Woolley Grange hotel review: a luxury family escape near Bath

Our verdict

In a Jacobean manor house near Bradford-on-Avon, around a 20-minute drive from Bath, Woolley Grange is a delightful family-friendly retreat. Stunningly refurbished, it’s both stylish and welcoming and is perfect for families seeking indulgence and fun.

Home to characterful rooms, a swimming pool, a cosy cinema lounge, a top-notch restaurant and an Ofsted-registered creche, it combines genuine luxury with family-friendly design and attentiveness. 

And there are thoughtful touches throughout - we loved the handwritten notes on arrival, the children’s robes in the room and the signature sheepskin sheep dotted around the hotel which our kids named. The team goes out of their way to delight little people, from personalised dinner place settings to bespoke activities.

Woolley Grange is the latest property in the Luxury Family Hotels portfolio to have been revamped (following the re-opening of New Park Manor, Moonfleet Manor and Fowey Hall Hotel) with all rooms and public spaces receiving a glow-up. It’s a good-looking hotel with an emphasis on warm and intuitive service and we would absolutely return. 

How we reviewed 

We stayed at Woolley Grange as a family of four (two adults and two kids aged eight and nine) for a two-night weekend break in November. We stayed in a two-bedroom suite and made use of the on-site activities including the swimming pool, the restaurant, the outdoor play area and the games room. 

What are the rooms like?

We were thrilled with our two-bedroom suite which felt luxurious yet relaxed. The children’s bunk room was a hit from the moment we arrived and the fairy lights, welcome gifts and handwritten notes added to the excitement. The beds were super comfortable, the decor stylish, and the suite has clearly benefited from the recent refurbishment. The ubiquitous woolly sheep around the property added a playful, memorable touch that the kids absolutely loved.

Our room featured two flat screen tvs, chocolates, a coffee machine, a mini fridge with cold water, regular and oat milk. And they even had bags of home grown veg for us to take home. 

What activities are on offer at Woolley Grange? 

There’s no shortage of things for the kids to enjoy at Woolley Grange. There's an outstanding array of options for kids of all ages, not least the Four Bears Den which offers Ofsted-rated childcare for kids aged three months to eight years (each overnight stay includes a two-hour session per child). Our family highlights include: 

• The outdoor play area with a large basket swing and zip-line which kept the kids occupied for ages

• The Adventure Room: a highly engaging challenge where kids travel “round the world” via puzzles and games

• The pool (and spa, sauna and steam room) for family and adult downtime

• The games room, library and cinema room which were ideal for rainy moments and quiet times

What’s the food like?

From breakfast through to dinner, the food was consistently delicious.

There was plenty of variety and great quality options on offer at breakfast including kid-friendly dishes like pancakes and dippy eggs and soldiers. And there are Bugaboo giraffe highchairs available if needed.

Dinner showcased well-prepared dishes - we were particularly blown away by the cheese soufflé) and menus make the most of seasonal ingredients. 

The kids’ menus offered plenty of choice for younger appetites and we loved the special kids’ high tea (with toys and games) and the traditional afternoon tea complete with a child-friendly option. 

What’s the spa like?

Newly refurbished, the spa felt elegant and restorative. The sauna and steam room were well-appointed. I had a massage and it was a genuine hour of calm and pampering - a nice contrast to the children’s high-energy play. 

The 12-metre swimming pool overlooks the hotel’s walled garden and offers daily family-friendly swimming times with 90 minutes set aside each morning for adult-only dips.

What is there to do nearby? 

The hotel is around a 20-minute drive from Bath and the proximity worked well for us. Far enough away enough to feel that we’d “escaped” but close enough that a quick trip into town was easily doable. We visited the city on our way home to check out the Roman Baths (way more fun than it sounds) - our kids loved the audio-guide and the whole experience, which was completely absorbing.

Woolley Grange is a five-minute drive from Bradford-on-Avon with its beautiful riverfront setting, historic buildings and independent shops and restaurants. 

The hotel grounds themselves offer plenty to explore so you hardly need to leave if you don’t want to.

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.

About Mumsnet hotel reviews

All Mumsnet hotel reviews are written by real people after extensive hands-on testing. We travel with children to test out how each property caters to families and assess whether it's genuinely geared up for kids. We test the beds, amenities and food, and explore the local area to highlight stand-out features and address any concerns. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. We may be hosted on a complimentary basis and sometimes we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage and we will only ever publish an honest review.