefan]

In that case I definitely recommend calcot manor. Ot has an ofsted outstanding crèche, our kids sued it when they were two, plus high tea for kids, babysitting, pool, spa and plenty to do in the area.
It's not cheap but it is lovely.

[redjumper]

Just had a look, it turns out my husband stayed there for work once and he was raving about it looking good for children. Can you remember approximately how much childcare is? No prices on there for childcare. Xxx

[AndNowItsSeven]

NewBalls not superior no, just enjoy family holidays as a family.
The op mentioned it twice and used the words "take of our hands" . Didn't read like they wanted to swim with the baby and toddler.

[redjumper]

Thanks again for all the recommendations. We've settled on Crieff Hydro in the end, it seemed like such a good bargain - £81 per night for a family of 5 including 6h childcare for two every day. I doubt we'all use it all but it's good to know it's there. We'll just break up the journey by camping on the way. And it's good to have all these other tips for future holidays xxx

[Elllicam]

Oh that's great :) hope you have a lovely time at Crieff. The (adults) Victorian spa is amazing if you get the chance and they have a little cinema with a kids film in the afternoon that my kids loved. The pony rides are great for the little ones but definitely prebook, we once went for a week and they were fully booked! Crieff itself is really pretty and has a visitor centre with nice cakes and a big Christmas shop and auchingarroch wildlife park is really good. If you want to go a bit further afield Stirling castle is a great day out or Blair Drummond safari park.

[OliviaBishop]

red can I ask what accommodation you have looked at for crieff hydro?

We have 3 under 6 and when I looked the price for rooms sleeping 5 was about 5 times the price of the standard family rooms

[Elllicam]

Possibly the cottages? You still get the free child care but they are self catering.

[redjumper]

I looked at a self catering cabin for 5 people, they look snug but have a double room and a bunk room with 3 beds, it'll be perfect for us.
The hotel was about 3 times the price for a big room and I don't know why.
The 2 bed lodges which look bigger and better equipped were about twice the price (£650 for 4 nights).

[Elllicam]

I loved the cabins, they look basic from the outside but are really lovely inside. The one we had last time was newly decorated and it was very comfortable.

[mrsmortis]

If you want luxury how about The Ickworth? It's not cheap but I've stayed in other hotels in the group and they were brilliant with the kids.

www.ickworthhotel.co.uk/