Dorset

Is it possible to have a luxury staycation with the kids in tow? This hotel offers a range of features to make family holidays more fun, including complimentary childcare for kid-free time

If you’re looking for a family staycation that’s close to the coast, yet also has plenty for the kids to do, and even gives you the chance for some child-free time, then read on.

A hotel in Dorset is offering luxury family-friendly accommodation overlooking spectacular Chesil Beach, with lots of thoughtful touches to make your time away easier. Moonfleet Manor is set in a beautiful Georgian property and is an excellent place to explore the Jurassic Coast.

While we all love spending time with our kids on holiday, one of the main services that’s bound to appeal to worn-out parents is the hotel’s Four Bears Den Kids Club.

This Ofsted-registered onsite club takes care of kids from three months to eight years, and all guests get a complimentary two-hour session per night’s stay, starting at either 9.30am or 2.30pm. This gives you kid-free time to enjoy a romantic stroll, have a spa treatment, or just read a book in peace.

In the evenings, you can also hire a video monitor for free, so while the kids nap in the room, you can enjoy a nightcap. The hotel also offers a babysitting service for an additional fee if you want to explore the local area.

During the school holidays and weekends, the kids club offers a program of activities designed for family fun, from toasting marshmallows to scavenger hunts, so all ages can enjoy quality time together.

Just a short walk from the hotel is an indoor pool available for guests to enjoy throughout their stay, plus there’s a sauna and the option to book spa treatments for the grown-ups, including facials and ocean-inspired rituals.

Kids can enjoy the colourful play barn, where you’ll find an under-5s play area, table tennis, arcade games, and even a hands-on Science Room for young Einsteins to play in.

The problem with some family hotels is that they tend to focus just on practicalities, and they can be quite dull for adults. But Moonfleet Manor has a luxury, design-led style, so rooms are inviting whether you are staying as a couple or with kids.

There are also two-bedroom family rooms available that offer a separate sleeping area for the kids. This means you can tuck them away in bed and enjoy your evening without worrying about keeping them awake.

The hotel overlooks the unspoiled shingle shores of Chesil Beach, an 18-mile stretch of seafront that’s full of incredible fossils and spectacular scenery. Between the beach and the hotel is the Fleet Lagoon, a marine-protected area full of wildlife and seabirds, so you can’t walk directly onto the shingle from Moonfleet. However, you can drive a short distance to Abbotsbury or Portland for a beach walk or fossil hunt.

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Less than 20 minutes away is the seaside town of Weymouth, a family favorite for many generations. Here you’ll find a SEALIFE Center, Sandworld – an impressive collection of sand sculptures and castles, and the sandy Weymouth Beach, which is set in a cove, so kids can paddle and swim on sunny days.

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The iconic Dorset beach featured in one of the most emotional scenes in Ryan Gosling’s new film, and fans are now visiting the picturesque Jurassic Coast location for spring walks

One of the most iconic coastal spots was recently featured in Ryan Gosling’s latest film, Project Hail Mary, and the good news is it’s located right here in the UK for those who want to visit.

There’s always a thrill when you recognise a familiar location in a film or TV programme, whether it’s a documentary or the backdrop for a fictional tale. While the UK serves as a popular setting for numerous blockbuster films and television series, one of this year’s biggest cinema releases actually filmed one of its most memorable scenes in the UK – and it’s accessible to visit right now as a stunning walking destination.

That’s precisely what one London-based couple decided to do, bringing their dog, Presto, along to the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth in Dorset to see the Project Hail Mary filming location after recently watching the film at the cinema.

“Cried at the cinema at this beach so we went in real life,” they captioned their video, before sharing footage from their day trip adventure.

Without giving away any spoilers, the beach serves as a significant location for one of the film’s characters, with several of the more poignant scenes captured here, making it particularly meaningful for fans to experience. That said, the breathtaking views alone make the journey worthwhile.

Durdle Door stands as one of Dorset’s most photographed and iconic landmarks. Situated on the Lulworth Estate in south Dorset, it forms part of the stunning Jurassic Coast.

