glamping

DOGS may not be able to speak, but mine didn’t have to – the eyes said it all.

As Ernie watched me skip over to the outdoor hot tub armed with kindling and firelighters, he clearly thought I’d gone mad.

While I waited for the water to warm with a glass of wine and a good book, he took himself off inside our cottage for a nap — and went on to snooze away the majority of our three-day stay.

Never in his 11 years have I seen him so relaxed away from home, and I have to say, I felt pretty zen, too.

We were at Rowley Farm Holidays — an award-winning family-run retreat in Worcestershire.

It specialises in luxurious self- catering stays, and everything about the site has been designed with dogs and their owners in mind.

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You won’t find any annoying pet fees here or rules about which breeds are welcome.

And whether you choose to stay in one of the three beautiful cottages or hidden-away shepherd’s hut, you will have access to your own enclosed garden, a secure dog field and the cute Muddy Paws Wash Room, which comes complete with a range of doggy shampoos.

Dog bowls, blankets, treats, poo bags and throws for the beds and sofas are provided in every type of accommodation, too.

I was staying in The Old Dairy, all on one level bar a couple of steps up from the entrance hall — handy for an older boy like Ernie who sometimes struggles with his back legs.

The open-plan cottage, which sleeps two, was, as the name suggests, the farm’s former dairy but it has been given a stylish makeover since then, kitted out with all the mod cons but retaining a country-chic feel throughout.

I loved the gable ceiling and large windows that allowed light to flood in.

And just like Ernie, I slept like a baby, snuggled up in luxurious linen in the comfy king-sized bed.

While The Old Dairy has underfloor heating beneath its easy-to-clean stone slabs, it also boasts air con — a great perk for pet owners staying during future heatwaves.

We had a welcome basket of local produce waiting for us and the kitchen was incredibly well-equipped.

Although if you don’t fancy cooking, there are a whole host of dog-friendly farm shops and places to eat within a few miles of Rowley Farm.

You’ll find traditional pub grub at The Holt Fleet and the Lenchford Riverside Inn, while The Red Lion serves up cracking Indian cuisine.
Quiet time

In its car park, you’ll also find the quirky Whole Moo World vending machine and tuck shop, which I was quite taken with.

Here, you can get fresh milk, milkshakes and snacks like sandwiches and Scotch eggs 24/7 — handy if you get a case of the midnight munchies.

While all the other cottages were booked during our stay, we barely heard a peep from any of them.

And, on a stroll through the quiet site, we saw that like us, many other guests had opted to just chill out — reading, lounging around in the complimentary robes and enjoying some quiet time while their dogs roamed safely in their gardens.

At Rowley Farm, you really can just kick back and relax — but if you do decide to venture out, there are lots of things to see and do nearby.

Witley Court, just up the road, is a must if you like your history.

This once-grand stately home was destroyed by a fire in the 1930s and while only the shell of the building remains, it’s easy to imagine how it would have looked in its heyday.

Dogs on leads are welcome to explore, and Ernie and I spent a good couple of hours wandering around the ruins and grounds.

Don’t miss seeing the Perseus and Andromeda fountain blast jets of water into the sky, either. This normally happens on the hour in the summer months.

We also went into Worcester, around a 20-minute drive away, where we enjoyed a stroll alongside the River Severn, visited Gheluvelt Park, feasted at Kyndfolk and popped into the Cathedral to have a word with the Man Upstairs.

I couldn’t say if Ernie asked for peace on Earth and good will to men (and dogs), but I think it’s probably more likely he asked for a return visit to Rowley Farm.

WHEN the temperature drops and the nights get darker, booking a holiday in to look forward to feels all the more important.

Luckily, if you know where to look, Britain is packed with brilliant holiday parks that actually get better in the winter months.

We’re talking massive, 30C indoor water worlds for warming up from the frost, to luxury log cabins and magical woodland light trails.

Plus, avoiding the peak summer rush means you can bag incredible deals for a fraction of the usual price, so here’s our winter holiday park favourites from a tiny £3.06pp per night.

Warmwell Holiday Park, Dorset

This cosy woodland holiday park in Dorset is made up of timber lodges only, with lakeside, hot tub and pet-friendly options sleeping up to eight people.

