Since having a baby last year, I’ve begrudgingly accepted that holidays will never be the same again. Margarita-fuelled dinners for two have been replaced by early morning swims, late lunches after the sun’s gone down and a lot of playtime in air-conned rooms, which is why finding a hotel that not only tolerates babies but actively caters to them is super important. After an 8 hour flight to a Caribbean island with a baby who decided sleep wasn’t for her, we’ve vowed to stick to UK-based travel for the foreseeable future but seeking a child (and purse) friendly hotel is no mean feat. Enter Bruern Holiday Cottages.
Bruern Cottages, located between the picture-perfect Chipping Norton, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford, are very much luxury holiday rentals with all the modern chintzy vibes of a quintessential country house. Comprising 12 luxury cottages, they offer the comfort and attention to detail of a good hotel, combined with the privacy, independence and space of home, bridging that elusive gap between luxury hotel and home away from home.
We stayed in Epsom, which actually accommodates five people so our daughter had her own room, with her cot set up ready and waiting - a much welcome relief after a three hour drive too close to bedtime! Decor-wise, think rich textures, antique furniture, cashmere throws and beautiful fabrics by Mulberry and Colefax and Fowler with all the kiddy essentials you probably forgot to pack thrown in for good measure.
The cottage was cosy without being cramped and had a country-style kitchen, plush lounge with dining table, as well as three bedrooms and two bathrooms with a marble bath, heaps of white fluffy towels and Elemis toiletries. We visited in winter but we’d love to return in the summer to make use of the huge garden replete with a bbq and rose-covered pergola.
In a bid to make your stay as seamless as possible, you’re welcomed with the most epic hamper full of essentials (plus a few luxuries) to spare the hassle of a trip to the shops upon arrival. Ours came with a bottle of champagne, which didn’t last long, Cacklebean eggs and local sausages, bacon, cheese, bread, butter and cake.
For parents, you’ll find a much-welcomed Parents’ Peace of Mind Kit waiting for you, with all the essentials like baby alarms, electrical socket safety covers, door wedges, bed guards, safety locks for cupboards, a plastic tablecloth, plastic cutlery, in addition to the cot, cot linen, high chair and stair gates. They’ve also lined up local babysitters should you fancy a night out. Our daughter was also absolutely delighted to discover a surprise toy cupboard with books, dolls, board games and toys catered to her specific age.
If I haven’t emphasised it enough, Bruern Cottages truly are a kid’s paradise, meaning you don’t even need to leave the premises to entertain restless children, whatever the weather. There’s an incredible indoor pool with bifold doors, making it ideal for all seasons. Rubbish weather? Hole up in the wendy house or heated play cabin that houses more toys than Hamleys (including a dressing-up box, railway and crayoning easel). Older children will love the table football, ping-pong, PS4 and Xbox 360, and pool table in the Games Room. If the weather is kind to you, make use of the sprawling grounds which house a mini football pitch, pedal tractors, child-sized croquet and cricket sets.
Anyone who’s visited the Cotswolds knows how family-friendly it is, and Bruern is an ideal base for attractions such as the Cotswold Wildlife Park, the Cogges Farm Museum, Birdland, the Cotswold Motor Museum and Toy Collection, the Model Village, the Dragonfly Maze and Folly Farm Waterfowl. We also stopped by the Burford Garden Centre, which I cannot recommend enough for little ones (it even has a mini kids cinema room), and Daylesford. Restaurant-wise, we enjoyed cosy pub lunches at The Plough at Kingham, The Wild Rabbit and The Chequers, Churchill (because dinners with a toddler are a non-starter!)
Want to emulate Cameron Diaz's stay in The Holiday (without Jude Law but with the addition of some happy children?). This is it.
Premier Cottages' collection features almost 1,000 four and five-star self-catering cottages across the UK. Properties range from small, romantic boltholes to large family-friendly country estates. The collection includes pet-friendly and glamping accommodation as well as the widest range of accessible properties in the UK. A large number of properties are part of Premier’s Green Getaways collection with many having a high level Green accreditation from Green Tourism. Properties often have onsite facilities like swimming pools, gyms, spas, indoor games rooms and children's play areas.
Premier Cottages' collection features almost 1,000 four and five-star self-catering cottages across the UK. Properties range from small, romantic boltholes to large family-friendly country estates. The collection includes pet-friendly and glamping accommodation as well as the widest range of accessible properties in the UK. A large number of properties are part of Premier’s Green Getaways collection with many having a high level Green accreditation from Green Tourism. Properties often have onsite facilities like swimming pools, gyms, spas, indoor games rooms and children's play areas. A week's stay for five guests in Epsom starts from £1296 and a three night weekend break from £1131. (www.premiercottages.co.uk, 01993 830415)
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