14 of the best family hotels and holiday properties in Wales

Further inland, strap on the baby carrier to explore the country’s highest peak, Snowdon, or the beautiful Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks, which cover a fifth of the country between them.

The rugged scenery is ideal for adventurous families, but there are plenty of activities for every family member – whatever the weather – as Wales is home to 7 national museums, an array of indoor water parks including Swansea’s The Edge, and a thriving performing arts scene to wow little ones.

Great transport links mean it’s less than a 3-hour drive from London into south Wales, and around 2 hours from Manchester into Snowdonia, while there’s more than 220 train stations across the country’s network if you’re travelling by rail.

Looking for family travel inspiration across the UK? Check out our round up of the best family hotels in Edinburgh, best family hotels in London and best family holidays in the New Forest. For sunny holidays abroad, take a look at the best family hotels in Ibiza, Fuerteventura or Crete.

Check out our guide to some of the best hotels and accommodation for your family holiday to Wales.

Best family hotels and holiday stays in Wales at a glance

• Best for a sea view: Trearddur Bay Hotel, Anglesey, Booking.com
• Best for thrill-seeking families: Plas Weunydd boutique hotel, Gwynedd, Booking.com
• Best for a quirky family stay: Portmeirion village suites, Portmeirion Village, Portmeirion Cymru
• Best for child-friendly facilities: Porth Tocyn Hotel, Abersoch, Gwynedd, Porth Tocyn Hotel
• Best for a tranquil family escape: Craig-y-Dderwen - The Riverside Hotel, Betws-y-Coed, Booking.com
• Best for a budget-friendly break: YHA Brecon Beacons, Brecon, Powys, Booking.com
• Best hotel/accommodation with a pool: Trefeddian Hotel, Aberdovey, Booking.com
• Best for Blue Flag beaches: The Gwbert Hotel, Cardigan, Ceredigion, Booking.com
• Best for families with accessibility needs: Ty Glyn Davis Trust Holiday Centre, Ceredigion, Ty Glyn Davis Trust
• Best for on-site activities: Folly Farm, Begelly, Pembrokeshire, Hoseasons
• Best luxury family holiday: Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, Booking.com
• Best for large family groups: Bluestone Resort, Preseli Hills, Pembrokeshire, Bluestone Wales
• Best hotel with a crèche: The Vale Resort, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan, Booking.com
• Best city centre hotel: Morgans Hotel, Swansea, Booking.com

Here are our 14 best Wales family hotels and accommodation, by region

North Wales

Mid Wales

South Wales/Pembrokeshire

NORTH WALES

1. Trearddur Bay Hotel, Holyhead, Anglesey

— Best for a sea view

Price Family rooms from £130 for 4 | Number of bedrooms 47 | Swimming pool Yes | Dogs welcome £15 per dog per night | Parking Free on-site carpark | Holyhead station 2.3 miles | Pre-book restaurants during school holidays

Nearby attractions: The hotel is set on award-winning Trearddur Bay beach, while Anglesey Sea Zoo, Pili Palas butterfly and bird sanctuary, a transport museum and Foel Farm Park are all within a 35-minute drive.

On the picturesque western coast of the Isle of Anglesey, the standout feature of Trearddur Bay Hotel is its glorious location, directly on a family-friendly, golden sand beach that gently slopes towards the sea and has been recognised for its cleanliness and water quality.

Families on Booking.com rated this hotel 9.6 for a stay with kids and loved the warm and friendly welcome.
The indoor swimming pool is open all year round and standard family rooms sleep 4, while the deluxe versions sleep 5. For families traveling with babies, cots are available on request. Dogs are well catered for here too, with a dedicated snug in one of the hotel’s 2 restaurants, as well as plenty of treats on offer for furry friends.

Reviewers on TripAdvisor loved the hotel’s location and rooms with balconies and sea views, with one family explaining they “visit Trearddur Bay and nearby coves every summer – the kids love spending hours catching crabs and fish”.

The hotel’s food also goes down a treat, with families describing it as “delicious” and “phenomenal”. The children’s menu has 7 options, including vegan and gluten-free.