But don’t let the tranquil woodland setting fool you: Warmwell is packed with adrenaline. The park actually has its own 110m all-weather ski slope where you can ski, snowboard, or hurtle down in a rubber ring.

If you’d rather stay inside, the massive heated indoor pool has a thrilling, twisting water flume and a mini wave pool for little ones.

We found a three-night break in a superior lodge sleeping eight for £263, working out to £10.96pp per night.

Tattershall Lakes Country Park, Lincolnshire

While this action-packed holiday park is famous for its summer watersports, you’ll get a completely different experience in the winter.

This park puts on its very own ‘Winterfest‘, where from November 20 – December 20 you’ll find special events like candlelight concerts, kids house party events and the ‘Winterfest Spiegletent’ full of festive live entertainment.

There’s also the massive indoor pool and kids splash zone with slides for the kids, plus a luxurious spa and the cosy Tattershall Park Pub for Mum and Dad.

You can bag a four-night midweek break in a superior caravan sleeping eight from £168, or £5.25pp per night.

Sandy Balls Holiday Village, Hampshire

For a dose of woodland magic this winter, book in for a lodge retreat at Sandy Balls Holiday Village in Hampshire.

With The New Forest on your doorstep, you’ll have plenty of time for family bike rides, woodland alpaca walks or even strolling through the ‘Forest of Light’ festive display which arrives at the park in November.

Kids can head indoors to warm up with pottery painting or slime factory sessions, while grown-ups might prefer the evening’s Boombox Bingo, quiz or karaoke sessions.

We found a deal for a four night break in a luxury caravan sleeping six for £264, working out to £11pp per night.

Bluestone Wales, Pembrokeshire

Head to Pembrokeshire in Wales this winter to escape the cold and drizzle for a site with a giant, subtropical temperature waterpark.

Spend rainy afternoons in the Blue Lagoon Water Park, which is totally free for guests. There’s a wave machine, four waterslides, plus a relaxing lazy river and bubbling pools.

There’s plenty more weather-proof activities like an indoor zipline, climbing wall and a bear-making boutique.

We found a deal for a four-night break in a spacious wooden lodge for four for £540, working out to £33.75pp per night. Or if you want to book ahead for Jan or Feb, there’s an early bird offer on where you can save 10-20 per cent on 2027 breaks.

Seashore Holiday Park, Norfolk

If you love a winter beach break away from the crowds of the summer, you’ll love Great Yarmouth‘s only beachfront park: Seashore Holiday Park.

The flat, golden sands of Yarmouth are perfect for a winter stroll, before coming back to warm up in the heated indoor waterpark with two 11 metre flumes.

Once you’re done making a splash, you can retreat to a double-glazed, toasty heated caravan for a movie night.

We found a deal for a four night break in a saver caravan sleeping four for £49, working out to £3.06pp per night.

Finlake Resort & Spa, Devon

Finlake feels like a glamorous forest retreat with A-frame timber lodges with hot tubs, a woodland spa and sauna offering hot stone massages, and a glimmering fishing lake.

Kids will love the on-site waterpark Finlake Falls, which is heated to around 30C and packed with waterslides, fun sea scooters and a beach-like area with gentle waves for little ones.

Compared to somewhere like Center Parcs, where the cheapest seven-night lodge break we found this winter was £1,548 you’re getting much better value for money here.

At Finlake, you can bag a seven-night stay in a traditional, two-storey wooden lodge from £239 for the week.

Craig Tara, Ayrshire, Scotland

From the snow-dusted peaks of the Isle of Arran to the rugged clifftops of the Ayrshire coast, Scotland is beautiful in winter.

But it’s even better when you can retreat back to a cosy, centrally heated caravan or luxury lodge to thaw out.

Haven’s Craig Tara offers not only luxurious lodges and warm, affordable caravans, but one of the biggest heated indoor waterparks in Scotland, Splashaway Bay.

As for indoor activities, there’s also a giant indoor Airspace facility loaded with interactive darts, shuffleboard, and a climbing wall to wear the kids out.

You don’t even need to head out and brave the cold for dinner with an on-site Burger King, Papa Johns, and a sea-view restaurant just steps away.

We found a deal for a four night break in a saver caravan sleeping four for £49, working out to £3.06pp per night.

