The 5 best luxury family hotels in the UK

A firm Winged Boots favourite, Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa is wonderfully located amid 130 acres of verdant countryside fringing the edge of the New Forest and close to the glorious south coast – the perfect spot for some family time away from the hustle and bustle. 

There are dozens of wonderful activities for the whole family at Chewton Glen, including sheep walking, farm experiences, falconry, foraging, ‘Pony Pamper’, and croquet. Teens and older members of your party can also take part in archery, axe throwing, clay pigeon shooting, art and cookery classes, golfing, and air rifle experiences. 

A dedicated children’s menu allows the little ones to feast on all the wondrous food on offer here, where there is a deep commitment to locally sourced ingredients and the freshest produce, most of which is cultivated in the hotel’s own Kitchen Garden. 

Top family-friendly features: 

• Secluded Treehouse Suites high in the canopy for a proper woodland adventure 
• Excellent activity hampers for kids that include kites, crafts, and other fun things to do 
• ‘The Beehive’ fantastic treehouse-style kids’ club 

Like the idea of your children heading to the kids' club whilst you have an hour at the spa? Discover the best kids' clubs in the UK now.

Luxury family hotels UK don’t get much better than Rockliffe Hall – a real gem of a five-star hotel in the north-east of England – resting within 365 acres of beautiful estate grounds and offering one of the country’s largest spas, as well as award-winning dining and an 18-hole championship golf course. 

Families are very much welcome here and there is an abundance of activities and facilities on offer for all ages – children even get their own bathrobes, slippers, and luxury bathroom amenities when they stay!  

Activities include the Junior Golf Academy, two all-weather tennis courts, a host of garden games like skittles, giant Jenga, quoits, Connect Four and plenty more lawn games to play (when the weather is behaving itself, of course). There is also an indoor swimming pool with dedicated kids’ swim times, plus wonderful children’s menus in The Clubhouse restaurant and Nu Sana, the hotel’s nutrition-led, casual dining venue. 

Top family-friendly features: 

• Fabulous luxury self-catering options for the freedom to plan your holiday your own way 
• Complimentary bicycle hire for both kids and grown-ups 
• Alice in Wonderland-themed outdoor adventure play area inspired by local legendary author Lewis Carroll 

You would be forgiven for questioning whether a trip to London with the kids is worthwhile, especially considering the amount of luxury business hotels there are. But believe it or not, The Ritz is considered one of the best family hotels in London, proving that you can take a break in a big city with the kids and still enjoy the comforts and luxury of a world-class, five-star hotel. 

Children are well catered for here and offered the red-carpet treatment with their own kidz@theritz club; a VIK (Very Important Kid) membership card, which offers a range of adorable benefits including special welcome gifts, in-room games consoles, books, games and DVDs, mini bathrobes, slippers, and bathroom amenities; plus dedicated children’s menus in the restaurants. 

Location-wise The Ritz is also well placed for some fab family-friendly attractions such as the renowned Hamleys toy store, Green Park, London Zoo, the Science Museum, the British Museum and Madame Tussauds as well as many other tourist hotspots. 

Top family-friendly features: 

• Complimentary ice cream with Afternoon Tea, lunch, or dinner at The Ritz 
• Spacious family-friendly rooms and suites  
• Fantastic central London location in Mayfair

Luxury UK family holidays don’t get much more special than the beautifully positioned Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate, which is set within a secluded bay on the stunning Cornish coastline on a privately-owned 25-acre Blue Flag Beach.  

Nearby St Ives and in fact all of Cornwall offer an abundance of great things to do and days out for all ages including stunning eco-attraction, the Eden Project, the Blue Reef Aquarium, and wildlife centre Paradise Park and its JungleBarn indoor play centre. Also, the hotel’s Kids’ Club has an extensive programme of fun activities featuring beach games, crafts, film nights and pizza marking, to name a few. 

Accommodation is varied and there are options for both smaller and larger parties. Stay in one of the Main House’s individually furnished rooms or venture further into Carbis Valley where there are several family-sized apartments and cottages. If you want to be beachside then the beautiful each Houses or Beach Lodges and Suites are the perfect choice for holiday living. 

Top family-friendly features: 

• Excellent Kids’ Club programme full of activities and adventure 
• Kid-friendly dining options including dedicated menus in several restaurants and even beachside takeaways like pizzas, hotdogs and ice cream 
• Secluded Valley Cottages and Suites for more space and relaxation 

If you’re looking to be away from the city but close enough to visit, then Four Seasons Hotel, Hampshire is for you. Located just an hour’s drive from London in the gorgeous, 500-acre Dogmersfield Estate, this five-star countryside hotel is set within a restored 18^th-century manor, steeped in history but with all the modern comforts and amenities to make it a perfect holiday retreat. 

The hotel features a wealth of activities for the whole family (some are subject to age restrictions), including horseback riding, cycling, tennis, fly fishing, nature and canal walks, falconry, and croquet, as well as much more. Child-friendly conveniences are also on offer, including complimentary dining for under fives, mini bathrobes and sweet welcome amenities. 

For more space and a touch more luxury, the hotel’s Suites and Speciality Suites feature separate living and sleeping areas and sofa beds or two double beds to accommodate everyone in your party.  

Top family-friendly features: 

• Brilliant family indoor swimming pool, ‘Sharkie’s Reef’, with bubble jets, waterslide, and rotating umbrella fountain 
• Wonderful outdoor adventure playground  
• Incredible woodland highwire adventure trail with ziplines, low rope courses and a parachute simulator