Best of British: 15 brilliant hotels for kids

<p> The fun and imaginative <a href="http://www.legoland.co.uk/hotel/" target="_blank">LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel</a> is the ultimate hotel for budding model builders, with 150 Pirate, Kingdom and Adventure-themed bedrooms and brilliant rides for all ages in the theme park. After an exciting day in the park you can enjoy LEGO chaos in the hotel's Bricks Family Restaurant, with colourful characters and great family food. Around the hotel you'll find quirky-themed lifts, exploding toy boxes, secret whoopee cushions and a pirate-themed indoor water play area. Short breaks with park tickets from &pound;68 per person.</p>

<p> Treat your children to a luxury stay at <a href="http://www.thegrove.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Grove</a> in Hertfordshire, with its OFSTED-approved kids club, large outdoor pool in the Walled Garden and 300 acres of room to roam. Fun activities on offer include nature trails, cycling around the estate and playing Giant Chess and Jenga. Travel cots are supplied at no extra charge and there is organic baby food available. The kids will also love their mini Grove bathrobes and milk and cookies before bed. Family rooms from &pound;365.</p>

<p> Set above Mawgan Porth Beach in Cornwall, <a href="http://www.bedruthan.com/" target="_blank">Bedruthan Steps</a> is the ideal spot for families wanting to spend time on the sand. The hotel has OFSTED-approved kids clubs for all ages, a teenagers' room, high tea for little ones and all organic baby food for babies. Guests are provided with nappy bins, microwaves to warm bottles and travel cots, plus there are various family break packages throughout the year. For example, Next Steps is for parents with toddlers and offers music and movement sessions, toddler swimming classes and expert childcare. Family rooms from &pound;350.</p>

<p> In spring 2013, Thorpe Park launches its first hotel <a href="http://www.thorpepark.com/crashpad/" target="_blank">The Crash Pad</a>, so your kids can spend the day riding some of the world's most thrilling roller coasters, before crashing out with friends or family at the hotel and have the rides in their back garden. There are 58 design-led rooms at the hotel and adrenalin-loving families can look forward to evening entertainment, including gigs and comedy, plus a bar and the Outside Chill Zone. From &pound;64 per person.</p>

<p> Five star hotel <a href="http://www.51-buckinghamgate.com/" target="_blank">51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites and Residences</a> really knows how to make your little ones feel like mini VIPs and has an exclusive partnership with iconic toy shop Hamleys. The Hamleys Package offers children a Hamleys hamper filled with treats and sweets upon check-in and the hotel can arrange exclusive out-of-hours entry and themed parties at the Regent Street store. The package also includes a baking lesson with a hotel chef, a babysitter for four hours and a personal shopping experience at Hamleys. From &pound;495 for a family of four.</p>

<p> Looking for something new and exciting to impress the kids? <a href="http://www.swintonpark.com/" target="_blank">Swinton Park</a>, nestled in 20,000 acres in the Yorkshire Dales, offers a family falconry experience allowing children to meet the birds, learn to handle and fly them with expert falconer Sophie Abbott, who has been working with the birds of prey since the age of 12. Each session provides plenty of hands-on time with hawks and owls too. Cooking, foraging on the estate and horse riding are other activities at Swinton Park. Falconry from &pound;110 per family. Rooms from &pound;255 including dinner.</p>

<p> A place for the family to live out their dreams, <a href="http://www.boveycastle.com/" target="_blank">Bovey Castle</a> in the Dartmoor National Park offers younger guests the same fluffy dressing gowns and mini slippers as parents, as well as warm milk and snacks delivered to their door. It is the only hotel in the world to offer a LEGO Room Service Menu, where every child is given a LEGO order form on arrival to choose toys from a wide selection of box sets and have them delivered by Bovey Castle&rsquo;s toy concierge wearing special LEGO concierge badges. The Bovey Rangers programme introduces mini guests to the breathtaking surroundings and teaches them new skills, such as apple pressing, survival in the wild and raft building. Rooms from &pound;229.</p>

<p> The unique <a href="http://www.altontowers.com/hotels/alton-towers-hotel/" target="_blank">Alton Towers Hotel</a> is themed around the incredible explorer Sir Algenon, who has made the hotel his home. Children will love the fun and quirky features, including his amazing flying ship which has crash landed in the middle of the hotel and the explorer-themed bedrooms. There are also 12 magnificently themed suites, such as the girly sleepover suite, the Sonic the Hedgehog room and the Chocolate room. From &pound;24.75 per person.</p>