DO YOU think camping is just for summer? Think again.

With the help of Pitchup.com, we’ve put together a list of the 10 best campsites for the autumn with on-site saunas, spas, and even lodges with central heating.

Wighill Park Glamping, West Yorkshire

When it’s dark and gloomy, some of us would rather not sleep in a flimsy tent, and at Wighill Park Glamping are some super cosy camping spots.

Campers can shelter from the elements inside the individual wooden pods.

The smallest sleep up to two people but still have all the essentials like a little kitchenette, sofa, bed and its own toilet and shower room.

For a little extra, you can opt a hot drink pack, fireside kit and even a bottle of gin and a bottle of tonic.

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Some of the larger pods even have their own hot tubs and can sleep up to five people.

The farm is part of Wighill Park, once a private cricket pitch for Lord Hawke (a well-known figure in the world of cricket). Its woodland trails are perfect for an autumn walk, and dogs are welcome too.

If you’re after some exploring further afield, the campsite is a 25-minute drive away from York and under 40 minutes from Leeds and Harrogate.

Rates start from £85 per person per night.

Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat, Stafford

If you really want to take your camping holiday to the next level, how about a retreat with an on-site spa?

The wooden pods at Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat sit on a huge estate with woodland and lakeside walks.

But when the Great British weather inevitably turns, huddle inside the spa, gym, restaurant and bar.

At the spa are swimming pools, a steam room, hydrotherapy pool, heated tiled loungers, experience showers and a relaxation lounge.

When it comes to the pods, these sleep from two up to four with large beds, black-out curtains, air conditioning and an ensuite with a rainfall shower.

There are luxury toiletries, a flatscreen TV, mini-fridge, GHD hair dryer and tea and coffee also inside.

Guests staying in the pods get complimentary gym access during their stay as well as breakfast which is in the adjoining Oak House restaurant (spa and exercise classes are charged separately).

Rates start from £150 for two people per night.

Whitehouse Farm, Suffolk

Tucked away in Suffolk is Whitehouse Farm, a campsite perfect for anyone who is after a quiet and peaceful retreat.

On the campsite are cosy shepherd’s huts which come with snug double beds, a kitchenette, small dining area – some also come with firepits and barbecues.

Or for those who have their own motorhome, simply book the pitch.

Pitches are either in the meadow, or the old orchard where there are fruits like damsons, apples and pears in early autumn.

For those on a family trip, there’s an outdoor climbing frame for children who don’t mind the weather.

And on the campsite, dogs are welcome too as long as they’re kept on a lead.

During the cooler evenings, adults can take advantage of the on-site sauna which is a new addition and sits above the pond.

Rates start from £30 for two people per night.

North End Farm, Dorset

Down in rural Dorset is North End Farm which is close to beaches and local pubs.

There are three spots available to book, a cosy stay called the North End Cabin which sleeps two people.

The Potting Shed cabin has lake views and also sleeps two people, then there’s the Old Cricket Pavilion lodge which has two bedrooms, a TV and most importantly for winter, central heating.

The site is dog-friendly with plenty of walking trails and there are three lakes suitable for swimming.

There’s a hot outdoor shower on the lakeside so anyone brave enough to get into the water can warm up afterwards.

Slightly unusual additions include the chance to go paragliding as the owner owns a paragliding company. It’s also possible to organise clay pigeon shooting and fishing trips.

For a pub lunch and a trip, the farm shop is a five minute drive away and the Jurassic Coast beach at Seatown is two miles away.

Rates start from £160 per two people for two nights.

Woodside Country Park, Herefordshire

For long walks in the Malvern Hills National Park on a campsite which has wild water swimming and fishing, head to Woodside Country Park.

The campsite is in amongst 28 acres of landscaped grounds with lots of chances to see birds and wildlife.

Campers can choose to stay on a non-electric or electric pitch in a tent either on the ground of a rooftop tent, to a caravan, campervan or motorhome.

There’s also a choice of camping pods which sleep up to five people and while they don’t have any facilities, it will will be cosy.

When it comes to activities, a lakeside wood-fired sauna is available for private hire or public sessions.

Or head out on one of its many trails, including a fairy door trail for children.

For the adults, a 15-minute walk along the Herefordshire Trail leads to a vineyard and winery which holds both guided and self-guided tours and tastings.

