Moonfleet Manor Hotel review: a family-friendly hotel in the heart of the Jurassic coast

The setting for a 19th century pirate novel, Moonfleet Manor is set in the beautiful Dorset countryside, just across the Fleet from Chesil Beach and a short drive from Portland and Weymouth.

With large grounds, rooms are mainly to be found in the original manor house, as well as a small modern extension which houses the restaurant. Rooms and suites sleep couples and families of up to 6, and there's plenty of space and activities on-site, with swimming, a spa and a gigantic games room, as well as windswept walks along the coast.

Like other hotels in the LFH chain, parents can take advantage of the OFSTED-registered Four Bears Den, which offers 2 hours of complimentary childcare for each night you stay.

Dogs are also welcome at Moonfleet, with biscuits, water bowls and dog washing stations dotted around the hotel, and treat-packed goody bags and comfy dog beds to greet them in your room.

In true British fashion, the weather was quite wild and windy for our visit to Moonfleet, but there was so much to do on-site that it didn't dampen our enjoyment at all. For a relaxing getaway or a base to explore the Jurassic Coast, Moonfleet Manor offers a warm welcome to families. As such, it takes the top spot in our guide to the best family hotels in Dorset.

How we tested

I stayed at Moonfleet Manor Hotel in Dorset with my wife and two kids (aged 12 and 14) for two nights in August. We drove from Bognor Regis, which took just over two hours. We stayed in a deluxe two bedroom suite and took advantage of the Veranda games room, indoor pool, pizza pop-up and the relaxed restaurant, as well as venturing into the local area.

Read next: The best family-friendly hotels in the UK, as recommended by Mumsnetters

What are the rooms like?

We stayed in a deluxe two-bedroom suite, which had two bathrooms, a generous master bedroom and a cosy second bedroom for the kids. The beds were comfy and the rooms both had their own TV, as well as beautiful views across the Fleet into the English Channel.

The children's room was a little small, there wasn't space to separate the beds if they'd wanted a bit of space for themselves - luckily neither minded! With a TV in the children's room, I would have liked some form of parental controls to have been available, too.

During the summer months, the area is prone to Fleet flies, so it was important to keep the windows shut during our stay. Portable air conditioning units were set up in both rooms to ensure it didn't get too stuffy, which was a nice - if bulky - touch.

The master bathroom was gloriously luxurious, with a rolltop bath, heated towel rail and rainfall shower. I was looking forward to a soak in the huge tub, but unfortunately the water pressure wasn't up to scratch, so I made do with the lovely hot shower instead.

The suite was a great size and we loved the addition of a Yoto Player with a selection of cards, as well as the board games dotted around the hotel. We'd have loved a sofa or coffee table in the room to gather around for a game, but there were plenty of cosy spots in the hotel lounge to curl up in.

Related: The best family-friendly hotels in Dorset

What activities are on offer?

The Verandah activity hub has to be seen to be believed. A massive barn complete with climbing walls, trampolines, a mini football pitch, arcade machines, table football and ping pong, as well as a fenced-off area for younger children, a gaming room with a Playstation 5 Slim, and a raised platform with comfy sofas and a coffee machine for adults to relax in.

What's more, there's a veritable rabbit warren of activity rooms, with new surprises behind every door. My 12- and 14-year-olds spent a thrilling afternoon exploring, highlights include the dinosaur-themed indoor crazy golf and vintage bowling alley.

Elsewhere on-site, there's an indoor heated pool, with a shallow end for little ones and a deeper end for older kids, complete with inflatables and balls to play with. Children are welcome all day, and the pool is open 8am-8pm.

Each evening there are screenings of kids' films in the dedicated cinema room, with popcorn, milk and cookies on hand.

We didn't make it to the spa during our visit, but if you're looking for some kid-free chill out time, this is the place to head. Massages, facials and a whole host of other treatments are available, and they have membership options which are worth a look if you live nearby.

What amenities are available for kids?

Moonfleet Manor and its sister hotels pride themselves on their family-friendliness, so you can expect lots of thoughtful little touches to make families feel welcome and at home.

There are cots, toilet seats and baby baths available, and you don't even need to bring your buggy as there are Bugaboo Butterfly prams available for naps and strolls around the grounds.

Outside, there's a sandpit and climbing frame to entertain little ones while you relax with a drink on the terrace.

During the school holidays, there are seasonal activities on offer throughout the week, and the Four Bears Den offers childcare between 9.30-4.30 for children aged 3 months to 8 years old.

• Mumsnet user SW1amp

Is Moonfleet Manor dog friendly?

The hotel is very dog friendly. From the comfy dog beds, food bowls, tennis ball and treats waiting in your room, to the dog wash station and discreet poo bins dotted around the grounds, staying at Moonfleet with dogs is a stress-free experience.

The South West Coast Path is the longest waymarked footpath in England, and it runs right through the ground of Moonfleet Manor. Stretching 630 miles from Exmoor National Park in North Devon to Poole in East Dorset, we enjoyed dog walks to the east and west of the hotel, taking in views across the Fleet and the stunning Dorset countryside.

The coast path isn't very buggy friendly, so unless you have an all-terrain pushchair it's best to take the hounds a little further afield to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens or the dog-friendly sections of Weymouth beach.

What's the food like?

On our first night we opted for pizza from the seasonal pizza pop-up at the end of the garden. There was an impressive selection of pizzas, freshly made, delicious and priced at around £15-18.

For a more substantial meal on our second night, we enjoyed a three-course meal in the restaurant. The food was tasty and came in generous portions, and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. I would have liked a few more veggie main options, but my roasted peach dessert was delicious, and I loved the addition of a personalised liqueur recommendation.

Breakfast was a choice between classics from the kitchen or a varied buffet with options including a full English, fruit and yoghurt, cold meats and pastries.

What is there to do nearby?

While there's plenty to keep all ages occupied on-site, the surrounding area is well worth venturing into. We headed over towards Portland in search of lunch, and had a delicious, if a little blustery, fish and chips from Billy Winters, located right on the beach with views of windsurfers braving the wet and windy weather.

The famous Chesil Beach is just across the Fleet from the hotel, but to access it you need to drive into Wyke Regis, a short distance away. Part of the fossil-filled Jurassic coast, which has a rich history of smuggling, piracy and dinosaurs that'll inspire visitors of all ages.

There's also Abbotsbury Swannery (home of the Brambly Hedge Trail), Corfe and Portland Castles, Dinosaurland Fossil Museum, Weymouth Sealife Park and Monkey World. I love the pretty town of Lyme Regis, which is just shy of an hour's drive west of the hotel, and well worth a wander around if you get the chance.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the places and products Mumsnet users swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.

With an MA in Creative Writing and a PGCert in Lifestyle Journalism, Poppy's written about parenting topics for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Mirror and The Sun. She's a best-selling, award-winning author, and her books for children and parents have been translated into 12 languages.