In a few weeks, we are running an article looking at how to attract families to your hotel. Any guidance on the most child-friendly hotels in Britain?
The Big Blue in Blackpool is cool for kids. In the bedrooms they have segregated bunks in fun colours complete with play stations and a TV per bunk. And it's right next door to the Pleasure Beach.
Generally though, it's good to see some of the big Five Stars in London providing kiddies conceirge etc to engage kids proactively.
Thanks Gordon, that's helpful.
Thanks for the tip, Chris.
Good luck, this is an area that is notiriously difficult to find information on.
I find the Viillage Hotels have great facilities for kids, with 25m pools and some good casual dining options. Novotel let kids stay for free and all their rooms (I think, test me) havea double bed and a couch bed
On LateRooms.com we have a filter specifically for family-friendly hotels and people can search for family (2+2)
Thanks for this, I've also come across the Good Hotel Guide's list of their ten most family-friendly hotels.
Thanks for publishing the link Mark.
One of the properties, Swinton Park, also got a mention in a family friendly Hotels supplement in yesterday's Sunday Times.
Chris
Mark, I have stayed at Apex Hotels on various occasions with my family and have always found they are more than happy to accommodate young children, offering a backpack on arrival with colouring in material, fun games and a voucher for a free dvd from the kids selection. I would definately recommend.
Link to their site is:- http://www.apexhotels.co.uk/kids/
You're most welcome Chris. I'll look at the Times online later and have a read. Meanwhile, Felicity Lister sent some interesting thoughts through last week.
Good advice, thanks Kevin. I was in Harrison's restaurant in Balham, south London, last week, and saw they had branded boxes of crayons for kids visiting with their parents. Inspired idea, I thought - the modernday equivalent of branded boxes of matches.
It's nice to see more hospitality businesses embracing families as a good source of revenue. For too long there has been an automatic assumption that having kids means you're happy to change your lifestyle and stop doing the things you;re used to.
Child-friendly has often gone hand-in-hand with tacky/poor quality - kids meal choices of deep-fried protein + chips & beans are still far too prevalent. The idea that I can take my offspring to a hotel where they will be valued as guests as much as the paying adults is very appealing.