Rates start from £29 per two people for two nights.

Andark Lake, Southampton

Any campers who actually enjoy the darker days and don’t want to compromise when it comes to activities should head to Andark Lake.

Six miles outside of Southampton, the campsite is centred around a lake – which is purpose-built for scuba diving.

It holds pre-booked training courses, recreational dives, kit hire and air fills for certified divers.

Other facilities include its lakeside sauna which is perfect for a warm up after a cold lake plunge.

There are open-water swims at the weekend (for an extra £7 charge) and nearby at Swanwick Marina, visitors can try their hand at sailing, paddleboarding, kitesurfing and windsurfing.

The on-site café serves snacks, light lunches as well as hot and cold drinks throughout the day.

For a more hearty meal, there are three pubs within walking distance.

Rates start from £25 per two people per night.

Wildswim2sauna, Devon

After a secluded no-frills campsite with wild water swimming right on your doorstep? Wildswim2sauna is an option for autumn.

The campsite in South Devon is open year-round and is very much an off-grid site.

There are non-electric grass tent pitches or non-electric grass touring pitches – and make sure to take supplies as well as the site has no showers.

What it does have however is a river right on your doorstep for wild swimming or chilly cold plunges.

There are also hot tubs and a sauna which can be hired for warming up after a swim.

Within the site, it’s possible to organise mackerel fishing trips, sea swims and coastal cruises in and around Salcombe.

One visitor wrote in their review: “Amazing beautiful and remote location, incredible swimming right by our tent. So peaceful waking up to the birdsong and rustling of animals on the river.”

Rates start from £40 per two people per night.

Lunga Pier and Shore Camping, Argyll

For a taste of adventure, head to Lunga Pier and Shore Camping in Argyll – it’s a remote spot and even quieter in the off-season.

The campsite sits on the Craignish Peninsula in western Scotland, with impressive coastal views that reach the Corryvreckan Channel.

Thanks to its location by the water, the site is ideal for wild swimmers, paddleboarders, anglers and kayakers.

There are also rugged coves and nearby islands to explore – just don’t forget your wetsuit.

Visitors have seen wildlife such as otters playing in the sea and you’re also likely to see seals, hares, herons and curlews.

Campers have also praised the site for its incredible pitch views across the water.

The village of Ardfern, with a shop, restaurant and pub, is ten minutes’ drive away.

Rates start from £28.88 per two people per night.

Herding Hill Farm and Caravan Camping Site, Northumberland

While most dislike the early nights of autumn and winter, it’s the perfect time for stargazing.

Herding Hill Farm Caravan and Camping Site in Northumberland even has stargazing kits and visitors could even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

The on-site petting farm will prove popular with the kids who are welcome to help with the twice-daily feeding of the animals.

Children can also make use of the playground and ball field behind the cabins.

Pitches vary from electric hardstanding for tents, caravans and campervans. It also has pods which have raised beds and mattresses – some also have private hot tubs.

Other things to do include seeing Hadrian’s Wall which is half-a-mile away and the market town of Haltwhistle is a five-minute drive away.

There’s a camping kitchen with vending machines and the accessible shower block has underfloor heating so it’ll be warm even in the winter.

Along with the stargazing kits, firepits and barbecues all available to hire too. Rates start from £30 for two people per night.

Wassell Grove Camping and Caravanning, West Midlands

Wassell Grove Camping and Caravanning is a great find for anyone who loves fishing with three lakes available to its campers.

For those who aren’t into fishing, the nearby woodland is lovely for an autumn stroll.

Not to mention both Cadbury World and West Midland Safari Park are under half an hour away.

Kids will love the woolly addition to the campsite, the friendly alpacas which campers can feed with food bought from the café.

The on-site café also serves hot and cold food throughout the day for guests, or for those who decide to embrace the chill, there’s the option to fire up the barbecue instead.

If you fancy a cosy stay not in a tent, the campsite has pods that sleep up to three people and cabins which are basic but will keep the chill away.

The cabins have an outdoor picnic table and a kettle.

Rates start from £16 per two people per night.

