Inside The New Woolley Grange, The Luxury Countryside Retreat Where Families Feel At Home

Woolley Grange has long been a favourite with families. ‘We have guests who have been checking in regularly for over 20 years,’ the receptionist told me on arrival.

Unbeknownst to her I was one of them. When I was growing up, my mum would whisk me away to Woolley Grange for a spoiling countryside weekend at the end of term or after exams: she enjoyed the chance to unwind, reading by the fire, while I loved the space to roam outside. We lived in a small London flat at the time, so it felt like the ultimate treat to swap our tiny living room for a grand Jacobean drawing room. Interiors were of the ‘shabby chic’ variety and the fare was simple, but it always felt like a home away from home that miraculously accommodated everybody’s needs. Not an easy balance to achieve I now realise as a mum of two under three.

PIN IT

It’s no surprise then that news of the hotel’s major refurbishment piqued my interest. I recently checked back in with my husband and two young children in tow. As I stepped foot into the wood-panelled reception area, my childhood memories of the property came flooding back. Although much has changed (for the better) in the intervening years, it still has the warm, friendly atmosphere that makes you feel instantly comfortable and at ease — the holy grail of family travel I now realise. Within minutes of walking through the door, my toddler had dashed off into the garden, the baby was crawling through to the living room and my husband had launched himself onto the sofa in the drawing room. New memories were already in the making, and Woolley has done everything in its power to make them as magical as possible.

The Vibe

Located in Bradford-on-Avon, on the outskirts of Bath, Woolley Grange is a grand Jacobean manor turned countryside retreat that has been redesigned with families in mind. It was built in 1665 as a home for the Randolph family and later sold to the Baskerville family. Henry Baskerville was immortalised in Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles — who lived there for more that 100 years. Both families were in the clothing business and were great examples of Bradford-on-Avon’s thriving wool trade. In 1989, the property was transformed into a hotel by Nigel Chapman who wanted to create a child-friendly hotel that didn’t compromise on luxury experiences for adults. Woolley Grange was the first hotel in the Luxury Family Hotels group (Google now, tired parents, if it’s the first you’ve heard of this) which has since expanded to include the equally stylish Fowey Hall in Cornwall, New Park Manor in the New Forest and Moonfleet Manor in Dorset.

In 2025, Woolley Grange underwent a six-month refurbishment by Jill Higgins, founder of Studio Jill, who has designed spaces that celebrate the period charm of the building whilst also meeting the needs of a new generation of luxury family-minded traveller. She has blended the old with the new, mixing playful details, modern crafted pieces, pattern and texture to create interiors with a sense of relaxed, understated luxury.

The palette of earthy tones, hand-embroidered fabrics and bespoke oak furniture beautifully complement the original Jacobean features, while the sheep portraits, shaggy wool tapestries and fluffy sheep-shaped footstools nod playfully to Woolley’s heritage. The result feels layered and lived-in, as though the house has simply evolved over time.

While period details remain front and centre, nothing feels precious or untouchable – a huge relief for parents with rambunctious, sticky-fingered children. The atmosphere here is laid-back, with guests of all ages doing exactly as they please: children roam freely in the gardens, kicking footballs or playing croquet on the lawn, while adults laze around on sofas, jiggling newborns or cradling nightcaps, depending on the time of day.

The Rooms

While the 25 rooms across the hotel and outbuildings vary in size and layout, they are all decorated with a stylish mix of old and new and are equipped with all the mod-cons to ensure guests big and small want for nothing – which means there’s Peppa Pig [courtesy of Netflix] on the telly, super fluffy robes in the wardrobe and a Nespresso coffee machine with mini bottles of fresh milk in the fridge. Couples should opt for Superior or Deluxe rooms in the main house, while families in need of more space should look to the one-or-two-bedroom suites. The five new rooms by the kitchen garden are well-suited to those travelling with dogs.

PIN IT

Walled Garden Double Room

We stayed in the two-bedroom Chapman Suite, where period details, including stained glass windows, wooden beams and vintage oak doors, are juxtaposed with modern upholstery, shaggy woolly tapestries and sleek night lights, all in the hotel’s signature earthy tones. The log burner brings added cosiness to the lounge area. Thoughtful provisions such as nappy bins, changing mats, travel cots and Yoto audio players make settling in seamless and stress free. Blinds are not of the blackout variety, however, so if you have children who wake at sunrise you may want to bring travel ones with you.