Pros: Seafront location, dog-friendly, indoor pool, some rooms can fit 5 guests, good value, swimming pool

Cons: Pre-booking restaurants essential in school holidays

Book at: Trearddur Bay Hotel, Booking.com

2. Plas Weunydd boutique hotel, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd

— Best for thrill-seeking families

Price Family rooms from £140 for 4 | Number of bedrooms 24 | Swimming pool No | Dogs welcome Yes (at an additional charge) | Parking Free on-site car park | Porthmadog station 12.9 miles | EV charging point

Nearby attractions: The hotel and glamping site is set in the UNESCO World Heritage slate landscape and within the 2,000-acre home of the Llechwedd Deep Mine, Zip World Caverns and Titan course, Bounce Below underground net adventure and Antur ‘Stiniog’s 7 downhill mountain bike trails. It’s also a 7-minute drive to historic Dolwyddelan Castle and a 10-minute drive to Ffestiniog Railway.

In the heart of the Snowdonia National Park, and surrounded by a spectacular, world-renowned ancient slate landscape, Plas Weunydd boutique hotel has everything a thrill-seeking family could need right on the doorstep.

Awarded the Sunday Times 'Hotel of the Year 2021' for Wales, family rooms in the main hotel sleep up to 4, plus there’s a sister glamping site at Llechwedd with 6 en-suite safari tents sleeping up to 5, if you prefer the option of sleeping under the stars.

The unique feature of this boutique hotel and 5-star rated glamping destination is that they share the same 2,000 acre site as attractions including ziplining (from 3 years/20kg), an underground bounce net playground (minimum height 1m/around 3 or 4 years) and downhill mountain biking, so it’s a great base for adventurous families. Within a few minutes’ drive is the Ffestiniog Railway, the world’s oldest narrow-gauge railway, which takes a 13½-mile journey 700 feet from sea level into the mountains.

After a full day of activities, the modern rooms are a haven for weary bodies, with TripAdvisor reviewers highlighting the comfortable beds. The on-site restaurant features veggie and meat sharing platters, and a pizza menu including kids’ options. Don’t miss trying the Hot Welsh Rarebit pizza, topped with local Snowdonia Cheese company cave-aged cheddar.

Pros: Within the national park, close to many family-friendly activities, choice of accommodation options, kid-friendly food choices, good value

Cons: Limited dining options, no swimming pool

Book at: Plas Weunydd, Booking.com

3. Portmeirion village suites, Portmeirion Village, Gwynedd

— Best for a quirky family stay

Price Family rooms from £244 for 4 | Number of bedrooms 32 village suites | Swimming pool Yes | Dogs welcome No | Parking Free on-site parking | Porthmadog station 3.9 miles | Free transfer from local train/bus station on request

Nearby attractions: Portmeirion Village is a don’t-miss attraction in its own right. The hotel is around a 10-minute drive to the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, and 20 minutes to Harlech Castle and the sandy Harlech Beach. Farther afield, Snowdonia National Park’s visitor centre and Caernarfon Castle are it’s around 40 minutes’ away by car.

The colourfully unique, Italianate village of Portmeirion was created in the early 20th century by Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis and is instantly recognisable for its pastel-hued buildings amid lush woodland. Set around a Mediterranean piazza but located in coastal Wales, this is a quirky getaway that’s ideal for a luxurious short break for families who love to share their snaps on social media. Its striking architecture and surreal atmosphere gained a cult following after Portmeirion Village provided the backdrop for the 1960s TV series, The Prisoner.

These days, guests can stay in luxurious accommodation at 2 distinct hotels – Hotel Portmeirion’s 14 rooms and the Gothic-inspired Castell Deudraeth’s 11 – as well as in its 32 spacious rooms dotted around the village that include 2-bedroom family suites. Self-catering cottages sleeping 4-9 are also available.

There’s a heated outdoor pool available between May and September, plus the village boasts a spa, gelateria, 5 restaurants, and a further 3 cafes serving up Italian favourites like pizza, pasta and salads.

Families on Booking.com particularly like the location — they rated it 9.8 for a stay with kids, with reviewers praising the magical atmosphere.

