staycation similar to all inclusive?

[WolfMother326]

Does anyone know of any resorts in the UK that are similar to the experience of a resort abroad? I'm thinking all inclusive, pool, kids activities, nice.

We were planning to go to the Canary Islands in late March 2024 for both mine and my DH's birthdays (they are a day apart). We have a 2 year old and didn't want another year of just normal days - wanted to do something special and especially not cook or clean. I've just found out I'm pregnant and will be due in April, so I think the trip is off the cards as I'll be 36 weeks pregnant.

Any ideas of similar things we could do in the UK? Preferably in the south but not going to rule anything out.

One of the Luxury Family Hotels might fit the bill: https://luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk/

Not all inclusive but lots of kids facilities and gorgeous hotels, a bit special

Also somewhere like Celtic Manor might work, there’s Carden Park in Cheshire but that might be too far north

We went to Bedruthan Steps when my children were small, and their sister hotel Sands in Newquay, not sure if they are still owned by the same people.
https://www.bedruthan.com/
https://www.sandsresort.co.uk/

Legoland Hotel is amazing 😻 we really loved it. It's not AI, but it's fabulous

The Belfry has loads going on www.thebelfry.com/media/2993/summer_family_activity_sheet.pdf Lots of it is free.
A bit further south, Calcot and Spa is also great calcot.co/families/

https://www.pottersholidays.com/

All inclusive in the UK

TLH Leisure Resort Torquay. Loads for kids including kids club, dinner bed and breakfast, pools, games room. Not fancy but good fun.

Potters resort in Norfolk. ALL drinks, meals ( 4 a day) and activities included.

Thanks everyone, potters resort does look amazing, but they only let people with kids/families come for 4 day stays over a weekend? We were hoping for a whole week or maybe even two. I will look into all these options, really grateful for the suggestions!

We combined a 4 day break and a 3 day break to make up a full week. That worked really well for us every summer as we went for five years on the run up to last year. There was couple of other families doing the same thing.

I know it is being pedantic bit a staycation is whe you stay at home.

What you are describing is a UK holiday!

@OhBeAFineGuyKissMe thanks for the correction - but it's not actually true. The urban dictionary also says that a staycation can be a vacation where you stay close to home.

Could you look into going in, say, December? The canaries have decent weather all year round and 36 weeks is pretty late to be sure of getting your UK break.

Oh this is a really great idea! Thanks for the tip.

Yes, this is also a good idea and something we might consider, then we could just go away for a day or two very close to home, or maybe just take time off and stay home on our actual birthdays.

Ah! Urban dictionary - the authority on language use. The word has been used here in the US since the 1940s and has always meant staying home and going to museums, parks, etc nearby. I could fly 3000 miles and still be in the same county. Would you call that staycation?

A staycation is staying at home with day trips out

THere’s another thread running asking for Center Parcs alternatives. Have you seen that? Some great ideas on that.

Staycation traditionally meant staying at home , but during the pandemic, people often misused the term for having holidays in the UK.

Staycation.
A word used by Americans. The same people that use the word panties.
🤮😁😁😁

We stayed at Bedruthan Steps a lot when DDs were tiny also Ickworth in Suffolk, they were perfect for us at the time, but this was 15-20 years ago. Maybe worth a look?

I think Canaries in December sounds better than UK in March which will more than likely be cold, wet and miserable.

Hey thanks everyone for the suggestions on places to stay. Maybe I'll also look at Centre Parks.

And also thanks everyone for being rude about the word staycation. I agree the usage changed during the pandemic to reflect staying local. I was looking for somewhere within an hour or two of my home which we normally wouldn't do. Not sure why people on mumsnet always enjoy being mean.