The best hotels with kids’ clubs in the UK

Step into a bygone era of English high society, original artworks and antiques at this luxurious country house hotel, where press baron Lord Beaverbrook entertained world leaders and literary greats. Despite its wonderfully grand feel, children are extremely welcome here. Interconnecting rooms are available in the House and Garden House, plus there’s a children’s pool, a tree house, and a play area. Bicycles, walking maps and iPads with Netflix are also available. Britain’s premier kids creative event experts, Sharky & George, organise and run the ever-popular kids’ club. Their engaging, high-energy activities range from bug hunting, survival skills and nature trails to den building, epic water fights and woodland creature making.

With quietly classy bedrooms, masses of country pursuits, championship golf courses, a fabulous spa and two-starred Michelin food, there’s a little bit of (expensive) heaven for everyone at Gleneagles, and it’s worth every penny. Children (and teenagers) are as indulged as adults, with a good choice of accommodation and an incredible range of facilities and activities, both with parents and without. There’s a fantasy crèche with an indoor treehouse and railway carriage (pictured), or a dedicated space for older children with PS4s, Xboxes, and a cinema space. Or they can try their hand at outdoor pursuits like falconry, ferret racing, off-road driving in tiny Land Rovers, or even ‘own a pony’ for day.

Fanous for its glorious treehouse accommodation, it makes sense that Chewton Glen’s kids’ club is also situated in a treehouse. Named ‘The Beehive’ (after the property’s 70 beehives and five million bees who produce honey for the hotel) children are taken outside for wholesome activities like nature scavenger hunts or more quirky activities like duck herding, as well as playing with the treasure trove of toys (and technology) inside. There’s also The Kitchen, Chewton Glen’s restaurant and cooking school that offers child-friendly cooking classes. The club offers complimentary supervised fun in the morning and afternoons allowing parents to relax in the spa and explore the hotel’s other lavish facilities. Rather brilliantly, kids stay free throughout the school holidays.

The beach here is lifted straight from a children’s book it’s so fairytale and the hotel literally has a prime position on it which means a lot of the supervised childcare sessions are centered around it. Those aged over seven can join surf lessons (pictured) and many get hooked thanks to the exceptional tuition. There are ‘beach school’ sessions for ages 3 – 12 and indoors there are games, craft activities and an outdoor mini-adventure playground in the Kids’ Zone for the smallest guests (the club takes babies from 6 months old), while The XA Club designed for older kids has a pro ping-pong table, vintage arcade games and the latest games consoles too.

Family suites have separate bunk rooms, with sliding doors for privacy.

A Georgian Italianate palace, former home to the Marquess of Bristol, now jointly owned by the National Trust… so not a place you expect to welcome grubby little fingers. Yet everything about this hotel is configured to make a luxurious retreat in the company of kids less of an oxymoron. The hotel’s whole ethos is to make parents and children as at ease as possible, including a crèche for younger children (book in advance as it’s first come, first served – but you get two hours daily complimentary) and a downstairs games room for older children and teenagers with Xbox and air hockey. The listening service means adults can dine solo while children snooze upstairs.

Set in 500 acres of beautiful countryside, this Georgian manor house and estate is a hidden gem. The house may date back to the 18th century but lavishly refurbished bedrooms and exquisite fine dining have brought the hotel on trend. A luxury spa, impressive pool and array of activities provide a fun time for all. The kids’ club here is complimentary and open on the weekends as well as school holidays. Children aged four and over are welcome for a range of arts and crafts with delightful local staff. Outside of the childcare, The Highwire Adventure obstacle course and Sharkie’s Reef water features offer oodles of fun for children (as well as falconry or horse riding).

A country escape set in 300 acres of glorious grounds within easy reach of London. This bells-and-whistles hotel has it all, from a championship golf course and excellent spa to masses of children’s activities and outdoor pursuits. The Ofsted-registered Anoushka’s Kids Club, for children aged two to nine, (pictured) takes place on Saturdays and during the school holidays when there is also a special programme of activities, for instance t-shirt design, biscuit decorating, sand art and forest camps. In the summer, the Walled Garden houses Ralph’s Beach (a heated pool with sand and deckchairs adored by children), tennis courts, table tennis, a croquet lawn and mini football pitch.

This much-loved country spa hotel manages to nail that tricky formula of being supremely family-friendly and simultaneously grown-up. It’s the sort of place where people of all ages can decamp to a luxurious, yet unfussy weekend break. The Ofsted-registered kids’ club – or ‘Playbarn’ – is fantastic for tired parents with four hours of childcare included for every night of your stay with no lower age limit. It’s a great little space with truly brilliant staff who are happy to console anxious toddlers. There is nursery-style entertainment for younger kids on the ground floor and above, ‘The Mez’, is equipped with Wii consoles, PlayStations and more. As well as the childcare offering (babysitting is also available as well as a baby listening service) you are welcomed to rooms with sweet little details such as children’s names spelled out in magnets on the doors, or ‘baby boxes’ filled with everything you need.

This stylishly informal country house hotel – sister property to Cornwall’s popular Watergate Bay – is in a plum position on Ullswater. With watersports from their private jetty, kids’ club, indoor pool and spa, children are kept entertained, and grown-ups can be as active or as chilled as they choose. The childcare offering here is really pretty outstanding, manager Gillian is passionate (and fully trained) in forest school education and so a lot of the Kids’ Zone activities are themed around nature and getting outdoors. There are two-hour slots available for every night of your stay included in the room rate.

Part of Luxury Family Hotels, this 17th-century home is a firm favourite with families visiting Bath and the Wiltshire countryside. Offering both country manor relaxation and child-focused fun, it proves that the two need not be mutually exclusive. The Breakfast Club service collects little ones from the bedroom door, leaving parents to ponder the news over coffee. Special activities laid on during school holidays include scavenger hunts, archery, cooking with Chef, football matches, films and pond dipping. The kids’ club provides arts and crafts, dressing up, toys and outdoor games and you get 90-minutes free a day.