Two mums in-the-know share their favourite UK staycations to book for Autumn

The august bank holiday is the last long weekend before the autumn/ winter term starts for schools in the UK, and admittedly, we’re keen for the return to school, but the diary is filling up for September with back-to-school events and new clubs, and perhaps you feel like everyone could do with one more proper break before the school run resumes. We’ve asked some people in the know where’s the best places for families to go for a long weekend in the UK and we’ve shared them all below. Here are the UK staycations worth booking for the August Bank Holiday and beyond, from countryside escapes to city bases and a coastal pick our editor will never forget.

The Ickworth - Suffolk reviewed by Mary Goodsell

Part of the Luxury Family Hotels Group - The Ickworth in Suffolk is set within a National Trust park and recently underwent a full refurbishment (summer 2026). With only 37 rooms, it doesn’t feel like a chain hotel at all. Perhaps it’s the swanky marble bathrooms and brand new Elemis spa that make it feel luxurious, but for me, it was the family facilities that parents can only dream of. Brand partnerships to pique your interest include Bugaboo, who’ve provided the prams on site ready for you to use, and Stardust cribs in the rooms. Leapfrog monitors mean parents can dine child-free should they so wish and Tommee Tippee have made sure that bottle warmers and baby paraphernalia are more than covered and Scanidborn have stocked toyboxes across the hotel. Full review coming soon.

Rooms from £195 per night

The Grove hotel - Angie Silver’s pick

“The Grove perfectly combines British country elegance with mini adventures for kids, a beautiful spa and incredible restaurant choices. Located in Watford which is handy 20 minutes train journey from Euston station or less than an hour drive from central London. The luxury hotel is set in an 18th Century mansion, a real country classic with interiors that blend both old and new. The grounds themselves are perfectly sculpted with water features, glorious blooms and acres of land to run around including bluebell woods.

There are so many beautifully modern room options for families at The Grove, our deluxe room could actually fit a family of four - we loved our comfy bed, terrace and bathroom with roll top bath. But there are also suites and the options for interconnecting rooms. Parents and children will be spoilt for choice when it comes to dining as there’s Turkish cuisine in the sunshine at Skew’d in the hotel’s Walled Garden, the renowned Glasshouse which featured on Million dollar buffet, British classics at the Stables and Madhu’s the Indian restaurant all of which have children’s menus or kid-friendly options. 

Children will not be bored! We were there for one night but we could have kept them busy for a week! Noah loved the mini Landies at Asher’s activity centre and there’s also Ax Throwing and Archery there for a few years older! There’s a playground, a soft play, and a  kids indoor pool, bike riding. Ralph’s Beach at the Walled Garden was an absolute highlight for us with a heated outdoor pool. There’s an activity area plus kids mud kitchen, arts and crafts tent for kids and spa treatment areas for grown ups. Plus there’s even more during the holidays such as Pocket Towns, horse riding, petting zoo, football escapes even a pop-up cinema. Grown ups can enjoy gym, spa, tennis, and one of the world’s best Golf courses!”

From £330 per night

The Gurnard’s Head, St.Ives - reviewed by Mary Goodsell

If you’re travelling as a couple, with a young baby or perhaps two very well behaved children - then The Gurnard’s Head B&B is one of the best places I have ever been to in Cornwall, and one I long to revisit as soon as I get the chance again. Set amongst the dramatic Zennor coastline and next to a dairy farm, this iconic yellow pub boasts a handful of charming rooms.

Whilst it’s also a great spot to book for a lunch if you’re in the area, I really recommend booking one of the rooms to make the most of their B&B offerings. Their breakfast was almost entirely locally sourced, and fresh cow’s milk from the dairy farm next door was placed outside our bedroom every morning. At supper, we feasted on fresh fish and homemade bread, washed down with a crisp bottle of white. A true Cornish break. The following day, we were sent off to a ‘locals’ beach as instructed by the team at the pub and adorned with our very own coolbox, drinks from the bar (real cut glass tumblers included) and a packed lunch fresh from the kitchen to keep us satiated and their local knowledge couldn’t have been more welcome as we revelled in our almost empty Maldivian-looking beach.

Family-friendly for those who love the great outdoors, are looking for great walks, great beaches and want to be in well-located in Cornwall, but away from the crowds. They also serve the best kids’ fish and chips i’ve ever seen. A 10/10 stay.

Double rooms from £192 per night

Looking for more inspiration? Discover more UK staycations below

Hiding Space, Bath

For families who are seeking more space than the standard hotel room has to offer, Hiding Space's collection of apartments in the heart of Bath is worth a look for a long weekend. Every apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, so mealtimes can run on toddler time rather than restaurant hours, and keyless check-in means no waiting around with tired children after a long drive. The Trim Street property is the most family-friendly of the collection: studios suit smaller families, while the two-bedroom penthouse sleeps up to six and comes with its own roof terrace. Handy for the Roman Baths, Thermae Spa and Bath Abbey, all within walking distance.

Book now via hidingspace.co.uk

Silchester Farm, Hampshire/Berkshire border

Part of a new breed of "mini farmhouse" escapes taking cues from the Soho Farmhouse playbook, minus the members' club price tag. Silchester Farm sits on the Hampshire/Berkshire border, within easy reach of London, and offers everything from The Pyggies, elevated cabins with king-sized beds and freestanding baths, to larger houses built for groups. There's an outdoor pool, tennis, bikes to borrow and open countryside to wander, plus seasonal food sourced from the farm's own kitchen gardens.

Nightly rates start from £250 based on two sharing.

Aloft Belfast Titanic Quarter

A stylish, contemporary base in Belfast's Titanic Quarter, moments from Titanic Belfast and the waterfront. Loft-style rooms and relaxed social spaces make it feel more like a design-led hotel than your traditional family offering, but no need to worry, because ‘Camp Aloft’ keeps younger guests entertained, and the whole property is pet-friendly if the dog is coming too! Rooms typically start from around £100 a night depending on dates, making it one of the better value picks on this list for a Bank Holiday city break.

Book via marriott.com