Anyone been to Woolley Grange ?

[twogorgeousboys]

We have booked a weekend break as a special treat for my husband's birthday in August. Anyone been and can tell me what its like and how to make the most of it?

[tamum]

Hi twogorgeousboys I think check-in is officially 3pm, but we usually arrive a bit before that. They are happy to let you use any facilities before you check in- I guess the only problem would be if you wanted to leave the children in the Den and they were over their numbers because they weren't expecting you, but I don't think that's likely to be a problem. They usually sit us down in the lounge with some cookies and juice and a pot of tea if we're early. Check-out is 10 I think, maybe 11, but again they say you're welcome to stay and swim or whatever. Basically they are always keen to help, the standard of service is one of the great things (or has been whenever we've been there)- they're always friendly without being obsequious, but bend over backwards to help.

We're in a suite too, they're usually lovely. One year when we were going to Longleat we were asking the restaurant manager at dinner the night before whether they would do picnics and she came back with a notebook and just made loads of suggestions (Would you like a big wodge of lemon cake? How about some fromage frais for the children? etc) and then listed everything we wanted. The next day it was all packed up for us with napkins and mineral water and everything, a really nice treat.

I'd better stop now, I'm getting carried away

[twogorgeousboys]

Oooh it sounds lovely! When is check in time on day of arrival and check out time on departing?

Also, if we arrive before check in time (which we probably will), will we still be able to start using the facilities (same goes for departure day really).We've got a small suite, so ds1 can sleep in the sitting room and ds1 can sleep in a cot with us.

[tamum]

We go every year, it's just fab. If you're there between the 7th and 10th we'll have to think of a special mumsnet signal to recognise each other! We usually go to Longleat with the kids, into Bradford-on-Avon to walk along by the canal (there's a nice park there too), into Bath and so on. Last year was such great weather we spent the whole time by the pool, wearing their fluffy white dressing gowns and drinking pots of coffee and eating their lovely cakes while the children acvorted in the water. There's a fresh tub of homemade cookies each day in your room, and big bowls of fruit in the corridors to help yourself from.

The nannies are really nice and have become real friends over the years. They run quite a lot of activities like T shirt painting that the 3 year old might enjoy, and the children's meals are good. The nannies will babysit if you don't want to rely on baby listening. The adults' dinner can be a bit elaborate but is usually pretty good and the breakfasts are great.

Anything else just ask- I'm a bit of a fan as you can tell!

[OldieMum]

We drove to Bath from Oxford on Tuesday, found a car park immediately (underneath Waitrose in the centre of town) and found a space immediately. The whole process was much easier than it would ever be in Oxford. I'd heard that parking was bad in Bath, but I'm glad I wasn't put off.

[twogorgeousboys]

Two boys age 3 and 1. I thought we'd visit the surrounding area before and after our stay IYSWIM and make the most of the Den/Nursery while we are there. Would like to visit Bath before we go home, haven't been for ages.

Glad to hear its sumptuous. We're hoping for a bit of grown up luxury as well as plenty for the boys to enjoy, whilst me and dh do something wild like read ALL the Sunday papers in peace!

[mrsflowerpot]

dh has been on a work do, and constantly makes me jealous about it, apparently it's sumptuous.

Do you want to get out and about while you're there or are you planning to hole up and enjoy the luxury? Bradford on Avon itself is a nice little town to potter around in, you can get the train into both Bath and Bristol (avoid horrible parking problems in both) and there is loads to do for kids around - what age are your children?