Pros: Luxurious, unique location, walking distance to cafes, shops and restaurants, choice of accommodation options, swimming pool

Cons: Outdoor pool only, no dogs allowed, expensive

Book at: Portmeirion Cymru, Booking.com

4. Porth Tocyn Hotel, Abersoch, Gwynedd

— Best for child-friendly facilities

Price Family rooms from £255 for 4 | Number of bedrooms 17 | Swimming pool Yes | Dogs welcome Yes – charity donation requested | Parking Free on-site parking | Pwllheli station 9.1 miles | Open 1 April to October; EV charging

Nearby attractions: National Trust-managed Llanbedrog Beach with its brightly-coloured beach huts is a 15-minute drive, while the expansive Porth Neigwl beach is 10 minutes in the other direction. Glasfryn Parc all-weather activity centre is a half-hour drive, and offers bowling, soft play, crazy golf, archery, go-karting and an aqua park.

Attention to detail is second to none at this family-run hotel, set in 20 acres of landscaped gardens overlooking the sea, with access onto the Wales Coast Path. Located on the Llŷn Peninsula, a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the region has an incredible coastline of coves, beaches, headlands and bays, perfect for paddling and recreating famous Welsh castles in sandy form.

The outdoor swimming pool is heated from May to September, while a focus on little ones has seen the Port Tocyn Hotel recognised as a Good Hotel Guide 2021 Editor’s Choice in the Family category. This includes a dedicated area for children, including a snug with TV, DVDs/videos and a games room with table tennis. Highchairs, cots and baby monitors are all available, as well as use of a fridge and microwave for parents of younger children.

Families can stay in interconnected rooms, or there’s a sea view double room featuring an anteroom with a single day bed and a pull-out single bed.

The hotel serves a children’s high tea each evening at 6pm, while dinner menus can be adapted for children over 6 who want to stay up and eat with their parents. It’s worth bearing in mind if you’ve got younger ones too, that there’s a restriction on children under 6 in the restaurant at night, but the hotel can provide baby listening devices so you can keep check on your child in your room if you venture out to eat later.

One family writing on TripAdvisor found their child-free dinner a key attraction, explaining: “We have stayed here for a few days break with young children (6 and 4) for the last couple of years. The set-up is perfect for us – loads of great scenery and walks, and the kids get their own high tea at 6 then go to bed. This means Mum and Dad get a great 3-course meal, knowing the children are sleeping in the room above with baby monitor keeping an eye.”

Pros: Close to beach, baby listening/monitors available for child-free dinner, swimming pool, lots of baby kit available to use, dedicated kids’ area

Cons: Outdoor pool only, not open year-round, expensive, children under 6 not allowed in the restaurant in the evening

Book at: Porth Tocyn Hotel

5. Craig-y-Dderwen - The Riverside Hotel, Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia

— Best for a tranquil family escape

Price Family rooms from £275 for 4 | Number of bedrooms 7 | Swimming pool No | Dogs welcome Yes | Parking Free on-site parking | Betws-y-Coed station 0.7 miles | EV charging; Advance booking for restaurant is essential

Nearby attractions: The magical emerald green ravine and cascades of water at Betws-y-Coed’s Fairy Glen – or Ffos Anoddun in Welsh – is around a 20-minute walk from the hotel, while Snowdonia National Park Visitor Centre is a 15-minute walk. Zip World Fforest adventure centre is a 3-minute drive or 25-minute walk.

Families wanting to get away from it all will love the picturesque riverside setting of Craig-y-Dderwen, a small hotel set in 16 acres of gardens on the banks of the River Conwy. The tranquil location might feel a million miles away from anywhere, but the hotel is actually less than a 15-minute walk into the quaint village of Betws-y-Coed and the Snowdonia National Park Visitor Centre. With plenty of cafes, restaurants and shops to visit in the village, combined with the cascading waterfalls, hilltop lakes, river pools and ancient bridges of the local area, this location has the best of both worlds for families wanting to be in the heart of Snowdonia.

One TripAdvisor reviewer travelling with their family described how the hotel is “well located near all the main activities in the area, but yet still tucked away and secluded”, adding the family room was “excellent with a great river and gardens view”.