Cromore Retreat in Northern Ireland’s Portstewart has just opened a series of the kind of bubble domes that have been setting Instagram and TikTok alight this year

If you’ve been on Instagram or TikTok this past year and your algorithm has a travel slant, there’s a very good chance you’ve seen the bubble tents.

There are countless wanderlusty clips of people twirling around in large inflatable dome tents that look as if they’ve been blown out by a giant with an oversized pot of bubbles. They are striking, beautiful structures, standing three or four metres high, often on top of rolling hills or in the middle of woodland.

But to my eyes, there is also something a little insubstantial, let alone gimmicky, about the translucent tents that had left me wondering if they were more Temu yurt than Glastonbury tipi. So when I visited Portstewart in Northern Ireland at the beginning of this week, and was given the opportunity to stay in a bubble of my own, I was intrigued and a little skeptical.

The bubbles in question are set up on the grounds of the Cromore House, built by the town’s founder John Cromie back in 1776. From the outside at least, the considerable property appears to be empty today, having recently ceased operating as a care home. If anything, the lack of movement at the grand house was a benefit. For the duration of my trip, I didn’t see a soul, which left me feeling cut off from the world in exactly the right way.

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The outside

With the lockbox keys, I let myself into a private, wood-fenced area with trees lining the perimeter and a dome in the centre. “Won’t they see you naked?” my wife had asked when I explained that the accommodation walls were completely see-through. Happily, ‘they’ may as well not have existed, so private and snugly tucked away are the bubbles.

The location is perfect. A 40-minute walk out through the woods takes you to the highly rated Portstewart Arms, where perfect pints of Guinness go for £5, or you can stay on-site and enjoy a steam in the communal sauna.

The inside

Inside the bubbles is where the action really is. On a brisk October day, I was relieved to find the dome warmed to a very snug 22 °C thanks to a ground-source heat pump. My particular accommodation, the McDonnell Suite (named after a former estate owner), consisted of three domes squashed together.

One is occupied by the shower and toilet, which are wisely hidden from the rest of the dome by a partition wall and from the outside world by some tastefully opaque section of dome. It comes complete with an information-rich smart tablet and a high-tech touchscreen mirror.

The central bubble stands in for the living room. A low coffee table sits between two armchairs, a comfortable spot for reading. There’s also a tea and coffee area with a Nespresso machine and a fridge stocked with a breakfast hamper from Chestnutt’s Farm in Portrush. As in Covid, there is a joy in the isolation that comes with bubbles. Instead of trooping over to a breakfast buffet, Cromore Retreat guests are given everything they need for a solitary and delicious start to the day: soda bread, strawberry jam, granola, absurdly creamy butter, and a little bottle of particularly thick milk.

Hungry after an afternoon’s surfing, I ripped this open a good 14 hours early and tucked in, in the third and final wing, the bedroom. Here you will find a wide four-posted bed with curtains around the side but no roof, allowing you to wall yourself in and watch the stars twinkling through the tree canopy above.

At the end of the bed is a large standalone tub in which I ate my way through the breakfast box while enjoying a long, needlessly indulgent soak.

The final feature, and arguably the stand-out, is the private hot tub that sits outside the dome. To my shame, I did not bubble in it, forgoing the ultimate indulgence of a solo jacuzzi on a Monday evening in favour of a second bath and then a quite flawless night’s sleep.

The verdict

I was entirely wrong. There is nothing gimmicky or insubstantial about these see-through domes. They are pure, indulgent, slightly silly fun, right until you check out and step into the bubble-bursting Northern Irish drizzle.

Book it

Stays cost from £235 a night, with breakfast hampers costing an additional £20. Go to cromoreretreat.com/book

IF you’ve ever wanted to stay in a holiday home that has a touch of the celebrity about it, look no further.

These country cottages and glamping stays are all owned by TV stars including an Emmerdale actor as well as presenters of Countryfile and Escape to the Country – and you can actually stay in them.

Stag Cottage Sykes Holiday Cottage

Any fan of Emmerdale will know Kelvin Fletcher for playing Andy Sugden for 20 years.

Since then, he’s also appeared on Fletchers’ Family Farm following his new venture since leaving the ITV soap.

Also on the site of the farm is Stag Cottage, on the site of the Fletcher farm near Wincle, and you can book it on Sykes Holiday Cottages.

