10 of the best UK attractions where you can spend the night
Places like Warwick Castle, Legoland, Port Lympne, the Eden Project and Blackpool are lots of fun for a day trip. But they become magical when you stay overnight.
Here are 10 fantastic places to stay and play over half-term - or a weekend - to keep your children entertained before the summer holidays. Rate quoted is the starting price for a two-night weekend break between June and September for a family of four (two adults, two children under 12 years) unless otherwise stated.
Gothic glamping at Warwick Castle
New for 2018, Warwick Castle unveils its “Avenue of the Kings” glamping tents (sleeping five) furnished with four-poster beds and thrones. Woodland lodges and more opulent tower suites also on offer. Leaving no medieval stone unturned, this attraction offers daily jousting tournaments, birds of prey displays, bowman shows and demos of the world’s largest siege machine in 64 acres of garden.
Two nights from ￡660 in a Warwick tent (warwick-castle.com) includes breakfast, two-day priority entrance to the castle and evening medieval entertainment. Available from June 30.
A treehouse at Alton Towers
Wicker Man, a newly-unveiled wooden rollercoaster which hurtles towards a six-storey high burning effigy at top speed, is the latest in the line-up of high-octane experiences at Alton Towers. Plenty for younger children too, including less nail-biting rides in CBeebies Land. Onsite family accommodation is equally wide-ranging and includes Enchanted Village Lodges, Treehouses and the Caribbean-themed Splash Landings hotel.
Two nights from ￡557 in a Woodland Lodge, sleeping up to five, (altontowers.com) includes breakfast, two-day theme park tickets and evening entertainment.
Ninja nights at Legoland
Choose from seven types of themed rooms across two Legoland hotels include pirate, adventure, knights, wizards and, new for this year, a premium LEGO NINJAGO room featuring a magical hatching dragon model and a secret safe to decode. Ninja fans can also take in Legoland’s recently-opened “Master of the 4th dimension”, with a glimpse into a training “dojo” and a meeting with Master Wu.
Two nights from ￡940 in an adventure-themed room, sleeping four, at the Legoland Resort hotel (legoland.co.uk) includes breakfast, two-day theme park tickets and one lego gift per child.
Island life at Osborne House
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s favourite family retreat, Osborne House, located near Cowes on the Isle of Wight, has plenty to interest younger visitors including two playgrounds, an adventure trail and interactive activities offered in its miniature Swiss Cottage chalet. Stylish gatehouse self-catering is available at the estate entrance for a minimum stay of three nights.
Three nights from ￡665 in No. 1 Sovereign’s Gate, sleeping four, (english-heritage.org.uk) includes free access to Osborne House, and discounts in the onsite restaurant and shop.
A wild weekend at Port Lympne
Tigers, lions, bears, gorillas and black rhino are among the 700 rare and endangered animals which roam Port Lympne Reserve near Ashford, in Kent. Best choice of family accommodation is the Hog Deer Creek, Rhino Lodge, Bear Lodge and the Treehouses, or the newly-opened Wolf Lodge, a refurbished gatehouse sleeping four next to the wolf reserve.
Two nights from ￡798 in a Hog Deer Creek shepherd’s hut, sleeping four, (aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne) includes free entry to Port Lympne reserve and use of a golf buggy throughout the stay.
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Stately staycation at Chatsworth House
Families with small children need to make a beeline for the farmyard at Chatsworth House near Bakewell in Derbyshire to find the guinea pig village, trailer rides, milking demonstrations and animal handling. Plus an exciting woodland playground with rope park and zip wire. Estate accommodation includes a collection of eight family- and dog-friendly holiday cottages sleeping from three to six people.
Three nights from ￡900 in Pringle Cottage or Russian Cottage, both sleeping four (chatsworthstays.co.uk). Longer seven night stays include entry to Chatsworth House and garden.
A Big Blue experience in Blackpool
Opened last week, “Icon - Dare to Ride”, is the spectacular, new rollercoaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Built at a cost of ￡16 million, highlights include drops of up to 82 feet and Formula one-style acceleration. Stagger back to the nearby 157-room Big Blue Hotel, which has direct access to the theme park. Lower-octane rides on offer in the children’s park, Nickelodeon Land.
Two nights from ￡360 in a superior family room at the Big Blue Hotel (bigbluehotel.com) includes breakfast and a one-day wristband entry (blackpoolpleasurebeach.com).
Eco shelter at the Eden Project
Shelter from a tropical storm, learn about bees and bask in the aromas of the perfume garden in the giant biomes at the Eden Project near St Austell in Cornwall which combines educational activities with loads of fun. Shipping containers have been ingeniously converted into snug, bunk-style rooms for families who want to stay onsite.
Two nights from ￡128 in a four-person, ensuite “Snoozebox” at the YHA Eden Project (yha.org.uk). A family ticket to the Eden Project (edenproject.com) costs from ￡64, valid for year-round entry.
Regal retreat at Balmoral Castle
Primarily the Queen’s private retreat, but the grounds, gardens and exhibitions at Balmoral Castle near Ballater in Aberdeenshire are open to the public until July 31. Special events include birds of prey displays, walking and safari tours, open air theatre and pipe bands. Holiday cottages in the castle grounds are booked up well in advance and require a week minimum stay.
Seven nights from ￡765 in Colt Cottage, sleeping five, (balmoralcastle.com) includes access to the grounds. Family ticket to the gardens and exhibitions is ￡32.
Luxury lodging at Llechwedd’s Slate Caverns
Six safari-style glamping lodges, equipped with showers and flushing toilets, opens in June 2018 in the spectacular surroundings of the Snowdonia’s “dark sky” reserve, at Llechwedd’s Slate Caverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Onsite activities include deep mine tours and a 4x4 quarry explorer, plus a vast underground adventure playground of zip lines, bouncy nets and slides.
Three nights from ￡595 for a glamping lodge sleeping four, (llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk) includes fast track access to the slate caverns. Family tickets for the deep mine tour costs ￡30 (one adult, one child under 16 years).
