Luxury family holidays
Children pick out wonder and awe in the smallest detail. These family-friendly locations come with muddy puddles, rock pools and garden games for all.
Little ones see everything through rainbow-tinted spectacles, and travelling with children should be a halcyon experience. What was once mundane becomes a shiny sparkle: the smallest puddles can turn into an exciting ocean voyage across stormy waves; those gnarled and twisted trees on a woodland walk are now tall turreted towers that must be scaled. There's nothing like exploring a new area with a child-friendly luxury holiday home as a base, heading out wellies on and a little hand clasped in yours, pointing in awe at clouds shaped like giraffes and glow worms lighting up the night. All the better enjoyed with grandparents, multi-generational group gatherings allow parents to sneak off and enjoy moonlit dips in heated swimming pools, or pop open a bottle of bubbles under starry skies while sinking into a garden hot tub. Time spent together is time well spent, after all, and memories are made of this.
The Matchbox
Winchelsea, Rye, East Sussex, UK
Natural, bright and just a five minute stroll from the sea, The Matchbox is an organic luxury beach house overlooking Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £1,795 per week, £1,450 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
Hawkhurst
Rye Harbour, Rye, East Sussex, UK
Just downstream from quaint Rye, you'll find this iconic black-coated family home sat boldly amongst its timber-clad neighbours on the water in Rye Harbour.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £1,295 per week
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Ammonite
Winchelsea, Rye, East Sussex, UK
Located close to Rye and Winchelsea beach on the East Sussex coast, Ammonite exudes a pared-back style, where reclaimed furniture, cool whites and a hot tub allow deep relaxation for all the family.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests (ideally 4 adults and 2 children)
From: £1,550 per week, £1,250 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
Fawn Wood
Hartfield, High Weald, East Sussex, UK
A treasure trove of enchanted stories and romantic entanglements, this unique luxury retreat started life as a granary and enjoys a sylvan setting on the edge of Winnie-the-Pooh's Ashdown Forest.
Sleeps: 6 (+2) guests
From: £2,350 per week, £1,795 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 guests
Pets: Two pets are welcome
Features: Small-scale outdoor heated pool (available May - September inclusive), professional golf simulator (advance booking is required for supervised use or with a coach, at extra cost), outdoor pizza oven, chiminea
Hummingbird House
Once home to a famous Edwardian music hall starlet, this unique luxury self-catering manor house near Lewes in East Sussex steals the show with her subtle glamour and undeniable grace.
Sleeps: Up to 7 guests
From: £1,595 per week
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: A hot tub in the garden, steam room shower, competition standard table tennis table
Roserai
A stately house in its own lush grounds with little luxuries inside and out that every weekender wishes for, this is one dream home that guests won't ever want to leave.
Sleeps: Up to 8 guests
From: £4,895 per week, £6,350 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 guests
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs or one large dog welcome on prior request
Features: Daily use of heated swimming pool is between 10am and 6pm (available between April half term - October half term). The hot tub, sauna, steam room and pool house is available between 10am and 10pm.
The Darton
Rye, East Sussex, UK
Tucked away within the realms of a private 600-acre estate, The Darton conjures all the fond imaginings of what a modern English farmhouse cottage house should be.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests (plus 2 children)
From: £1,950 per week, £1,450 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
The Residence
Ensconced within a 10-acre East Sussex estate, this Grade-II listed manor house complete with outdoor pool, hot tub and yoga studio has been designed with group gatherings in mind.
Sleeps: Up to 20 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 12 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome on prior request
Features: Daily use of heated swimming pool is between 10am and 6pm (available between April half term - October half term). The hot tub, sauna, steam room and pool house is available between 10am and 10pm.