Inside, the cottage has been renovated into a cosy rental that sleeps up to six, there’s a sitting room with a woodburning log fire with squishy sofa and chairs.

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The kitchen has a central island and is fully-equipped with everything visitors need to make home-cooked meals.

The cottage sleeps six people and upstairs are three bedrooms all with king-size beds with plush bedding, and one has an en-suite.

There’s also a snug and conservatory, and outside is a garden with lawn, patio area, decking, furniture and hot tub.

Stag Cottage has 89 reviews all of which are five-star, one called it the “absolute chicest luxury retreat in the Peak District.”

Some even said they had met their hosts: “We loved our stay made all the more special meeting Kelvin and Liz who are both lovely genuine people, they made us feel so welcome and nothing was to much to ask.”

The cottage is largely booked up for the rest of the year, but if you wanted to book a break in January 2028, a seven-night stay starts from £1680 – or £40pppn.

Cotswolds Farm Park

Did you know that Countryfile presenter Adam Henson has his very own attraction called Cotswolds Farm Park?

It is a farm and petting zoo with animals like donkeys, cows and sheep for kids to see.

When it comes to playing, there are indoor and outdoor play areas with soft play, sand pits, Bouncy Pillows, swings, a zipwire, ride-on tractors, quarry play and a sensory garden.

For a peaceful experience, families can head on the wildlife walk or longer Woodland Walk through surrounding farmland.

Some decide to visit for the day – but it can be easily turned into a weekend getaway thanks to its range of stays from luxury lodges, cabins, safari tents, glamping pods.

There are also pitches to pop up your own tent which starts from £29.96pn.

Glamping pods start from £50 per night, it sleeps four people and has a private decking, electric BBQ along with a communal kitchen area and a shower block.

For a more glam stay, opt for a luxury lodge with a hot tub like the Exmoor and Ronaldsay.

These lodges both sleep up to six people, have a private bathroom and shower, fully-kitted out kitchen and with an upgrade come with a wood-fired hot tub.

A two-night stay from October 13 for four people starts from £654.50 – or £81.80pppn.

Mole Hill Hut

Hidden away in the rolling hills of Herefordshire is a glamping site owned by Escape to the Country‘s Jules Hudson.

Presenter of the BBC show used his skills to handcraft his very own bespoke shepherd’s hut that you can book.

On Jules’ own land near the Wye Valley, the hut is tucked away in a private meadow – the hut is designed for two people as a secluded, off-grid retreat.

Inside is a cosy double bed, a functional kitchenette, and an adjoining lounge area called “The Trough.”

Guests can spend their evenings around the outdoor wood-burning stove enjoying panoramic views of Herefordshire’s rolling hills.

Also provided are books, magazines, maps and board games and guests will find luxury toiletries.

The hut cost £150 per night (for two) with a three-night minimum stay – anyone who books a seven-night stay can get 15 per cent off.

IF the average holiday home isn’t quite cutting it with the kids, you’ll love these ones.

With whole role-play villages, ziplines and even ballpit rooms, these are the five best family-friendly Airbnbs in the UK.

Imagine at High Parks

This pretty farmhouse might look like your average Airbnb – but inside, it has a secret wing that’s dedicated to children’s play.

It’s a paradise and will definitely inspire play as inside you’ll find a tearoom with an oven, cups and mugs and even a stable with a rocking horse.

The village shop has a real-life counter with a cash machine and around the corner is a cinema.

There’s also a hotel that is actually where the children’s rooms are and each is kitted out with single beds and made to feel cosy.

Outside there’s even more for kids to enjoy as there’s a huge wooden climbing frame with a basket swing, see-saw, toddler swing and slide.

The climbing fort is set amongst a huge garden so there’s plenty of room to run around too.

One visitor wrote: “I stayed with my two children aged 8 and 5, they were so excited when we arrived and said it was the best holiday house ever.”

As for the rest of the property, it can sleep up to six guests.

It has a light and airy living room with high ceilings, and wooden beams across the ceiling.

There’s also a modern kitchen with a dining area, the master bedroom is on a mezzanine level.

Three of the bedrooms have a single bed, two of which have views across the garden, and bedroom five has a cot.

Surrounding the house is a patio area, a great spot to sit and enjoy the views in the summertime.

