Amazing hotels for kids in the UK

[GreggAndTomlette]

I’ve been really lucky to be given a bit of money (£500) with strict instructions to treat me and DS (10).

I was thinking of booking a few nights in a caravan or doing a few days out but today I have thought about taking DS away for the night to somewhere amazing.

We’ve stayed at Legoland hotel, Alton towers hotel (and their enchanted lodges) Drayton manor hotel so I think we’ve done theme park hotels but I’m really struggling for ideas.

Does anyone have any good recommendations? Thanks :)

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MNHQ update: If you’re short on time, here’s a summary of the best hotels Mumsnetters are recommending on this thread:

😎Port Lympne Safari Park, Kent

😎Parkdean Crieff Hydro, Perthshire

😎Alton Towers Splash Landings

😎St Ives hotel, Lytham St Annes

😎The Pigs, Norfolk

😎West Midlands Safari Park lodges

😎Warwick Castle Knight's Village

😎Bluestone Wales

For more inspo, check out our guide to the best family hotels in the UK, featuring more recommendations from Mumsnetters.

Hotel in London? Have you been?
Budgets hotel, show.. Sites...

Amazing.

Perhaps you already know London well.if so do you get to the sea much?

A beautiful b and b near the sea..
Unless a hotel I a really amazing at a theme park then I think beautiful b and b are much better value for money?
You often get truly beautiful decor and a home from work home.

Butlins always goes down well with kids of all ages. The hotels are fine, some better than others, never stayed in the chalets. Summer hols 3 or 4 night breaks around your price range. Same as center parcs, both very similar, one is seaside resort, one is man made woodland. Again hotel is fine, I actually prefer the hotel to the lower priced lodges.
I don't think a one night 5* is worth it unless your child enjoys afternoon tea etc.
Another idea, if you have passports is disneyland.

Sorry yeah we go to London a couple of times a year (but always stay in a premier inn so wouldn’t be against going and staying somewhere a bit nicer).

I can get an apartment at center parcs for about £560 so have looked at that but would also just love to go stay near the sea for a few days and just relax.

We’ve been to DLP a couple of times, I did price it up again for Christmas time but it’s mega a money

I would book an overnight stay at Port Lymph Safari Park, you get late night access and if it's been a hot day the animals are much more active early evening. There are a few different types of lodges to stay depending on your budget, but it was absolutely brilliant.

Crieff Hydro is fun. Lots of activities for DCs including a kid's club. You can stay in the hotel or in a lodge. At 10, our DCs preferred activities to the kids' club eg archery, laser tag, zip wire, swimming pool, games room, etc.

If your willing to travel for Disney what about another theme park in Europe? Is he an old or a young 10?

Does he need activities like butlins with the fair and arcades or does he enjoy lots or things?

Paris for a few nights?

Bath...

Some lovely b and b near the beach at Studland Dorset, swanage...

Where in the UK are you based?
North south east west.

Butlins in a hotel. £500 won't go that far.

Port Lympne has accommodation in the safari park. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park has an on-site hotel as well, depending where you are based.

Alton Towers Splash Landings Hotel combined with theme park visit would be good for that age too.

Would he like to fly? See where is cheap from your local airport and book 2 nights away, somewhere in france in an auberge is affordable (we paid circa €60 per night last year then €20/ head for breakfast and evening meals with wine. ) go to local markets, play chess in the square and experience French life. My kids loved doing this

Sleeper train to Scotland

Take the ferry to the Isle of Wight. My son loved that, it was a real adventure.

What about The Pigs in Norfolk? All rooms have their own hot tub/fire pit and are child friendly with zip line/climbing and games room . Not actually been but looking at booking it for us !

www.thepigs.org.uk/rooms/family

St Ives hotel, Lytham St Annes.

The safari lodges at West Midlands Safari Park, although it would just be one night.

Does it have to be UK? Futuroscope in France or Efteling in the Netherlands if not.

Was just about to mention those...they look great but outrageously priced.

Thanks everyone for your ideas, I’ve just come off a night shift but I’ll have a good look at them all later.

has anyone stayed in the safari lodge? Are they worth the money?

Premier Inn Wembley, get the tube into London.. we had some fantastic breaks when our kids were little.

We've just got back from a stay at the Warwick castle knights lodges which was great fun. The lodges are really nice and there's evening entertainment from the knights (knight school). And you get entry into the castle-the jousting show and falconry was great.

If you want centre park a with beach check out bluestone in west wales.

Similar set up but great beach nearby

Have a look at the Sands Resort in Newquay. By the beach but very kid friendly, on that budget you could probably manage a whole weekend.