The Belfry Hotel & Resort review: a perfect getaway for families and golfers

Our verdict

From the moment we arrived, we were impressed by the welcoming atmosphere and the plethora of activities available at The Belfry. Service is top notch and staff members went out of their way to make children feel welcomed and entertained at all times. 

There’s an impressive array of amenities on offer, from world-class golf courses and a pedal go-kart track to a luxurious spa and the superb new Club fitness and leisure complex. Its West Midlands location also puts you within easy reach of top family attractions.

What are the rooms like?

Our stay in the luxurious Royal Birkdale Suite, overlooking the golf course, was nothing short of delightful. The main bed was super-comfy, while my nine-year-old had a separate room with a sofa bed and excellent bedding that ensured a restful night's sleep. 

The suite was equipped with a state-of-the-art coffee machine, flat-screen TVs, fluffy towels, crisp bedding, and fluffy robes and slippers. The bedroom also had effective air conditioning, which was particularly welcome during a very hot July weekend. And I was pleased to see the bathroom was stocked with shampoo and conditioner.

What activities are available for adults and kids? 

The Belfry truly shines in the variety of activities available for children. As well as the pedal go-karts, adventure playground and woodland play areas, the current school-holiday programme includes a Belfry passport and resort trail, an indoor kids’ zone with colouring, games and a library corner, sports-hall activities, a games and movie room, family mini golf and free Toptracer balls for children accompanied by a paying adult. The new Club also runs dedicated splash times. Your kids will have to work exceptionally hard to get bored here! 

The Belfry is one of the world’s top golf hotels and there are three on-site courses including the PGA National and The Brabazon, four-time host of the Ryder Cup. We loved the state-of-the-art driving range where the balls literally load up on the tee automatically so you don’t even have to bend down. 

The biggest change since our previous visit is The Club, a genuinely excellent new fitness and leisure complex. There’s a large family pool with a flume, a separate lap pool, indoor and outdoor bubble pools and an extensive sports hall. The gym is fabulous: spacious, well cooled, exceptionally well stocked with Technogym equipment and blessed with a great view over the surrounding countryside. The large sauna has its own lovely view through a floor-to-ceiling window, and both the sauna and steam room were properly hot, which is not always a given in hotel leisure clubs. 

I indulged in the 60-minute signature massage, which was utterly relaxing. I would probably have fallen asleep had the piped music not been slightly too loud: each time I began to drift off, it woke me up again, which feels like the very definition of a first-world problem!

What’s the food like? 

We ate at two of The Belfry’s restaurants. The Ryder Restaurant offers an extensive buffet, which was pretty good as buffet food goes. Children have their own buffet area, no adults allowed, with all the things they love, such as chicken nuggets and pizza, plus plenty of vegetables. They can get going as soon as you sit down rather than waiting for the adults to mull over the wine list. Alternatively, you can order from the à la carte menu, which deserves particular praise. We had fillet steak and chips and it was excellent, easily as good as you would expect from a very good London steak restaurant.

Sam’s Bar & Kitchen is the resort’s sports bar, with shuffleboard, regular darts, an electronic darts game and enough big screens to watch pretty much any sporting tournament you fancy. We were also very impressed by the lunch menu, which included not only the usual burgers and buttermilk chicken, but some really good salads and Buddha bowls. Breakfast is very good too, although, if I were being picky, I would have liked fresh berries when they were in season rather than only the frozen fruit compote mix. 

Afternoon tea is another highlight. It rivals some of the best hotels in London for quality, yet feels relaxed enough for guests to turn up straight from the spa in fluffy robes and slippers and feel comfortable, especially after a glass or two of fizz.

Does the Belfry offer value for money?

Overall, The Belfry is accessible, incredibly family-friendly and fantastic value for money. Your kids will have the time of their lives with the wide variety of activities on offer, and if you're a golf enthusiast, you're in for a treat thanks to the world-class golf amenities.

What is there to do nearby?

Located in the West Midlands, a 30-minute drive from the centre of Birmingham, the Belfry Hotel & Resort is within easy reach of some brilliant family attractions.

You can book packages which include a visit to Drayton Manor theme park (an 8-minute drive away), Cadbury World (a 40-minute drive away) or Twycross Zoo (a 20-minute drive away). We visited Drayton Manor and had a fab time. With its Thomas the Tank Engine world for young kids, and faster white-knuckle rides for older thrill-seekers, it’s fun for kids of all ages.

When to go 

The golf courses, spa and adventure playground are open all year round, so any time! The Belfry offers family-friendly activities during the school holidays.

About the author

Sue Macmillan is CEO at Mumsnet. She is also part of Mumsnet's team of expert parent testers, where she creates unbiased and honest product and travel reviews that aim to help parents make the right purchase decisions to suit their needs. A mum of one, she loves to travel and visit adventurous places with her family.