Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Luxury UK family hotel for my 40th

23 replies

bootswiththefur · 16/10/2022 21:58

I turn 40 in April gulp and due to covid we haven't had a family holiday for some time. We don't have passports but I would love to do something special for my 40th, a weekend or short break that feels like a real treat for us but that the kids will love too. I live in Birmingham so ideally not a mammoth commute,

Other Wishlists:

  • Child friendly food options / self catering
  • Ideally a pool
  • Would be great if play area or woods / forests to explore
  • Luxury feel - without sounding like a snob I want it to feel more exclusive than a holiday park.

Can anyone recommend any they've visited POST COVID - as I know hospitalities taken a real hit in recent years!

thanks in advance

OP posts:
Fivemoreminutes1 · 17/10/2022 05:58

Cowley Manor www.cowleymanor.com/families-pets/kids-at-cowley/
Calcot and Spa www.calcot.co/families/
Celtic Manor www.celtic-manor.com/dining/family-dining

Worriedaboutethics · 17/10/2022 06:15

@bootswiththefur

budget?

wishingchair1 · 17/10/2022 06:18

The Belfry Hotel do some great deals in the holidays. Accomodation is fab if seversl families going as they are pods with lounge areas, so you can sit having drinks, play board games, watch tv.etc. Rooms back onto the woods, play area. Main hotel has spa, cocktail lounges? sports bar, crazy golf. It's in the Midlands 5 min from Drayton manor. We've been several times and a perfect family luxury treat. Great location.
We love the central private lounge bit. Often get kids eat free, free crazy golf etc.

wishingchair1 · 17/10/2022 06:19

Has a pool, spa, fire and ice rooms etc

TheLadyofShalott1 · 17/10/2022 07:05

I immediately thought of the Celtic Manor too. It is on the outskirts of Newport, South Wales, but close to the English border. You would just need to pop down the M5, and would have 3 main choices of route. The first one from you means that you exit the M5 (just after the Strensham Services - I think, but please check as I have only used that route once), you then get a slower, but more scenic route through the South East corner of Wales, maybe through the very pretty Wye Valley; or you can continue on the M5 southwards, and then where the M5 & the M4 meet you turn right for Wales, go over the Old Severn Bridge to Chepstow, then make your way further South to Newport, which is a shorter scenic route than the previous one; or if you want to go on the fastest route, you can carry on, on the M5 until you see the signposts for the New Severn Bridge, and when you are on the other side of that it is just a short journey on the M4 to the hotel.

The Hotel has a large indoor Swimming Pool, and luxury spa treatments in the main Hotel complex, a well equipped Gym, and in the grounds there is one of those tree-top adventure thingys. There is at least one other indoor pool on the larger site, but I have never seen it. I have one word of caution though, if any of your family members love playing golf, and you don't, you might not see them for much of your time away, as it is also a major golf resort - it hosted one of the biggest golfing events in the golfing calendar some years ago, but the main hotel is not usually overrun by golfers, as the nineteenth hole is in another building.

The main building is quite modern, the older 'manor house' is much smaller, but you have to go to the larger one for the swimming pool and gym etc. If you do decide to go to the Celtic Manor, don't let them "upgrade" you to the older Manor House - as from what others have said, it isn't an upgrade at all, the rooms are apparently not as nice as the main building's ones.

There are a lot of different grades of rooms, and several hotels in their portfolio now, so first of all join their mailing list online, as they quite frequently do some good offers. Then browse through all the info online before deciding whether it seems right for you and your family, some things may have changed since I was last there, as our circumstances have changed and we cannot really afford it anymore. Anyway, wherever you end up going for your birthday treat OP, I hope you have a lovely time, and enjoy being 40, my next major birthday is my 70th (God Willing)!
💐

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 17/10/2022 07:18

Crieff Hydro, if central Scotland is do-able.

bootswiththefur · 18/10/2022 16:37

Thanks all - Haven't got a set budget really but dont mind splashing out a bit as it only happens once lol

I will have a look - thanks for your help all

x

OP posts:
Hbh17 · 18/10/2022 16:58

The Ickworth Hotel, just outside Bury St Edmunds.

Verite1 · 18/10/2022 17:37

I haven’t been, but Chewton Glen in new forest looks amazing. Pricy though.

declutteringmymind · 18/10/2022 17:50

A bit further afield but port lympne?

Roserunner · 18/10/2022 17:53

Forest holidays do lovely lodges and I think tree houses that all come with hot tubs and look nice and luxurious.

FinallyHere · 18/10/2022 19:16

Not exactly high end luxury, but as they describe themselves, very comfortable and charming, with simply 'loads' to do

www.knollhouse.co.uk/

ivegotthisyeah · 18/10/2022 19:18

Maybe a bit far out North Yorkshire but swinton park have these amazing tree houses and lots of woodland for exploring, spa ! Lots of restaurants close to a pretty village with pubs lots of walks etc

Sirpatrickdelaneypodmore · 18/10/2022 19:18

Port Lympne. No pool but the lodges look amazing.

bootswiththefur · 26/10/2022 19:11

Thanks for the ideas all xxx

OP posts:
fruitypancake · 26/10/2022 19:13

Chewton Glen hotel - fits all your requirements. Very luxurious with exclusive feel . Does treehouses with hot tubs. Stunning pool and spa area .. woodlands and short walk to beach . 5 star

Ilikewinter · 26/10/2022 19:24

Wow, Chewton Glen looks amazing.
I was going to suggest Forest Holidays (hot tubs but no pool), or Bainland Lodges in Woodhall Spa. However if youre considering Chewton then my suggestions might not be luxury enough!

bootswiththefur · 26/10/2022 19:37

Chewton Glen absolutely does look amazing! Realistically though probably more than I can justify but wow. Tempting!

@Ilikewinter Have you been to Bainland Lodges - they look lovely and love all the activities for the kids. My eldest would love the archery and off roading stuff!

OP posts:
countdowntonap · 26/10/2022 19:44

The Tawny Hotel
thetawny.co.uk

You can stay in rustic Shepherds’ Huts, stilted, wooden Treehouses, or lakeside Boathouses. There is a children’s menu in the restaurant or you could have pizza delivered from the restaurant to your room. The outdoor heated pool is in the middle of stunning scenery.

bootswiththefur · 26/10/2022 20:00

Ooh The Tawny also looks amazing, although wondering if its as child friendly as some of the ones above, Have you been @countdowntonap - the freestanding bath in the treehouses looks like bliss if i could find a baby sitter instead lol

OP posts:
Haggisfish3 · 26/10/2022 20:03

Elms hotel Worcestershire is lovely.

Ilikewinter · 26/10/2022 20:58

bootswiththefur · 26/10/2022 19:37

Chewton Glen absolutely does look amazing! Realistically though probably more than I can justify but wow. Tempting!

@Ilikewinter Have you been to Bainland Lodges - they look lovely and love all the activities for the kids. My eldest would love the archery and off roading stuff!

Yeah we stayed there for a week this summer, we had the dog with us so didnt do any of the activities but the whole site is lovely, there are so many different styles of lodges to pick from and wandering round they all look lovely, plenty of space and privacy between them its nothing like a 'Haven' type park! If you gone on their facebook site almost all the comments are positive.

fruitypancake · 26/10/2022 21:45

Moonfleet manor a more affordable option but still lovely

New posts on this thread. Refresh page