By Sunny Andrea
We recently enjoyed a lovely two-night family stay at Whittlebury Park Hotel & Spa, and from the moment we arrived, it felt like the perfect place for a little family escape. What I really loved about our stay was that it offered that lovely balance between being a relaxing hotel and spa break for the adults, while still having plenty to keep the children entertained. Sometimes family-friendly hotels can feel like everything is centred around the children, but here we found there was something for everyone.
Our check-in time was from 4pm, and our room was a really comfortable space for the four of us. We had a king-size bed for ourselves and two single beds for the children, which made the room feel much more practical for a family stay. It was so nice not having to compromise on comfort just because we were travelling with the kids.
The bathroom was also well equipped, with a bath and shower, two sinks and complimentary ESPA toiletries, which was a lovely little touch. Having two sinks was particularly useful when four people are all trying to get ready, because anyone with children will know that getting everyone out of the door can sometimes feel like an Olympic sport!
One of the things that really stood out to us about Whittlebury Park was the setting. The hotel is surrounded by beautiful, peaceful grounds, and there is such a lovely sense of space around the property. It felt like a proper escape from everyday life, with plenty of greenery and beautiful views to enjoy. The grounds really added to the overall feeling of the stay and made it easy to slow down and enjoy being away together.
For us, one of the biggest highlights was how much there was for the children to enjoy. Whittlebury Park has two games rooms as well as a dedicated cinema room, and the cinema even had popcorn included. Needless to say, this went down extremely well with the kids!
The children absolutely loved having somewhere to go and have fun, and the cinema was such a great addition. It meant that even when we weren’t using the pool or heading out around the grounds, there was still something exciting for them to do. The popcorn was definitely a winner and made the cinema experience feel like a proper little treat.
I think this is one of the reasons I would particularly recommend Whittlebury Park for families. There are plenty of opportunities for the children to have fun and burn off some energy, while the adults can still enjoy everything the hotel and spa has to offer.
On one of the evenings, we enjoyed dinner at Astons Restaurant, and the food was a real highlight of our stay. There was a good choice available, including a dedicated kids’ menu, which made choosing dinner nice and straightforward for the children.
I opted for the pulled and pressed Black Faced Thame lamb, which was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. It was one of those dishes that felt a little bit special and was a lovely choice for an evening meal.
The rest of the family also enjoyed their meals, with the pan-seared Hertfordshire chicken and the seared Mediterranean Sea Bass fillet both going down really well. It was lovely to see that there was enough variety on the menu to suit everyone’s tastes, from the children to the adults.
The atmosphere at Astons was relaxed but still felt like a lovely place to sit down and enjoy an evening meal together. After a busy day of swimming and exploring, sitting down for dinner as a family was exactly what we needed.
The following day, we headed to The Atrium for Sunday lunch, where we enjoyed a delightful roast carvery. I am a big fan of a proper Sunday roast, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint.
There was a fantastic choice of meats, including chicken, turkey, gammon and roast beef, with all the traditional trimmings and sauces you would expect from a Sunday carvery.
There was something very comforting about being able to pile the plate high with a proper roast dinner, and for me, the garlic-roasted potatoes were one of the standout favourites. The seasonal vegetables were also delicious and made the meal feel hearty without being too heavy.
The setting made the experience even better because The Atrium overlooks the golf course, giving you a lovely view while you eat. It was a really pleasant environment for a relaxed Sunday lunch.
I also have to mention the staff because they were amazing and attentive throughout our meal. Nothing felt rushed, and the service really added to the experience. Good food is one thing, but friendly and attentive service can make such a difference, especially when you’re dining as a family so this made me smile.
One of the main reasons we were excited about staying at Whittlebury Park was the leisure and spa facilities, and they definitely lived up to expectations.
The indoor swimming pool was beautifully heated, which meant it was comfortable for both us and the children. We all really enjoyed spending time in the pool, and it became one of those parts of the stay that the kids would happily have done all day if we’d let them!
Alongside the pool, there were also some lovely facilities for relaxing, including a salt steam room, crystal steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. It was great having the choice between spending time as a family in the pool and having a little bit of downtime to relax.
One thing worth knowing if you’re visiting as a family is that children’s swimming times do vary, so it’s definitely something I would recommend checking when planning your stay. This is useful to know in advance so you can make the most of the pool during your visit.
There is also an onsite restaurant by the pool, which is really handy. The menu has plenty of options, including sandwiches and snacks, as well as a buffet offering. Having somewhere to grab something to eat without needing to leave the leisure area was a real bonus, particularly with the children.
For anyone visiting without children, or for parents who manage to sneak away for a little bit of adult time, the spa is definitely worth exploring.
The spa offers a range of facilities, including experience showers and a jet pool, as well as treatments. So, if you’re looking for anything beauty or skin related, I would definitely recommend checking out what they have available and seeing which treatments might suit you.
I really liked that Whittlebury Park gives you the opportunity to make the stay whatever you want it to be. It can be a fun family break filled with swimming, games and cinema time, but it can also be a proper relaxing spa getaway if that’s what you’re looking for.
Overall, our two-night stay at Whittlebury Park Hotel & Spa was such a lovely family experience. What stood out most to me was the variety. We could spend time together as a family, the children had plenty to keep them entertained, we enjoyed some really lovely meals, and there were also plenty of opportunities for us to relax.
The fact that the children had two games rooms and a cinema with popcorn was a huge plus for us. It meant they were entertained beyond just the swimming pool, and they genuinely loved having those extra activities available.
Our room was comfortable and spacious enough for the four of us, with the king-size bed and two singles making it ideal for a family stay. The ESPA toiletries in the bathroom were a lovely added touch, and having both a bath and shower and two sinks made the room practical as well as comfortable.
The food was another highlight, from my pulled and pressed Black Faced Thame lamb at Astons to the delicious Sunday carvery at The Atrium. The choice of meats, traditional roast accompaniments and seasonal vegetables made Sunday lunch feel like a real treat, and those garlic-roasted potatoes definitely deserve a special mention!
The beautiful grounds, the golf course views from The Atrium, the attentive staff and the excellent leisure facilities all came together to make the stay feel like a genuine break from our normal routine.
Our checkout was at 11am, which gave us plenty of time to enjoy our final morning without feeling like we had to rush out of the hotel.
For me, Whittlebury Park really did offer the best of both worlds. It gave our children a fantastic amount to do and made them feel like they were on an adventure of their own, while also giving us those little moments of relaxation, good food and time together that make a family break worthwhile.
We came away having made some lovely family memories, and I can definitely see why Whittlebury Park appeals to families as well as couples and those looking for a relaxing spa escape. From the comfortable family room and beautiful surroundings to the swimming pool, cinema, games rooms, spa facilities and great dining options, there was genuinely something for all of us to enjoy.
Our stay was a lovely little family getaway, and one that gave us plenty of reasons to want to return.
For more on the wonderful Whittlebury Park, do checkout their website at https://www.whittlebury.com/