If I like Babbington House and I want to go away for a weekend with a toddler, where should I go?

[farfallarocks]

That it is really. One DD, 18 months, not going away this summer so want to have a nice weekend in the UK, 2/3 hours from London max. Key criteria:
spa
pool
babysitting service
separate room for the baby (I want some nookie dammit!)
good restaurant but can be low key
Ideally some outdoor space/terrace so we can relax when baby naps

Budget can be quite generous.
Any suggestions?
thanks

[puppy123]

Suggest you try the Smith and Family website, part of Mr and Mrs Smith, they have some lovely places, looking forward to taking our baby! From a quick search Calcot manor or Woolley Grange might work?

[Pancakeflipper]

Try The Grove.

[Quangle]

Woolley Grange or Chesil Beach one in the same chain would fit the bill. Also been to Calcot Manor which was lovely and v v posh.

[Marmalade1144]

Saunton sands, near croyde. It's fab

[farfallarocks]

Ooooh these look amazing, thanks, eyeing up a family suite at Calcot Manor.....

[SpringBreak]

Calcot is fantastic, have been several times. Left the truly appalling Woolley Grange early to go there ;-) Lovely restaurants.
Have also been to the Grove a lot and it's marvellous - incredible spa (much better than calcot's) and the childcare facilities are also excellent. It's rather more "flash" than Calcot - depends what your style is. There's a beach at the Grove, with an outdoor pool which is rather lovely.

[SpringBreak]

oh and Woollacombe Bay in North Devon... less fancy altogether than the other two, but incredible setting more than makes up for it!

[Shreddiez]

Go to Babbington! We love taking our kids, get a family suite, book baby into the club, enjoy kids tes, it's much nicer than Cowley or Calcott. I mean we like Cowley and Calcott with the kids but nothing beats Babbington and oddly Babbington makes me feel more relaxed with the kids than Cowley or Calcott.

[castlesintheair]

I really like Moonfleet Manor. Ticks all your boxes. You can get a big suite in the main house with 2 rooms so you have privacy but are still together. I've also been to Ickworth House which is apparently more like Babington. Fowey Hall good too but prefer food at Moonfleet. I remember food at Calcott and Thornbury Castle being particularly good.

[farfallarocks]

Have fallen in love with Calcott but its full when we want to go for a wedding. Babbington family rooms also full until the end of the year, they recommend booking a year in advance (!!)

Am taking a look at the others, thanks for your suggestions!

IS wooley grange very very kiddy? I sort of want luxury that is kid friendly but not a playground

[farfallarocks]

p.s. springbreak why was Wooley appalling?

[Bowlersarm]

Ickworth, part of the Woolley Grange, Moonfleet Manor chain. Really fantastic.

[Shreddiez]

If Calcott and Babbington full then try Cowley.I prefer Cowley to the luxury family friendly chain which I found felt rather tired and in need of repair.

[SpringBreak]

Woolley was not so much tired as EXHAUSTED - tatty, scruffy (and not in a good / shabby chic way - a "redecorate urgently, this is worse than boarding school in the 80s way) horrid rooms and the travel cot the supplied was unusable - it was so old that the bottom sagged away from the central leg so it was like an instrument of torture yet they didn't have proper mattresses for them (and I imagine it's not an unusual request for a family hotel). THe bathroom was vile, cold (I seem to remember one of those electric bar heaters on the wall... surely not??), lino floor'd. The building has been so badly converted that you hear the babies crying from one end to the other - it's a mexican wave of being woken up by other people's kids all night long. We weren't there in the summer, so apart from sitting around reading ancient copies of Tatler and ordering cups of tea from dirty old sofas, there was nothing to do for the adults in the hotel itself. If it's outdoor pool weather, or your kids are trampolining age, then maybe there's more.
It was as expensive as Calcot but without so much of a sniff of the class, style, charm of the staff, decor etc etc - a brutal rip off. Hated it (can you tell?!)

[SpringBreak]

(Calcott also own Barnsley House now - which is also lovely & now has a spa... not sure what child facilities are but I bet they'll find you a fantastic babysitter. We had a room with side by side bath tubs, each with its own telly at the end :-))

[Petal7]

Another vote for Ickworth here. Only place I have been with dcs that has felt like a break for the grown ups too!
Beautiful grounds, creche, baby listening (and babysitters), lovely food, spa etc. Don't know about suites, but Grand Tour in the biggest hotel room I have ever stayed in!
Have a great time wherever you go

[farfallarocks]

Thanks for all of these tips!
I like the look of Ickworth.
Wooley Grange have sent me the most absurd price list - £900 per room per night. Double the price of Babbington (!!) And I am put off now :)

Anyone been to Limewood?

Barnsley House have a no kids under 14 policy

Think we are going to have move the date as I really want to try Calcott.
Thanks again!

[Shreddiez]

I have been to Lime Wood without kids and it was really lovely. Best spa I have been to, very nice grounds, top notch rooms and great food. I didn't assess the facilities for children though. It is in the middle of the New Forest and surrounded by ponies which your little one would probably love.

[Petal7]

Ickworth has a nice pool too and bikes with bike seats to cycle round the grounds

[farfallarocks]

Thanks all, Calcott booked, I love the sound of their family suite.
Will let you know how I get on and Ickworth is added to the shortlist!

[Bowlersarm]

Been to both, OP, both good in different ways. I think Ickworth had the edge for me, so yes, put that on the top of the list for next time!