<p> The stylish <a href="http://www.stmoritzhotel.co.uk/the-hotel" target="_blank">St Moritz Hotel</a> in North Cornwall is such a hotspot for families, that it has even created a <a href="http://www.minimoritz.co.uk/" target="_blank">website for its Mini Moritzers</a>. For Mini Moritzers it's all about enjoying the great outdoors with Greenaway Beach and Daymer Bay right on the doorstep. Kids aged six and up can learn to surf the Cornish waves with professional instructors and there are Mini Moritz Surf Safaris to keep little hands busy exploring rock pools, making sand creations and playing beach games. After a hard day's play, the children can hit the kiddies' bar for a selection of mocktails and there are indoor swimming pools, a chill-out room and big hammocks for relaxing. Double rooms from &pound;105.</p>

<p> Your little ones will love the Thomas &amp; Friends-themed bedrooms at the <a href="http://draytonmanorhotel.com/" target="_blank">Drayton Manor Hotel</a> in Tamworth. The magical family rooms feature unique Thomas &amp; Friends bunk beds that come with their own DVD player. Little guests are invited to spend time in the Thomas &amp; Friends Theatre for story time and there are character breakfasts. The hotel is located 20 metres from Drayton Manor Theme Park so they can enjoy a whole day in Thomas Land too! Family rooms from &pound;126.40.</p>

<p> If you're not necessarily looking for a hotel that will keep the kids entertained 24/7 but just one that genuinely loves and caters for children, <a href="http://theprioryinn.co.uk/home/homepage.aspx" target="_blank">The Priory Inn</a> in the Cotswold market town of Tetbury has owners who have children of their own and there is a huge focus on providing a haven for families. Travel cots, changing mats and a basket of baby essentials are available, as well as baby listening devices that work from the restaurant and a babysitter if needed. Children can have fun making pizzas and watching them go into the wood oven, and children under 12 stay for free. From &pound;109 for a family of four.</p>

<p> <a href="http://www.auchrannie.co.uk/" target="_blank">Auchrannie Resort</a> consists of two four-star hotels and 30 five-star self-catering lodges that are perfect for families. Children visiting the Isle of Arran resort can enjoy the magnificent Playbarn, which features a three-tier indoor mega Softplay area, a teen zone, jukebox and big-screen TV. Each week there are a variety of activities from arts and crafts to storytelling and adventure-loving kids can check out the Adventure Cabin for supervised archery, sea kayaking, gorge walking and abseiling in the stunning surroundings. Family rooms from &pound;89.</p>

<p> This castle with character offers fairytale turrets and towers, roaring fires and peaceful grounds for decadent family breaks. Magical <a href="http://stayinacastle.com/" target="_blank">Augill Castle</a> is where little ones can enjoy Little Cooks courses, a games room, toys, books and a tree house. There is even a fort in the forest and a cinema room. For even younger guests, parents have baby listening facilities and interconnecting rooms with cots, high chairs and baby and toddler supplies. A great place for fussy eaters, the hotel even offers flexible menus so dinner time is a treat for all. Rooms from &pound;160.</p>

<p> Butlins' newest addition is the <a href="http://www.butlins.com/where-to-stay-dine-and-play/where-to-stay/bognor-regis/wave-hotel/index.aspx" target="_blank">Wave Hotel</a> at its Bognor Regis Resort. Perfect for older children, it boasts quirky under-the-sea design features, unique cabin-style children's bedrooms, a family games room and a Kindle library. Each room comes with free WiFi and iPod docking stations, plus the whole family has access to the indoor Splash Waterworld, the Traditional Fairground and fun live shows. Four nights from &pound;53 per person.</p>

<p> As London is a city for kids of all ages, luxury hotel <a href="http://www.ghotw.com/hotel/home/st-james-hotel-club.htm" target="_blank">St. James's Hotel &amp; Club</a> has its own dedicated concierge to introduce its younger guests to some of the capital's most famous and more unusual attractions. Assistant Head Concierge Tony O'Connell is the resident expert in all things fun, informative and unusual, and can recommend the right activity, restaurant or theatre show for a great day out. Whether you're visiting with six or 60-year-olds, Tony will find something that appeals to the whole family. Rooms from &pound;215.</p>