The Good Hotel Guide is the leading independent guide to hotels in Great Britain & Ireland, and also covers parts of Continental Europe. The Guide was first published in 1978. It is written for the reader seeking impartial advice on finding a good place to stay. Hotels cannot buy their way into the Guide. The editors and inspectors do not accept free hospitality on their anonymous visits to hotels. All hotels in the Guide receive a free basic listing. A fee is charged for a full web entry.
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Family friendly country house hotels
In beautiful surroundings with gardens to roam in, countryside to explore and plenty of luxury for parents as well, family-friendly country house hotels combine the best of all worlds for family holidays. Some have an old world charm that helps you to enjoy quality time together in peace - think board games, running around the garden and splashing about in the pool.
Woolley Grange, Bradford-on-Avon
Featured Hotels with Special Offers
Bishopstrow
Warminster, Wiltshire
Christmas 2025 Package 10% Discount GHG Reader Special Offer
A four star hotel in the heart of Wiltshire, Bishopstrow Hotel and Spa offers the height of excellence in everything they do, from the award-winning restaurant to the achingly romantic hotel.
The Cottage in the Wood
Malvern Wells, Worcestershire
Christmas and New Year Package 10% discount Special Offer
'Unparalleled views over the Severn Valley' can be seen from this hotel, in extensive grounds high above the Malvern Hills.
Dukes Bath
Bath, Somerset
Three Nights for the Price of Two Special Offer
As it awaits the playful Kaleidoscope s treatment, this hotel, occupying two handsome Georgian townhouses on an iconic thoroughfare, has a range of classic bedrooms from cosy doubles at the top, to four-poster rooms and suites.
The Montagu Arms
Beaulieu, Hampshire
Dog Friendly Special Offer
Guests have a wide choice of individually style rooms and suites at this dog-friendly, creeper-covered hotel on the edge of the New Forest, and can opt for fine dining in the restaurant, or cheaper fare in Monty's Bar pub.
Hambleton Hall
Oakham, Rutland
'Autumn Escape' Special Offer
The epitome of country-house luxury, Tim and Stefa Hart's hotel stands on a peninsula, overlooking beautiful gardens and the shining expanse of Rutland Water.
Lords of the Manor
Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire
'Lords Fireside Retreat' Special Offer
This honey coloured former rectory is surrounded by magical gardens; an environment that's ideal for summer strolls and winter walks in a pair of wellies.
The Cavendish
Baslow, Derbyshire
Four Nights for the Price of Three Special Offer
With the Chatsworth estate on the doorstep, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire's Peak District hotel has had a ravishing makeover to complement the superb food in its restaurants.
Homewood
Bath, Somerset
'Complimentary Night' Special Offer
The yellow submarine in the 'beautiful grounds' and the hedge sculpture of a giraffe set the scene at this 'playful, quirky hotel', in a traditional honey-stone building.
Penally Abbey
Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Three Nights for the Price of Two Special Offer
There are sublime sea views from this hilltop Gothic beauty, run by a dedicated and creative family, with elegant bedrooms and gourmet dining by candlelight.
Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
York, Yorkshire
'Tailor-Made Break' Special Offer
A walled city filled with history, few places are as beautiful as York and even fewer are as lovely as Middlethorpe Hall and Spa, a country house hotel built in 1713 and now owned by the National Trust.
Forss House
Thurso, Highland
'Magical Christmas' Special Offer
On the banks of the Forss River and surrounded by woodland, Forss House is a country house with traditional style. Bedrooms have high ceilings and lovely views, and foot has a reputation for excellence.
Headlam Hall
Darlington, Co. Durham
'Autumn Gold' Special Offer
The real charm of this grand country house, with sweeping gardens, terraces, oak panelling and swish spa along with a convenient location in a hamlet a few miles from the A1 lies in its warm and informal atmosphere.
Knockinaam Lodge
Stranraer, Dumfries And Galloway
'Knock 30 Package' Special Offer
Where the road ends and the Irish Sea begins, this former Victorian hunting lodge with a private cove is secluded, unapologetically traditional and rich in comforts and good food.
