BEST UK-BASED HOTELS FOR KIDS

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With hotels in England now officially allowed to open on July 4 - and Scottish and Irish hotels following suit on 15 and 30 July respectively - a staycation could well be the answer to our summer holiday prayers. With social distancing still very much de rigeur, however, the more secluded the property, the better. Luckily for us, driving remains the safest way to travel, particularly if you have young children for whom socially distancing is impossible (another game of eye spy anyone?). We’ve hand-picked 10 of the best remote hotels for you to escape to, each with strict measures in place to ensure your safety. Simply grab the kids, pile into the car and go. Summer adventures here we come…

Chewton Glen
Christchurch Road, New Milton, New Forest, Hampshire, BH25 6QS, England
Opening 4 July

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Chewton Glen has plenty to offer the escapee, including four cleverly-designed tree-houses suspended 35ft in the air — nothing will thrill the kids more and, once they are asleep, there’s a hot tub for you to wallow in while looking out over the forest. Or book one of several family-friendly rooms and suites. Let Chewton Glen pamper your body, too, with its impressive spa complete with 17-metre ozone-treated pool and treatments by Linda Meredith. Come evening, book room service from a menu created using ingredients from the hotel’s own kitchen garden. If your children love getting messy in the kitchen, you can stir things up with a cooking class.

Coworth Park
Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7SE, England
Opening 4 July

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When you’re the cousin of revered London hotel The Dorchester, the stakes are high. But Coworth Park — with its impressive eco-credentials and dash of racecourse glamour — can hold its own. The expansive grounds (of which there are 240 acres for your children to romp and stomp about in) contain a wild summer meadow (pictured above), bronze sculptures by a local artist and a tranquil lake. There’s also an indulgent spa, a kids’ club (check the website for details), a Michelin-starred restaurant and imaginative rooms with copper roll-top baths.

Cliveden House
Taplow, Berkshire, SL6 0JF, England
Opening 4 July

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Neoclassical Cliveden House is a luxurious hotel set within a walled garden brimming with roses and lavender. In the spa, relaxing treatments are performed on waterbeds; you can also book private yoga, Thai Chi or tennis sessions (for kids too), or drape yourself decadently around the hot tubs, pools and steam room. The heated outdoor pool, where Minister John Profumo first glimpsed Christine Keeler in 1961, is now listed – but you (and the kids) can bathe in its infamy with a simple pre-booking.

Foxhill Manor
Farncombe Estate, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7LJ, England
Opening 13 July

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Picture yourself bedding down in a honey-hued Grade II listed building in one of just five oversized rooms with curved sofas, freestanding roll-top baths or four-poster beds. When it comes to dining, the tables are turned: help yourself to a drink from the honesty bar before designing your own dinner with the help of the chef (posh cheese and toast for the kids, perhaps?).

Dormy House
Willersey Hill, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7LF, England
Opening 13 July

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‘Your home-from-home in The Cotswolds’, states the website for Dormy House, a renovated farmhouse with original stone brickwork, traditional shutters and green rolling hills.  In contrast to the hotel, the spa is Scandinavian in design with a 16-metre infinity pool, glass-walled spa lounge (with central fire pit) and outdoor hydrotherapy pool. Nothing beats an evening meal on the sunny terrace of The Potting Shed, with its superb pub grub and field views. Kids aren’t just welcomed here, they are made to feel very special indeed – and pooch can come, too.

The Fish Hotel
Farncombe Estate, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7LH, England
Opening 13 July

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First came Foxhill Manor, then came The Fish, a make-no-bones-about-it quirky hotel on the vast Farncombe Estate. Choose from one of five Hilly Huts (one comes with its own paddle boat; pictured above), Tree-houses with wooden baths on large decks, or a room in the Farmhouse. Dining options include a Tipsy Tea (afternoon tea with cocktails), Hook (a fresh fish restaurant) and a fairy-lit deck for BBQs. The kids will love the cinema room with its large screen and comfy sofas ideal for scoffing popcorn while watching a Disney classic.

Cromlix Hotel
Kinbuck, Dunblane, Perthshire, FK15 9JT, Scotland
Opening 15 July

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A hotel designed by Andy Murray is sure to be a game-changer. Set in 34 acres of secluded woodland, near the tennis star’s home town of Dunblane, the Cromlix is a converted Victorian mansion with 15 grand rooms, a well-revered restaurant, two drawing rooms, a conservatory, a snooker room, and a whole lot of Scottish charm. Play golf, go fishing, book a tennis lesson or simply relax in the vast grounds.

Gleneagles Hotel
Auchterarder, Perthshire, PH3 1NF, Scotland
Opening 15 July

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Gleneagles’ reputation for Scottish hospitality, dramatic scenery and impeccable design has stood the test of time. Hole up in front of the fire in the tartan-clad drawing room or adorn a pair of Hunters and try your hand at clay pigeon shooting, horse riding, archery or fishing before bedding down in your interconnecting family room complete with fully-equipped play area. Golfers can play a round on one of three championship courses; the restaurant is the only one in Scotland to hold two Michelin stars, yet eagerly welcomes children. Don’t forget to check out the shop (pictured above), brimming with cute kiddie treats.

The Fife Arms
Mar Rd, Braemar, Ballater AB35 5YN, Scotland
Opening 15 July

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‘Most Highland hotels don’t have a Picasso in the drawing room’ remarked The Sunday Times when crowing The Fife ‘Hotel of the Year’ 2019. But then this is no ordinary Highland hotel. Rooms are cosy and traditional; common spaces modern and quirky. Families can choose from one of four two-bedroom family suites, each with en suite bathrooms. Tuck into local seafood or game in the restaurant or settle down in the public (and family-/dog- friendly) bar with its giant moose at the helm. The spa is modern yet cosy with big windows and fluffy blankets to curl up in.

Adare Manor
Adare, Co. Limerick, Ireland
Opening 30 July

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If outdoor pursuits are your family’s thing, Adare Manor is one to watch. Fish in the resort’s own Trout rivers, play golf on dedicated courses or ride horses through 840 acres of parkland with your child trotting along beside you. Inside, the historic 1720s building is as grand as it is gothic, with ornate chandeliers, stained glass windows and wood panelling. There are nine categories of rooms — from classic and family-friendly to individual cottages - and four dining options, including Limerick’s first Michelin-starred restaurant.