familyfriendly

AROUND the country are some incredible Airbnbs, but this one on the Isle of Wight has been dubbed one of the best in the UK for families.

The pretty glamping site sits on the edge of Tapnell Farm Park so it’s the perfect base to explore its aqua park and activity centre.

The Times named these domes as one of the ’15 of the best family-friendly Airbnbs in the UK’.

The publication said: “The domes are great for the fun factor, as they feel like camping but come with proper showers, beds and kitchenettes.

“There are five domes in their own meadow, so you could book out more depending on the size of your party.

“Some have outdoor hot tubs, and all come with a barbecue and firepit. Although the Cow restaurant comes in handy when you don’t fancy doing the cooking.”

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Guests staying at one of the five domes enter through an extension where there’s an en-suite bathroom and kitchenette.

Further inside the domes is an open living space and sleeping areas with a dividing wall for the bunk room.

The domes are insulated too, and each bed has an electric blanket so it’s cosy during winter too.

Outside, the domes have their own barbecue, firepit, communal pizza oven too and picnic tables to enjoy al fresco dining.

Two of the domes also have outdoor hot tubs.

Dome 5 (which comes with a hot tub) sleeps up to six and can be booked for £1,191 – this works out at £39.70pppn.

The domes are found in a secluded meadow – but it’s just a five-minute walk to Tapnell Farm Park.

Tapnell Farm is a family-friendly attraction with its own farm, aqua park as well as go-karting and bike hire.

Inside the Straw Adventure are trampolines, pedal go-karts and straw bale play zones, with bridges and tunnels.

There’s an indoor soft play barn across three-storeys and a coffee house for the grown-ups.

On sunny days, head outside for jumping pillows, sledge slides, outdoor playground and mini golf.

Wallaby Walkabout is a spot where visitors can meet the resident wallabies and feed them.

Tapnell Farm is also home to Isle of Wight’s only outdoor Aqua Park.

The giant inflatable opens for the season on May 8, and has lots of slides, ladders and obstacle courses.

Other activities include clay pigeon shooting, football, frisbee, padel and pickleball.

Entry to Tapnell Farm start from £14 for adults and £16 for children (between 2-16).

For those wanting to splash about in the aqua park, tickets are £22per person.

Away from Tapnell Farm, nearby is the pretty Freshwater Bay which is a quiet, single beach with dramatic white cliffs.

Compton Beach is also a ten-minute drive away with golden sand and is popular for fossil hunting and swimming.

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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