The Devonshire Arms
Skipton, Yorkshire
Four Nights for the Price of Three Special Offer
A former 17th-century inn, which is part of the Duke of Devonshire's 30,000-acre estate at Bolton Abbey, is today an impressive country-house hotel, with fine dining and a spa.
Shieldaig Lodge
Gairloch, Highland
'Festive Celebrations' Special Offer
This magnificent Highland retreat is set in a 26,000 acre estate and is nestled next to Shieldaig Bay. With all the warmth of its original 19th century origins, it's all log-fires, snug lounges and an extensive whisky and gin collection.
Widbrook Grange
Bradford-On-Avon, Wiltshire
'Christmas in the Cotswolds' Special Offer
Widbrook Grange is a Georgian farmhouse with whimsical charm from up-cycled farm paraphernalia as part of the decor, there is a distinct homeliness alongside its luxe hospitality.
The Eastbury Hotel & Spa
Sherborne, Dorset
'Last Minute Summer Stay' Special Offer
Behind the pretty façade of a Georgian town house in an affluent market town, this hotel is a perfect retreat, with small spa, oasis garden and croquet lawn.
Cringletie House
Peebles, Scottish Borders
'Summer Break' Special Offer
It's worth the expense to stay and eat in this 'lovely and historic house with delightful staff', conclude readers. Relaxed and easygoing, the Victorian Scottish baronial hotel on a 28-acre estate has plenty of comfy seating around log fires in bar and lounges.
Askham Hall
Penrith, Cumbria
25% Discount Monday/Tuesday Special Offer
With a Michelin-starred restaurant, Grade II listed garden, 17th-century pele tower and French drawing room, Askham Hall sounds as if it might be very formal; not a bit of it. 'The most homely stately hotel we have ever stayed in,' reports one reader.
Burleigh Court
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Autumn/Winter Special Offer
There are stunning views across the Golden Valley from this Georgian mansion, a smart but friendly hotel with fine-dining restaurant.
Plumber Manor
Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Summer/Autumn Three Night Special Offer
A Jacobean country house hotel set in immaculate gardens is in the heart of Thomas Hardy's 'Vale of little dairies'.
Park House, Hotel & Spa
Midhurst, West Sussex
'Cosy Down at the House' Special Offer
An Edwardian country house in long-time family ownership is run as a spa hotel, restaurant and leisure destination with facilities for golf, tennis, bowls, croquet, swimming.
Mallory Court
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
'Ultimate Tasting Experience' Special Offer
A romantic Elizabethan-style Edwardian mansion, built for a Manchester cotton bleacher and set in landscaped gardens, is the epitome of a well-run country house hotel.
Congham Hall
King's Lynn, Norfolk
'Sleep Soundly Package' Special Offer
Renowned for its herb garden, with some 400 varieties, this Georgian merchant's manor house is set in 30 acres of Norfolk parkland. The country theme is continued throughout – garden herbs are used in the spa, bedrooms are named after plants, and cabins with freestanding tubs on the terrace overlook the orchard.
Rathmullan House
Rathmullan, Co. Donegal
Midweek Autumn Getaway Special Offer
Pass the little gate lodge to drive up to this bay-fronted country house in wooded grounds edged by a beach on Lough Swilly.
Storrs Hall
Bowness-On-Windermere, Cumbria
Four Nights for the Price of Three Special Offer
With an enviable position on Windermere, this Georgian hall has a relaxed country house feel, with formal and casual dining options, and bedrooms ranging from family friendly to seriously swanky.
The Green Park
Pitlochry, Perth And Kinross
Free Theatre Ticket Special Offer
Traditional as Burns Night and bannocks, the McMenemie family's Victorian country-house hotel in gardens leading to the shores of Loch Faskally is popular with its largely elderly clientele, who love its 'comfort, caring staff and delicious food'.
Cavens
Dumfries, Dumfries And Galloway
Winter Special Offer
'It is hard to better this small country house hotel,' write readers of Angus and Jane Fordyce's Georgian mansion, set in open countryside close to the dunes and salt marshes of the Solway coast.
