Luxury family hotel by train from London

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That's it really. I am looking for a family break over Christmas as we had no holiday this year due to lockdown (we postponed into 2021) and I am really feeling the struggle now. I am looking for a lovely luxury hotel that welcomes kids (aged 6+12) along the lines of Chewton Glen or Fowey Hall or similar, that is child friendly but also great for adults. Near a beach would be awesome. The clincher is I don't want to drive so accessibility by train from London is key...any thoughts at all? Has anyone done this? I hope for just 3 nights we would have enough to do locally without missing having a car with us.

We holiday by train often. You need decent public transport at your destination. Edinburgh, Newcastle or Durham would be good for that but really any decent sized city will have enough buses to get you to different places. Areas which are more problematic to get around would be the Cotswolds or the Lake District. Neither place is well served by train so you end up being very limited about where you can be based.

Woolley Grange in Bradford-upon-Avon. Change at Bath. It’s a short taxi ride up the hill from the station.

Thanks both

Totally agree that city breaks are more practical from a transport point of view, but I would really love to get away from the city for a few days. I'm looking at the London-Cornwall train service, to see if there is anything suitable on the stopping route. Will check out Woolley Grange too - never been.

The Grove on the North Norfolk coast immediately comes to mind. It’s in Cromer which has a station and probably enough to do to keep you occupied for three days (although we went in high season pre-Covid times) thegrovecromer.co.uk/family-friendly-accommodation/

I’d also recommend Elmers Court in Lymington in the New Forest. The Isle of Wight ferry is just a 5 minute walk away and Peppa Pig World, Marwell Zoo and Southampton are also close by. There’s an indoor pool, a large lawn to run around on, views over the marina so plenty of opportunity to spot boats and a children’s play area. There is a wide variety of accommodation from studio apartments to 2 and 4 bedroom lodges and cottages.

Celtic Manor just outside of Newport in Wales is also quite easy to get to as the train goes direct from London. Definitely have a look if your children like doing organised activities www.celtic-manor.com/activities

Change in Newcastle for the Hexham line or go out to the coast on the Metro

We just came back from the Lake District. We have no car and live in London. We traveled by train to Windermere and stayed at the Laura Ashley Belsfield Hotel in Bowness (minute taxi ride - cost £3.50). The hotel is lovely and fairly luxurious. The view from the lake view rooms is truly out of this world. You don't need a car there - you can walk into the village in less than a few minutes, you can see the lake from the window and walk through the hotel gardens down to it. Lovely walks along the lake, or take a ferry across to Lakeside and Ambleside. We went for 4 nights and had plenty to do. It is the home of Beatrix Potter and there are two museums dedicated to it if that is your thing (it is not ours so we did not go). We had such a wonderful time, we have booked to go back at Easter.

Came here to suggest Woolley Grange but see it’s already been recommended!

I should also say that the hotel gardens are full of rabbits! Wonderful for kids.

Thanks everyone

Wiifitmama that sounds fabulous - I have a rabbit mad daughter who would love it!

The view from our hotel window.

Don’t know particular hotels to recommend but Rye... Just over an hour from London Victoria. Picturesque cobbled streets, not a huge town and you’re at the seaside.

If you’d be into glamping in one of those gypsy type caravans, I think there’s one around East Sussex somwhere on a farm overlooking the sea that is a taxi ride from Hastings station.

Whoops, found the one I remembered and they’re closed in winter. This one is near Brighton and has a fully insulated tree house with kitchen and loo, if you wanted to do something other than a city break.
www.campsites.co.uk/search/gypsy-caravans-in-sussex/ditchling/blackberry-wood

Taj 51 Buckingham Gate – Westminster • luxury.
The Athenaeum – Mayfair • luxury.
The Connaught – Mayfair • luxury.