The coastline holds such exceptional geological significance on the world stage that UNESCO designated it as England’s first natural World Heritage Site in 2001, placing it alongside iconic natural treasures such as America’s Grand Canyon and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

The stunning natural limestone arch was created when powerful waves eroded the rock and carved a hole through its centre. The name Durdle comes from the old English word ‘thirl’, meaning to pierce, bore or drill.

The film also features the neighbouring Man O’ War Beach, which visitors can normally reach via a footpath. However, the pair revealed that during their late March visit, storm damage had swept away the steps leading down to this beach, rendering it currently inaccessible.

Still, they weren’t bothered, as they were able to take in the spectacular views from the clifftops overlooking the beach.

How do you get to the Jurassic Coast? If you’re travelling by car, you can park at the sizeable car park reached through Durdle Door Holiday Park. From there, it’s a 15-minute walk down a steep path to the steps above the beach.

For those without a car, the iconic landmark is also reachable by bus, with a brief journey from Wool in Dorset taking you straight to the beaches.

The London pair weren’t alone in their admiration for the landmark, as numerous others quickly flooded the comment section to share their own visits.

“Went back in 2022 and loved it, need to go back again now that I saw it in the film,” one person wrote. Someone else added: “I wish I hadn’t seen that this was in the movie before we saw it but it was special seeing it with my boys who I took there in 2022.”

If you’re looking for staycation inspiration, this Dorset holiday park is packed with family-friendly facilities. Even in high season, there’s no need to fight for space on the beach as it has its own private stretch.

An independently owned holiday park could be the perfect spot for an Easter break or May half-term staycation thanks to its facilities that include a private beach.

Set on Dorset’s spectacular Jurassic Coast, Freshwater Beach Holiday Park has rolling green hills on one side and a vast, unspoilt beach on the other. It sits on a flat spot with direct access to its own private beach with fine shingle that gives it a golden hue. Follow the beach north, and you’ll reach West Bay Cliffs, while to the south, the River Bride crosses the beach as it flows out to sea.

Just steps from the sand are some of the park’s comfortable caravans, and you can pick from luxury mobile homes that have uninterrupted sea views, or simple, modern options in the heart of the park.

If you prefer to bring your own tent, motorhome, or campervan, then there are grass and hard-standing pitches available. Facilities include electricity, water, showers, and WiFi, so you have everything you need.

At the heart of the park is the Jurassic Fun Centre, where guests can enjoy heated indoor and outdoor pools with splash parks and lots of fun features. There’s also a 10-pin bowling alley, restaurant, and bar, so there’s plenty to enjoy right on-site.

A short walk away is the charming Dorset village of Burton Bradstock, where you’ll find a couple of traditional pubs and lots of pretty stone cottages. There’s also West Bay, just a few minutes’ drive away, a small harbour town on the mouth of the River Brit, which is especially popular in the summer months. It has a traditional seaside feel, with fish and chip shops, cosy cafés, and a beach cove that has fine shingle and seas calm enough for swimming in the right conditions.

The South West Coastal Path runs close to the park, meaning there’s lots of incredible coastal scenery right on Freshwater’s doorstep. The area is also full of interesting National Trust sites such as Coney’s Castle, ancient hillforts surrounded by green hills and unspoilt countryside, and Golden Cap, a hilly coastal walk that rewards walkers with views across Lyme Bay to Dartmoor on clear days.

Mapperton House, Gardens & Wildlands are a must-visit for history buffs and lovers of nature. This Jacobean manor opens its doors on selected dates, so you can tour its ornate rooms. Its formal gardens include an arboretum and orangery, while its wildlands cover over 1,000 acres, bursting with wildflowers, birds, and deer.

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Camping and touring pitches at Freshwater Beach Holiday Park start at £34 a night and hardstanding pitches from £40 a night. Holiday homes start from £210 for three nights based on two adults sharing. Find out more and book online via Freshwater Beach’s official website.

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