The Traddock
Settle, North Yorkshire
Yorkshire Gourmet Break Special Offer
Family run, dog-friendly and beloved of readers, the Reynolds' small country house hotel is praised for the comfort, service and ambitious cooking.
The Farmhouse at Redcoats
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
Foodie Staycation Package Special Offer
With many features dating from the 15th century, this well-restored old farmhouse stands in large, landscaped gardens amid serene countryside. The hotel and restaurant, part of the Nye family's Anglian Country Inns, have intimate sitting areas and warming fires in inglenook fireplaces.
More Family friendly country house hotels
Chirnside Hall
Duns, Scottish Borders
Brockencote Hall
Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire
Corse Lawn House
Corse Lawn, Gloucestershire
This beautifully proportioned Queen Anne-style mansion, in a hamlet between the Cotswolds and the Mendip hills, is as traditional as its owner, Baba Hine, who has been at the helm for more than 46 years.
Wildhive Callow Hall
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
This Victorian gothic mansion might appear a little forbidding, but step inside and you are overwhelmed by a warm ambience and beautiful interiors, while some guests choose to sleep out in the woods in a timber-lined 'hive' or tree house.
Daisybank Cottage
New Forest, Hampshire
Goldstone Hall
Market Drayton, Shropshire
'In the middle of nowhere down narrow country lanes', John and Sue Cushing's Georgian manor house hotel sits among five acres of brimming gardens, a prolific source of fruit and vegetables, cut flowers and perennial joy.
Killiane Castle Country House and Farm
Drinagh, Co. Wexford
Attached to a 15th-century fortified tower house, the Mernagh family's farmhouse B&B offers both history and comfort. Guests are welcomed to this lived-in and loved home with tea or coffee and home-baked biscuits.
Coul House
Strathpeffer, Highland
It's been more than 20 years since Susannah and Stuart Macpherson opened the doors of this beautiful Georgian building to guests, but readers assure us that everything 'continues to be excellent', with 'good food and wine', and a friendly, warm welcome.
The Pheasant
Helmsley, Yorkshire
This popular hotel and restaurant in a former smithy, shop and barns overlooking the village duck pond might have changed ownership, but it is 'as good as ever', reports a returning guest.
The Falcondale
Lampeter, Ceredigion
A 19th-century Italianate villa in 14-acre grounds, with views across the gently rolling Teifi valley, is today a hotel and popular wedding venue with an in-house beauty parlour and romance in its very fabric.
Plantation House
Plymouth, Devon
From bread to truffles, they cook as much as possible on site in this 'very cosy and friendly hotel' in the rolling South Hams countryside between wild Dartmoor and the sandy beaches of Bigbury Bay.
Kilcamb Lodge
Strontian, Highland
In a 'beautiful location on the shore' of Loch Sunart where otters swim in the waters and red squirrels scamper around the land, this 18th-century lodge offers country-house comforts and plenty of Scottish flair, ranging from tartan fabrics to home-made shortbread.
Glengarry Castle Hotel
Invergarry, Highland
There's a romantic air to the setting of this Scottish baronial mansion overlooking Loch Oich with the ruins of Invergarry Castle in the grounds.
Mill End Hotel
Chagford, Devon
The River Teign runs through the garden of this dog-friendly country house hotel with a wide choice of rooms, a warm and friendly ambience, good food, great walks from the door.
Lough Bawn House
Collinstown, Co. Westmeath
Verity Butterfield clearly loves to welcome guests to her loch-side Georgian house, with blazing fires, comfy sofas, good artworks, home-baked biscuits, excellent breakfasts, and dinner by arrangement.
Watersmeet
Woolacombe, Devon
'The location is stunning, with views of the Devon coast with its sandy beaches and tumbled rocks,' writes a reader delighted by this family-friendly hotel.
