Stylish UK family-friendly breaks that fit a range of budgets.
Part 2: The final five
Check out Part 1 HERE if you haven’t already.
A little delayed, as part one was published over six months ago. But apparently Part 1 of my Best Stylish UK Family Breaks is one of my most popular posts on here – and with holidays very much at the forefront of my mind right now, it felt like the right time to finally share the final five in my top ten.
Of course these are just from our personal opinions and experiences. And there are many more I’d like to try. Will be sure to review as I go…
SeaSpace
We had the best weekend at SeaSpace in Cornwall last spring — helped by being incredibly lucky with the weather. It was one of those rare British weekends when it hit 22 degrees and stayed sunny, so we spent most of our time on the beach at Watergate Bay, where the kids had surf lessons with Wave Hunters.
We reviewed SeaSpace for Citizen Femme shortly after it opened last year — you can read that HERE — but it really is brilliant. It’s an aparthotel, meaning self-contained apartments that give you maximum flexibility, paired with all the perks of a hotel.
There’s a very cool, Wes Anderson-meets-Miami style swimming pool, an excellent café and restaurant, and beautifully designed rooms (it’s owned by the same people as Watergate Bay, so the interiors are spot on). The location is a dream too: overlooking the sea, just a four-minute drive to Watergate Bay and close to Newquay.
It’s also a short walk to R. Place (formerly known as Roo’s Beach), a great independent fashion & lifestyle store – they also do a good coffee.
It’s an ideal set-up for families, with studios as well as two- and three-bedroom apartments, multiple play areas, a padel court and one of the nicest play and games rooms I’ve seen – including Maileg toys and a Lego desk.
Pricewise, it’s reasonable too, starting from around £150 per night for a large studio sleeping four, making it a fantastic base for exploring Cornwall.
Feather Down Farms
We’re not campers, so were a little nervous about glamping. But Featherdown Farms really are cottages under canvas. And we loved New Barn Farm, the Feather Down Farm site where we spent a weekend at in Bedfordshire last year. From what I’ve heard tall of sites are great and have a similar, wholesome, rustic vibe, just with slightly different facilities, activities and animals. There are 21 farms in the UK and another 30 across Europe (France, Belgium and Netherlands).
You can see my full review of our stay HERE.
A Feather Down trip makes for a wonderfully off grid, back to nature family weekend. You stay in beautiful, well-equipped tents: comfortable beds, hot water, showers. And yes, a flushing toilet.
Highlights included being given a pet guinea pig to look after for the weekend, collecting fresh eggs from the chicken coop for breakfast, toasting marshmallows over the fire, pony grooming and more. I’ve shared much more (plus a packing list) in my full review, but suffice to say, I highly recommend it.
Feather Down have also given me a unique code to share – Charlotte5 – which gives you 5% off a 2026 stay at one of their farms. To be used on new bookings only between 27/3/26 – 31/10/26.
Calcot Manor
We visited Calcot Manor as a family for a special birthday weekend, and it didn’t disappoint — even if we were the first people at breakfast every morning. My children firmly believe that if breakfast starts at 7am, you must be there at 7am. But to be honest I love a hotel breakfast and this one didn’t disappoint.
Our visit was a few years ago now, but we stayed in a Generous Family Room, which was brilliant. The children had their own bunk room, we had a huge, comfortable bed (big enough for the youngest to sleep in with us too), and the bathroom was the real highlight: twin bathtubs. Complete with Child’s Farm toiletries. The kids were obsessed.
Our children don’t usually love kids’ clubs, so we don’t tend to use them, but the Playbarn at Calcot was excellent. Clean, safe and incredibly well stocked — including toys suitable for older children — so they happily stayed there for a few hours while we made use of the spa.
There’s so much for families to do, from indoor and outdoor swimming pools to bike hire, disc golf, tennis, play areas and lovely countryside walks.
The food was delicious, and even in the more refined restaurants I never felt uneasy dining with the children (although we did eat earlier than most). I vividly remember my youngest going through a food-throwing phase, with me frantically retrieving peas from the floor, while a very kind waiter reassured me it was fine.
It’s probably no surprise that Calcot is regularly voted one of the best family hotels in the UK.
Chewton Glen
I’ve visited Chewton Glen both for work — styling a photoshoot when I was Fashion Editor at Zest magazine — and later as a family. It’s a true luxury hotel in the New Forest, yet incredibly family friendly.
The suites are spacious, and the treehouses (which I’m still yet to stay in) look like the most magical family accommodation imaginable.
We stayed when we just had one toddler, so my experience is from that stage, but we’d love to return as a family of five — ideally in a treehouse.
It’s the thoughtful details that make Chewton Glen so special: welcome gifts for little ones, wellington boots by the door, excellent children’s menus that don’t feel like an afterthought, and babysitting available.
One evening, after a sleepless night, we opted for room service — and it was made to feel just as special as dining in the restaurant.
There are designated children’s swimming times, you’re close to the beach, a lovely kids’ club housed in a den-style treehouse, and an outdoor pool for warmer months.
It’s classic five-star, old-school elegance with a genuinely warm family feel.
Lower Mill Estate
A slightly different option to finish, as I wanted some variety in these lists — but we had a wonderful weekend at Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds a couple of years ago.
It’s essentially a village of self-contained luxury holiday homes set within the Cotswold Lakes, making it ideal for family gatherings or group trips.
Some houses are privately owned, others rented, and there’s a mix of traditional cottages, eco-friendly lodges and striking architect-designed lakeside properties. Many have wood burners, and all are fully equipped with modern amenities.
Activities vary by season, but you’ll find heated indoor and outdoor pools, bike hire, plenty of water sports including paddleboarding and canoeing — though we were equally happy simply walking around the lake.
There’s an on-site restaurant (which we didn’t try), takeaway wood-fired pizzas from The Pizza Shack, and a small shop on site.
It’s also a great base for exploring the wider Cotswolds.
Remember to check out PART 1 if you haven’t already.