A seven-night stay for six people in January 2027 starts from £1,575 – or £37.50pppn.

Searles Cottage, Cornwall

Tredethick Farm Cottages is in the top 10 per cent of homes on Airbnb and is a particular hit with families.

Inside, kids and teenagers will enjoy playing in the games barn which has a pool table, table tennis table, indoor slide and sand pit – the home even has an heated indoor swimming pool.

When the weather plays ball, children can enjoy the outdoor playpark and balance bike track.

As it’s on a working farm, there are morning animal feeding sessions held at least three times per week with the goats, pigs, chickens and guinea pigs.

In the summertime, guests can book pony experiences.

There’s also a heated indoor swimming pool for splashing about and a private garden for playing in.

Meanwhile, adults can take advantage of the hot tub and relaxing in front of the fireplace in the living area.

The home sleeps up to four guests in its two bedrooms, one with a king- size bed, the other with two singles.

A four-night stay in April 2027 for a family of four starts from £1,000 – or £62.50pppn.

Fun City Stay, Essex

Just outside of Colchester in Essex is this beautiful Grade-II home which looks like it should be a cosy retreat, and it is – but there are lots of surprises inside too.

Along with its open kitchen-diner, large living room and Disney-themed bedrooms is a play room called Narnia.

Not only is it a soft play, but it has a huge ball pit that children will love.

One visitor wrote in their review: “The soft play was a huge hit with the children and kept them entertained for hours!”

Another added: “We had a fantastic stay here for a family getaway! Everything was perfect. The soft play room was amazing for the children.”

In the kitchen is a seven-foot table that can transform into a pool and table tennis table.

There’s also a darts board if you fancy a go.

In total, the home can sleep up to nine guests across its four bedrooms inspired by Disney’s Madagascar, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Jungle Book and Aladdin.

A five-night stay for nine guests in November 2026 is £1,793 – or £39.84pppn.

The Narnia room is available to book at an additional cost, as is the hot tub.

Country cottage and treehouse, Salisbury

This beautiful countryside cottage is tucked away in a private 80-acre woodland near Salisbury.

Next to the pretty Airbnb is where the kids are likely to spend most of their time – up in the treehouse.

Once up there the whole family can take it in turns zooming through the woodland on the 100-foot zipline.

It’s definitely a hit with previous visitors, one said: “So much space for the children to run around in, an incredible tree house with zip wire (just as much fun for the adults).”

Another added: “The kids were in their element with the zip line, treehouse, and lake-endless adventures right on the doorstep.

“It felt like a little paradise for them, and gave us all such a chance to properly switch off and enjoy time together.”

The home is nestled in a private 80-acre woodland near a secluded lake. Enjoy tranquil trekking trails, or relax by the secluded lake.

The country cottage has a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom downstairs – the further two bedrooms are upstairs.

While the kids are enjoying the activities, parents can soak in the wood-fired Dutch tub.

On arrival there’s complimentary tea, coffee, sugar, 1 litre of organic milk, locally produced apple juice, cornflakes, oats and cereal from the hosts.

The home can sleep up to six guests across its three bedrooms.

The base price is based on a two person occupancy – it then increases by £40pppn (there is no charge for infants).

There’s an offer of 20 per cent off on weekly stays and 40 per cent off on monthly stays.

A five-night stay in November for a group of six costs £2,016 – or £67.20pppn.

Halula’s House of Fun, Somerset

For the ultimate family and friends holiday, the Halula’s House of Fun has it all.

It can sleep up to 21 guests – it also has a swimming pool, swim up bar, hot tub, indoor slide and ballpit and children’s play area.

The whole house will be like a play park for the kids thanks to its bright decor and plenty to do. One of the rooms has a rainbow slide that goes straight into the ballpit.

Kids will also love the huge movie room with snug sofas and projector screen.

Outside, there’s a climbing frame, playhouse, trampoline and play cars.

Between April and October, the outdoor swimming pool is open for business too.

All six bedrooms have their own theme – and there’s even a cosy book nook for bedtime stories.

It’s not just kids that will love this house, it’s possible parents might enjoy it even more, it has a pool house, bar and hot tub.

The home sleeps up to 21 guests across seven bedrooms

A six-night stay in April 2027 starts from £8,338 – or £66.17pppn.