-
Are there any good alternatives to the Four Seasons Hampshire in the UK? We have a 5 year old and 3 year old who enjoy the playground and kids swimming pool. They also enjoy seeing the horses there. As much as we like it there it would be nice to try somewhere different but that also has a children’s playground and swimming pool onsite and some nice grounds for them to have a run around.
How about Chewton Glen? Beautiful grounds and just a short stroll to the beach. Great pool (though think kids swimming hours are restricted)
Woolley Grange is much smaller but very cute, especially at Christmas,
and it’s an easy walk into lovely Bradford-on-Avon.If you’re used to the Four Seasons, Woolley Grange will feel like a hostel in comparison, no matter that their website claims to be a “luxury” family hotel
I’d second Chewton Glen and Limewood is also lovely and has ponies nearby but fewer kids facilities overall
The Grove in Hertfordshire?
Thanks All, I’ll check out Woolley Grange, not heard of that one before.
I’ll take another look at Chewton Glen, I want sure it had everything we are looking for but I maybe missed a section of their website.
I grew up near The Grove, checked it out as a wedding reception venue.
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, but Cliveden ticks most of the boxes of your brief, largely thanks to the wider National Trust estate that it sits within. The grounds are great (albeit shared with NT visitors during the day), with lots of trails and plenty for kids including playgrounds and a maze. There’s boating along the river too (and, thankfully, at NT prices rather than luxury hotel prices). The hotel itself is okay. There’s a few larger suites that will fit the four of you, although the two-bed suite is in a wing rather than in the commanding position of the main house like the other major suites. There’s an indoor and (in)famous outdoor pool, the former has restricted hours for children. The main restaurant was quite underwhelming but the one in the stables was alright and there’s also a NT cafe nearby. Staff will be quite attentive to the children, but overall expect service to be a bit inconsistent – although I would say the same about FSH. I suspect the smart move on balance is to enjoy the grounds as an NT visitor, rather than as a hotel guest.
If you want to do it on the super cheap (and I speak as someone who did about 75 nights at FSH over the years) Crowne Plaza Marlow is interesting.
Yes, its entered via an industrial estate. Yes, its a CP. But you can walk down the banks of the Thames into Marlow (so only come in good weather) and Marlow is lovely, as all those Thames-side small towns are. Hotel has a pool too.
It’s 20% of the cost of FSH and – if you walk into Marlow and have a pleasant day there – far more than 20% of the overall experience.
Chewton Glen is good although less so for very small kids. What they never tell you is that its a seaside hotel. 15-20 minutes walk through the fields and you’re on a beach. Been here 3-4 times.
The Langley (Marriott) is worth a look once if cheap enough, partly because its built in a public woodland so it has kids playgrounds etc (public ones) a few minutes stroll into the woods.
Stumbled on this thread in good time. Had a fantastic day at Cliveden this afternoom. And have bookmarked the other suggestions. Thanks a lot.
@Tilly in case it helps, here’s the rules for kids access to the pools at Chewton Glen. Note that there’s two pools, one indoor in the Spa and an outdoor one.
My better half is there now and says:
They do kids stay free offers. Kids club complimentary. Walk through the grounds to the beach (but need to cross a busy road), think they have free bikes, there’s croquet…
If @Rob thinks it’s good then that’s probably your best guide, personally I find the Spa lovely but the hotel a bit too stuffy, the main restaurant too formal and some of the service quite bizarre, e.g. stayed last month and wife ordered room service beef Sunday Roast (£46), it came as what you’d expect as steak and chips with a yorkshire pud as an afterthought 🙂
Amazing, thank you everyone for all your recommendations and sharing your experiences. Off to do some reading now.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
