Where would you stay? Babington, Cowley, Ickworth....anywhere else?!

[alp]

With a DH who was in hospital during December and us having to reschedule our skiing holiday we are in need of a bit of TLC so there is me, DH and DD (4)

We've stayed at Babington but if it is raining would the it all go stir crazy as there isn't loads of space? We've stayed at Moonfleet and Woolley but would like somewhere new. What about Cowley? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

Mmm we need some TLC but £800 per night might be a little too much TLC! That might put DH back in hosp again! The one organina linked to was really nice and has had good reviews on tripadvisor so it is on the list!

do have a rummage round the archives. try searching on "hotel" by certain posters, e.g. wickedwaterwitch, countessdracula.

what about The Grove, Hertfordshire i see it has rebranded somewhat to "golf resort", which may or may not be your thing.

Had thought about the grove - do you think it would be a bit 'big'?? DH does like golf so it could be a winner. My mum stayed there a few years ago and Cate Blanchett was staying there so thats quiet cool (although Mum couldn't remeber her name and called her Catherine thingy-bob)

let's try again The Grove

it is quite big, but it sounds as though it has everything you could want. smart too, and not too much travelling time.

Have been to both Babington and Cowley (in pre-babe days, sigh!), and preferred Babington, though Cowley obviously lovely too.... neither struck me as particularly child friendly though, but it was pre-kids so didn't have that particular radar on, if you see what I mean....

orangina - do see what you mean about the radar! My feelings about Babington was if it is raining then it isn't very big and with the pool times so strict(we were there for a wedding and even though it was only wedding guests round the pool,wedding guests in the pool they wouldn't let DD in!) then there is a chance to be couped up which is not much of a TLC break for anyone.

have you decided, alp? what are the front runners?

We just got back from Ickworth yesterday 2 nights with the children - it was lovely very relaxed - service was good but not great at reception but everywhere else service was great.

We stayed at Morston Hall in October I would not take our children there but they are still young (14 months and nearly 4 years) perhaps if they were older.

good to hear that the Ickworth was a good break.

Front runners were the ickworth/the elms or the grove - have gone with the grove as onlyjust over an hour from us which means we can be there Saturaday mid-morning and leave Sunday afternoon without wasting the Friday with travelling (not wanting to take DD out of school)

They have given us a discount of a suite as the rooms left in the 'west wing' would be near a function they have on - so I am pleased with that - so far so good!

The Grove seems to have been recommened on here a lot but with not much review so I promise to post our thoughts!

Thanks for all your help - bossykate you have been fab

We went here once and that was fun, and you get to walk on wintry beach and then come back. Lots of inside things for dcs to do.

Oh I know, our best hotel visit was to the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne. Rather old-fashioned and looked like it had come out of a Christie book, but incredibly hospitable, and separate tea for the children, nice pool and a spa. We liked that, we never left the hotel - except for one brief freezing walk along the pier. There was a playroom and things too, and big silver tea pots. Not a cool hotel, but properly comfortable and a bit retro.

Hang on will find link.

here it is

Honestly, much jollier than somewhere like Babington, which is okay but a bit self-conscious.

the grand looks really good! and it is really resonably priced - it is going on the list of must visits

Oh good. We went one miserable October half-term when dcs were maybe 6,4,2 or something like that, and we just had the best and nicest time.

We loved the silver teapots and the big fires and the carpet and the palm trees. And one afternoon they had a tea dance and we all watched that and a man's hearing aid was humming loudly and he kept shouting at the waiter 'what's that awful sound.' We loved all that. And properly comfortable beds and thick carpets.

Gorgeous. Not sure how old dcs are? They had a playroom with supervised care, but if I remember rightly there was an age limit on who you could leave - no under 2s maybe? Something like that.

Check it out. There is a children's section on the website I think. They get their own checking-in steps!

I think these old victorian places which are properly hospitable in places like Eastbourne are going to be the new cool, I predict it, much nicer and more fun than the groovy bars of Babington.

There's an old castle near by too.

hope you have a really fantastic time!

i like the look of calcot best for my birthday but wish it was nearer the coast! it won conde nast traveller best hotel spa 2007 alternatively if they could just move bedruthan steps a leetle close to london...

i think you're right ahundredtimes. MUCH nicer then poncey places like the Babington.

I'm thinking about visiting the Grand now for some retro granny chic.

the grand does indeed look wonderful! 100x i couldn't actually find anything related to children's welcome or families on the website...

Click on Leisure, then on Children at the Grand.

ha ha ha putting children under Leisure. ha ha ha.

children under leisure?! Of course having kids is a 'hobby'. Calcot was fully booked for the weekend we wanted (next weekend 26th Jan) but its back on the list for the next time I can think of a reason to go away

thanks 100x that does look v good for kids.

Lol at the old castle 100x. You mean, of course Pevensey Castle, built by William the Conqueror when the Normans landed at Pevensey Bay in 1066

I've been in the Grand several times (not stayed there though). Best to go when the big outdoor pool is open though as the indoor pool is tiny.

The restaurant was taken over by someone really good a few years back (who used to have a fab restaurant near me). Don't know if he's still there.

There is always a strong wind on Eastbourne seafront except for about one day a year, its so exposed.