We love a kids’ club as much as the next parent, but if you’re looking for something a little more inspiring for your little ones, it’s all about the skill-building stay.
A number of UK luxury hotels are offering more than the generic kids’ club activity lists, with expert-led masterclasses, so children can return home with new talents, from wildlife conservation and French pastry decorating to pro football skills. The grown-up experience hasn’t been overlooked either. While younger guests hone their new abilities, parents can slip away to tranquil spas, enjoy multi-course lunches, or simply relax in idyllic surroundings. Here are five hotels where the kids come home with a feather in their cap.
The Grove, Hertfordshire What they will learn: Football & Rugby Skills
If you have sporty children, older kids, or teens looking to improve their game, The Grove’s three-day sporting camps – held in partnership with Football Escapes and Saracens Rugby, are led by UEFA-licensed coaches, former Premier League legends and rugby pros. Designed for kids ages five to 15, the football sessions focus on mastering ball control, tactical awareness, speed and agility; while rugby lessons hone core fundamentals like handling, passing under pressure, positional play and spatial awareness – all blended into technical drills and matches. While they’re perfecting their free kicks, parents can slip away to the Sequoia spa, play a round on the championship golf course, or relax at the secret beach with an outdoor pool. Younger siblings are catered for at Anouska’s Kids Club. Don’t miss the Everyman in the Garden pop-up cinema (until 6 September) which is showing some family favourites including E.T., Jumanji, Wonka and Encanto. The Glasshouse restaurant, featured in Netflix’s Million Dollar Buffet, serves everything from limitless lobster and artisan pasta to wood-fired pizzas.
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, Kent What They Will Learn: Wildlife Conservation
There are hotels that talk about connecting children with nature, and then there is Port Lympne, which immerses them in it. Set amidst 600 acres of Kentish savannah, it is run in partnership with The Aspinall Foundation and is home to more than 900 rare and endangered animals. Perfect for aspiring animal lovers and young conservationists (ages seven to 17), the five-hour Junior Keeper for a Day experience offers a rare look into wildlife care. Children get to work alongside rangers and learn what goes into caring for endangered wildlife, like mastering scatter feeds for bison and baboons, wallaby enrichment workshops, and feeding sessions with giraffes and rhinos. The day wraps up with a guided wildlife trail and a fascinating gorilla talk. Parents can follow along to capture photos. When the day is done, cosy up in one of the luxury glamping pods or book the spectacular Lion Lodge, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a pride of big cats.
The Berkeley, Knightsbridge What They Will Learn: Patisserie Techniques
If your child has ever attempted to ice a cupcake and declared themselves a future pastry chef, The Berkeley is the place to indulge that ambition. The hotel has launched a 60-minute masterclass inside the sleek kitchen of world-renowned pâtissier Cédric Grolet, whose creations have earned a cult following. Guided by Grolet’s team, budding bakers learn how to decorate his famous chunky cookies with decadent toppings. While the kids are busy in the kitchen, grown-ups can sneak off to the longevity-focussed spa, Surrenne, or relax at the Berkeley Café with a glass of champagne and one of Grolet’s exquisite pastries (our pick is the supersized vanilla flower). With a heated rooftop pool to dip into, plus a location opposite Hyde Park and just a short stroll from the South Kensington museums, it makes for a smart London base.
Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire What They Will Learn: Fly Fishing
If you have a child who loves being out in nature or simply needs an activity that holds their attention – the fly-fishing tuition at Four Seasons Hampshire is ideal. Under the watchful eye of a pro instructor, little ones are taught the art of casting, luring, and releasing trout in the tranquil Orchard Pond – it’s a welcome antidote to fast-paced school terms. Also on offer are horse riding lessons, canal boating and family tennis classes – so siblings with different interests won’t be short of options. Children aren’t an afterthought here, with touches including organic bathroom amenities, mini bathrobes and deliciously tailored children’s menus. Families can splash around in the Sharkie’s Reef pool (complete with slide and water fountains), while teenagers can retreat to the games room, which is fully equipped with table tennis, pool tables and a PS5 console. Parents can unwind in country-chic suites, take time out at the spa and or tuck into a seasonal dinner at Wild Carrot. It’s the sort of place where everyone comes away feeling looked after.
Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire What They Will Learn: Gardening, Herbalism, and Horse Care
If you’re looking to escape city life for a few days, Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa feels a world away from the everyday. Set across 500 acres at the edge of the Cotswolds, this grand country house is the ideal hub for outdoorsy kids. At the new Little Lucknam Apothecary, children go foraging for herbs and botanicals with head gardener Magdalena Synman, then work with the on-site herbalist to mix their own balms and oils. There’s also the Little Gardeners programme, where they can roll up their sleeves, learn how things grow and plant bulbs around the estate. For those with a passion for ponies, the Little Equestrians experience invites families to meet the hotel’s horses, learn grooming and handling techniques, dress them in accessories and leave with a Polaroid photograph to remember the day. Parents, meanwhile, can exhale over lunch at the Michelin-starred restaurant – Hywel Jones, check into the spa or enjoy a cocktail masterclass.
Lead image: Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire
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