Well if your anything like us, September seems to have dawn in a period of state mourning in our household. We all are suffering from a severe case of holiday Blues and the associate withdrawal systems. The kids keep talking about the holiday and I keep catching either myself or the poor long suffer Mrs Mc surfing the web or impressing me, with, “Have you seen this hotel” or ” How many weeks is it until half term?”
With an abundance of five-star retreats to choose from, it has to be said when travelling with kids, only a select few hotels actually manage to balance luxury, relaxation and laughter to satisfy both the grown-ups and the little ones in equal measure. Below is our pick of the top luxury addresses.
The Arch London – for city kids
The Arch London is the perfect place for families to stay whilst exploring the vibrant capital city. The hotel offers a package which accommodates up to three guests per room, with connecting rooms available on request. Little ones will be treated to an indulgent experience throughout their stay with a host of family amenities such as children’s sized bathrobes and slippers, as well as a speciality Archie Bear. There is a large toy box filled with toys and a wide selection of children’s books to be enjoyed with complimentary cookies with milk. In the hotel’s stylish restaurant Hunter 486, young children will dine complimentary with their parents throughout their stay with kids sized cutlery, plus colouring books. Each morning the whole family will be treated to a complimentary English breakfast before setting off to explore the city.
Babington House, Somerset – for active kids
Part of the uber stylish Soho House Group, please don’t let this deter you in any way, shape or form. Set in 18 acres of parkland, the ever chic Babington House hotel boasts its own lake, tennis courts and croquet lawn. There are 32 decent-sized and lavishly-designed bedrooms, while the retreat’s split-level mini-houses are ideal for families. The Little House kids club is open daily and offers free crèche facilities for children from 12 months and up. During the summer holidays, the hotel offers cooking classes and outdoor activities. For the colder months, the hotel even has a small cinema with sink-in chairs showing a variety of family-friendly films. Within no time your feel like it’s a home from home.
Four Seasons Hotel, Hampshire – for countryside kids
Set amid 500 acres of luscious green fields, children can admire the unspoilt beauty of the British countryside while watching the hotel’s horses frolic in the surrounding paddocks. Infants can embark on a treasure hunt or play any number of games, all the while parents can take advantage of the spa. Other activities to keep the kids entertained, include cycling, croquet, tennis, boating on the Basingstoke Canal or even “owning a pony” for a day.
Chesterfield Hotel, Mayfair – for toy-hungry kids
On the doorstep of Hamley’s, The Chesterfield, Mayfair boasts arguably the best location for toy-hungry children. Inside the hotel, kids might even spot a sighting of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory’s very own Willy Wonka, whilst sampling the hotel’s Charlie and The Chesterfield Afternoon Tea. The offering provides kids with a golden egg, a chocolate Wonka bar, and their very own golden ticket !!!! For children, the Little OopmaLoompa Afternoon Tea consists of peanut butter and jam sandwiches, a selection of Wonkatastic pastries and delights, plus a choice of a milkshake or a sophisticated tea your little ones with a more refined palette.
Shangri La Hambantota, Sri Lanka – for the long haul kids
Well if your looking further a field how’s about beside the Indian Ocean on Sri Lanka’s ancient Spice Route along the lush, unspoiled Southern coastline and framed by swaying king coconut trees this location is incomparable for anyone wanting to visit Sri Lanka’s southernmost and least explored coast as a destination. It is close to Yala and Bundala National Parks (two of the country’s finest wildlife and nature reserves, Yala is home to the elusive Sri Lankan leopard) to which the hotel often organise bespoke half day safaris, as well as the option of visiting elephant orphanages and tea plantations. The resort itself is entirely family friendly; it has an excellent kids’ club and children’s recreation activities (drone flying, a trapeze etc), as well as the country’s first resort golf course.