I’ve found the most family friendly hotel in England with as many pools as a foreign resort and huge kids play centre
IF you’re wanting a family holiday with loads of swimming pools and hundreds of activities, you might be thinking of going abroad.
But I’ve found a hotel in the UK which does all this – and still makes you feel like royalty.
Foxhills Hotel & Club in Ottershaw, Surrey is one of the most family-friendly places I’ve been to.
On arrival, staff happily interacted with my enthusiastic two sons while giving us maps of the entire sprawling resort.
The 66 rooms and suites are a short walk away from the main home, and we stayed in the family suite in Lyne House.
With sliding doors between the two bedrooms, it meant we didn’t have to be quiet then the little ones went to sleep.
Along with a huge family bathroom and small balcony, it was even some of the best sleep we’d ever had thanks to the comfortable beds.
But while Foxhills might look like a formal manor house from the outside, there is so much to explore for both kids and adults.
I’ve stayed in some amazing places over the years in the UK, and nothing compared to the sheer volume of activities.
This includes three golf courses, five pools, indoor and outdoor play areas, putting greens, driving ranges and tennis courts, as well as a spa and health club.
The Pavilion, which opened last year, even has a role play room, games room and activities for smaller kids such as arts and crafts, sports and ‘zumbini’ (Zumba for little ones).
My sons loved the pool tables and table football, as well as the indoor and outdoor heated pool.
Older kids haven’t been forgotten about, with tailored gym and fitness sessions.
But one of my son’s favourite experiences was the woodland trail, with different lengths ranging from 20 minutes to 45 minutes while spotting local wildlife.
Just when you think there can’t be anymore, there is even an adventure playground with zipwires and pedal car race tracks.
But despite being super family friendly, adults aren’t forgotten about.
Along with the two championships golf courses, there are tennis courts with acrylic, artificial clay and all weather grounds.
New this year are padel and pickelball courts, thankfully with lessons for beginners.
But my highlight was the calming spa with indoor and outdoor saunas, jacuzzi and steam rooms, plus a menu of treatments such as massages.
Adult classes are extensive too – art classes ranged from watercolour to mixed media, while the Yoga cabin had everything from yoga and Pilates to tai chi and meditation.
And when you get peckish, there are three restaurants on-site.
The main house has The Fox, serving breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner across three rooms with botanical interiors.
Menu options include smoked pigeon breast with blackberry, compressed radicchio and parsnip puree, as well as braised beef cheek (although kids can enjoy simpler options of soups and spaghetti bolognese).
The more casual Nineteen is a bar and restaurant at the Clubhouse, with sandwiches, burgers and soups.
Otherwise Flo’s cafe in the Pavilion has brunch options as well.
If you really wanted to explore the nearby area, there is of course the nearby Legoland around 25 minutes by car, as well as Thorpe Park and Chessington.
But we loved the combination of quiet country bolthole and plentiful activities along with a bit of grandeur while being easy-going for kids.