Viewfield House
Isle Of Skye, Highland
A family country pile in the Scottish Highlands, Viewfield House gives the feeling of being at a private house party. With a welcoming, informal and attentive air to it, rooms are traditional and large baths are made for long soaks.
Lastingham Grange
Lastingham, Yorkshire
On the edge of the North York Moors, Lastingham Grange is a traditional, family run country house hotel. Old fashioned decor and floral prints characterise the interior of the 17th century property, while afternoon tea with warm scones, butter, jam and cream is served every day
The Dabbling Duck
Great Massingham, Norfolk
They have all their ducks in a row at this wisteria-decked gastropub-with-rooms overlooking the green in a village where mallards glide on old abbey fishponds.
Porth Tocyn Hotel
Abersoch, Gwynedd
Porth Tocyn is tucked between Snowdonia and Cardigan Bay, morphed from a cluster of lead mining cottages into the comfortable idiosyncratic family hotel it is today.
Langar Hall
Langar, Nottinghamshire
Rothay Manor
Ambleside, Cumbria
A Regency beauty with spectacular views from the balconies, this stylish, dog-friendly country house hotel has a relaxed vibe, beautifully designed bedrooms, and a fine-dining restaurant.
Fischer's at Baslow Hall
Baslow, Derbyshire
An Edwardian homage to 17th-century style, this beautiful manor house with rich Jacobean-inspired interiors is run as a luxury hotel with fine-dining restaurant where you can enjoy a 'truly memorable meal'.
The Lord Poulett Arms
Hinton St George, Somerset
'Gardez la Foi' reads the Poulett family motto over the door of this thatched, ham-stone village pub, and the trio behind the Beckford group (see The Beckford Arms, Tisbury) have kept absolute faith with their winning concept here. The ambience is friendly and relaxed.
The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge
Ballingarry, Co. Limerick
Every painting, sculpture and piece of furniture feels cherished and chosen at John Edward Joyce's Victorian country mansion in landscaped gardens.
The Bath Arms
Frome, Wiltshire
The ancient stone-built Bath Arms in woodlands on the Longleat estate 'is a welcome sight after a long journey', and doesn't disappoint within, with 'appealing menus' 'attentive and pleasant staff' and great-value, well-decorated rooms.
Augill Castle
Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria
Children thrill to stay in this fantasy castle with its free-and-easy ethos. Books and games, a cinema, flexible meal times, tennis, a playground and 'Little Cooks' school add up to a recipe for a happy holiday.
Chewton Glen
New Milton, Hampshire
A five star country house hotel with a superb reputation that continues to keep Chewton Glen at the forefront of British hospitality after 50 years, it is also the home of one of the UK's most luxurious spa experiences.
Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
Great Milton, Oxfordshire
For 40 years, Raymond Blanc has held two Michelin stars at this beautiful country-house hotel 'and it's not surprising – every mouthful of every meal is a triumph', say Guide insiders.
The Gunton Arms
Thorpe Market, Norfolk
The neon sign outside this former steward's house in a 1,000-acre deer park 'pretty much sets the tone for what to expect in this unique and interesting pub' which combines 'unusual, captivating artwork' with 'a real pub where locals come to play pool and chat', say inspectors.
In beautiful surroundings with gardens to roam in, countryside to explore and plenty of luxury for parents as well, family-friendly country house hotels combine the best of all worlds for family holidays. Some have an old world charm that helps you to enjoy quality time together in peace - think board games, running around the garden and splashing about in the pool. Others provide all the mod cons you could ask for complete with spa experiences to pamper parents. Invariably these beautiful properties were once family homes themselves, and you can just imagine the fun and games that everyone got up to with such freedom and space. Food is typically superb, and many of these country house hotels include a choice of family rooms in the main hotel or self-catering options within the grounds. Plenty are dog-friendly too, so everyone is invited! Amongst our favourite family-friendly country house hotels, you will find the magnificent Hambleton Hall, the spa hotel Chewton Glen, Lords of the Manor in the Cotswolds and the entirely unique Augill Castle complete with its cinema, flexible meals times, tennis courts, playground and 'Little Cooks' school.
