Winter is the best time we can think for cosy family weekends away in the UK. Seonaid McGill finds some of the best hotels and cute lodges to cuddle up in with your kids.
Family weekends away, The Reserve, Chester Zoo
The Reserve: family weekends away at Chester Zoo
Are you an explorer, adventurer or VIP? Chester Zoo welcomes all at The Reserve, the new collection of Savannah lodges which we probably don’t need to tell you are made for families.
Sleep beside the giraffes, or lakeside, and wake up to your pick of animal experiences. These family weekends away are truly wild.
Lakeside Lodge (2 adults, 2 children) from £281 per person, per night
READ MORE: Come on a Family Traveller day out in Bath, bring your kids
Christmas, Bovey Castle, Dartmoor
Bovey Castle: run away to Dartmoor for the weekend
Run away to Bovey Castle for a weekend with kids and introduce them to the wild wonders of wintery Dartmoor, as well as cosy fires and heartmelting Christmas traditions round about December.
Best bit? Family Lodges let you capture the castle vibe and have your own space.
Bovey Castle Lodge, 3 bedrooms (2 adults, 2 children) from £579 per night
READ MORE: Find me a fairy tale: spellbinding winter cities for easy family breaks
The Langley, Buckinghamshire
The Langley: half-price rooms for children this winter
With mountain bikes to borrow, ancient woodland trails and a news kids’ club, as well as being gorgeous, The Langley in Buckinghamshire probably didn’t need to go the extra mile. But it has.
Book a room and get a second room for under16s half-price this winter. And there are cute pygmy goats to play with.
Deluxe House Room (2 adults) from £509 per night (50% off 2nd room for under 16s)
READ MORE: Track down the best Christmas markets in Europe to visit by train
Penventon Park, Redruth, Cornwall
Penventon Park: family weekends away and your kids stay free
It doesn’t have much to prove on the family front, but still Penventon Park goes all out. Kids stay free year round, they serve an adorable Children’s Afternoon Tea and even have kids’ swim times at their Leisure Club. And it’s in Cornwall which is always a plus point.
Penventon Suite (2 adults, 2 children) from £349 per night
READ MORE: Find the best family winter breaks to enchant your kids this year
Ducks Nest, Aviemore
The Lazy Duck: escape to Scotland this winter
If nothing will do but husky safaris, reindeer in the wild and the UK’s largest national park, The Lazy Duck near Aviemore is what you’re looking for.
Think cocoon surrounded by majestic wilderness and you get the mood. It sleeps four and nearby Highland Wildlife Park has snow leopards, very wintery.
The Lazy Duck (2 adults, 2 children) from £150 per night
READ MORE: Best UK Christmas markets for lots of extra festive feels this year
Rope bridge, Golden Oak Treehouse
Golden Oak Treehouse: wild family weekends away in Sherwood Forest
Rustle up 10 friends or family and you can really make the most of new Golden Oak Treehouse in Sherwood Forest. Or don’t, and just spread out yourself.
We are particularly taken with the Treehouse Pod you reach by a rope bridge, and guessing your kids will be too. Oh, and it’s pet friendly!
Golden Oak Treehouse (sleeps up to 10) 3 nights from £915
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Daylesford Village, Cotswolds
Daylesford Village: cosy up in the Cotswolds this winter
Daylesford Village – yes, they of legendary Daylesford Organic – couldn’t really be anywhere else but the Cotswolds.
Ignore the rumours of rampaging celebs and just accept it’s one of the prettiest places in England and Walnut Cottage let’s you live there for a little this winter.
Walnut Cottage (2 adults, 2 children) from £670 per night
READ MORE: The best European capitals for quick and easy city breaks with kids
Center Parcs Christmas family weekend away
Center Parcs: new Christmas traditions for families
Center Parcs Forget sub-tropical pools and embrace the season is how Center Parcs are playing with winter this year. Yes, you can still splash around, but a festive break is just as much about Woodland Workshops, Santa’s Village and Enchanted Light Gardens. They’re calling it Winter Wonderland, and we believe them.
Woodland Lodge (2 adults, 2 children) 3 nights from £879
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