---

The Food + Drink

Breakfast and kids’ meals tend to be served in the Orangery, while grown-up lunches and dinners are best enjoyed in the Jacobean dining room. The à la carte menu of seasonal British classics is served across all the principal dining spaces and is executed with confidence by head chef Dean Westcar. Dinner is a relaxed rather than swanky affair and tends to be wrapped up by 10pm. That’s because diners are mostly, if not all, tired but gleeful parents, savouring a rare evening out thanks to the complimentary smart baby monitors provided by the hotel.

Dinner starters include smoked mussels, Welsh rarebit and the signature melt-in-the-mouth twice baked cheese soufflé. For mains expect fresh fish and seasonal lamb dishes alongside crowd-pleases such as the Woolley Grange Burger. As for pudding, opt for the baked cookie. There is a separate children’s menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You’ll find all the favourites like dippy eggs with soldiers, pesto pasta and chicken tenders. Baby purées are also available.

PIN IT

Orangery at Woolley Grange

Snacks and afternoon tea can be enjoyed in the drawing room, which is also dog friendly. If the weather’s fair, book a table on the outdoor terrace, which has views over the pond and garden, brimming with wildflowers and majestic old oaks. Here, you can place your order and breathe as the children dash off to play rather than grow restless at the table.

Dining at Woolley Grange feels refreshingly unfussy thanks to the unbelievably accommodating staff and thoughtful touches: plastic cups, cutlery and bibs are laid out for little ones, while Bugaboo Giraffe highchairs and toddler seats are available on request. At each meal, waiters arrived with cups of vegetable fingers, books and colouring sheets as we sat down to keep the little ones entertained. A special shoutout goes to Joao, our Portuguese waiter, who was so charming and good with the kids that he felt like an old friend.

---

The Child’s Play

This is where Woolley Grange truly comes into its own. The hotel doesn’t just accommodate children, it celebrates them. Different zones throughout the property ensure there’s always something new to discover, whether it’s a quiet nook for board games or the ‘Fairy Garden’ where imaginations can run wild. The expansive grounds is home to everything from croquet, table tennis and football to a zip wire, trampoline, climbing frame and rope swing. There’s also a daily programme of complimentary activities, which includes marshmallow toasting, gardening and kids’ film screenings in the cinema room.

The Four Bears Den is the real highlight though. The Ofsted registered kids club, which accepts babies from 3 months to 8 years, is filled with quality wooden toys, books, games and arts and crafts. The bonus? All bookings include a complimentary two-hour supervised session per night’s stay, giving children a space to play, create and explore, while parents enjoy a well-deserved break. Unheard of! (Supervised sessions begin at 9.30am and 2.30pm and are subject to availability so you do need to book in advance.) Outside of these times, children can visit the Den with their parents. Older kids can lose themselves the Hen House, featuring a pool table, air hockey and table football. There’s also an adventure room, where families can book a 60-minute interactive experience.

PIN IT

Four Bears Dens Kids Club

To our delight, the staff actively fostered a sense of magic and wonder-reading stories at story time (4.45pm each day), gently nudging little ones to search for fairies and Bella the resident rabbit in the garden, and transforming movie night into a special occasion, with complimentary popcorn, milk and cookies. What more could you want?

Located beside the walled kitchen garden, the compact spa offers a welcome counterpoint to the lively rhythm of family life. Here, frazzled parents can slip away for a moment of longed-for peace and quiet. Take a dip in the indoor pool or in the outdoor adults-only Jacuzzi before treating yourself to an Elemis spa treatment — the Face & Body comes highly recommended as does the full-body massage. After a quick appraisal of my skin — dehydrated and tired, unsurprisingly — Louise, my therapist, began to work her magic on my knotty back and shoulders. Before long, I had sunk into a state of deep relaxation. Heaven.

PIN IT

There is also a steam and sauna room, and space by the pool to laze. The pool is modest in size so it can get busy in peak times, though there are adult-only swim times during term time. There’s also a heated outdoor pool which is open from May through September.

---

The To-Do List

Although there’s plenty to do in the area — such as trips to Bath, Bradford-on-Avon, Frome, Castle Combe and Longleat Safari park — all thoughts of exploration evaporate. Time here falls into a rhythm of pool dips, fairy hunting and games of hide-and-seek. The days of wholesome family fun morph into evenings à deux playing backgammon on the terrace. The charm of Woolley Grange is so powerful that we don’t want to budge. But that’s ok, as it’s always good to leave one or two things to do next time.