The hotel’s Family Suite has a double room and a children’s room with a bunk bed and a single bed, so can sleep up to 5, while the standard family room can sleep 3 plus a baby in a cot. There’s also an award-winning restaurant in the hotel, which uses fresh produce from the kitchen garden.

The Zip World Fforest adventure centre is around a 25-minute walk and has activities for children from the age of 3 including ziplines, treetop nets, a zip safari and even a forest rollercoaster.

Pros: Tranquil, walking distance to many attractions, stunning location, choice of accommodation, fantastic restaurant

Cons: Restaurant can get very busy so advance booking essential, expensive, no swimming pool

Book at: Snowdonia Hotel, Booking.com

MID WALES

6. YHA Brecon Beacons, Brecon, Powys

— Best for a budget-friendly break

Price Family rooms from £65.55 for 4 | Number of bedrooms 12 | Swimming pool No | Dogs welcome No – except assistance dogs or in camping pods at £5 per night | Parking Free on-site parking | Merthyr Tydfil station 13.8 miles | Restaurant dining and self-catering kitchen available

Nearby attractions: The Brecon Beacons Visitor Centre is a 7-minute drive, Alpaca My Boots trekking is 13 minutes away, and it’s around a 20-minute drive to Llangorse Multi-activity Centre. Spot red kites and buzzards at the Red Kite Feeding Station, around a 50-minute drive from the hostel.

If you're after budget family accommodation in the Brecon Beacons, this cosy 19th century farmhouse ticks all the boxes. A youth hostel might never have crossed your mind, but this purse-friendly option offers private en-suite rooms for up to 5, as well as larger rooms sleeping up to 8 with shared facilities. Bedding is provided in the hostel, but there’s also a couple of camping pods if you fancy a more rustic stay. The pods are also a good option if you’re travelling with a 4-legged friend.

The hostel is in 15 acres of ancient woodland, overlooking the River Tarell, with views towards the imposing Pen y Fan, the highest mountain peak in south Wales. Streams run through the grounds too, which are perfect for paddling in the warmer weather, and the picnic tables are a great place for al fresco family get-togethers in summer.

The YHA is super family-focused and offers a 5% discount off accommodation and food when booking with children. Unlimited cooked breakfast is £9.95 and under 10s get free breakfast, plus there’s a licensed bar and a lounge area and evening meals available.

It’s around a 20-minute drive to Llangorse Multi-activity Centre, which offers lead rein pony rides from 4 years and pony trekking from 7 years, as well as indoor climbing, bouldering and ziplines from 6 years.

Pros: Budget-friendly, discounts when booking with children, pretty countryside location, can accommodate larger family groups, choice of accommodation, free breakfast for under 10s

Cons: Car park is around 50m from the main building, intermittent mobile phone coverage, accommodation quite basic, no swimming pool

Book at: YHA Brecon Beacons, Booking.com

7. The Trefeddian Hotel, Aberdovey

— Best hotel/accommodation with a pool

Price Family rooms from £256 for 4 | Number of bedrooms 59 | Swimming pool Yes | Dogs welcome Yes – £15 per dog per night | Parking Free on-site parking | Aberdovey station 0.8 miles | EV charging

Nearby attractions: Aberdovey Beach is a 3-minute walk from the hotel, while it’s an 18-minute walk into the village, and 25 minutes to Bwlchgwyn Farm Pony Trekking Centre. King Arthur’s Labyrinth underground adventure, the Centre for Alternative Technology and Dyfi Wildlife Centre and Osprey Project are all within a half-hour drive.

At the very south west corner of Snowdonia, the Trefeddian Hotel combines the Welsh mountains with the seascape of Cardigan Bay. Recognised with a Good Hotel Guide Editor's Choice 'Family Hotel' Award for 2023, the bright and airy hotel has family rooms that can sleep up to 5 and provides a child listening service – perfect if you’d like to head out for a later evening meal once your little ones are in bed.

Indoor and outdoor play areas, board games, table tennis, pool, air hockey and the indoor swimming pool mean there’s plenty to keep little ones entertained. Plus, there’s an early children’s dinner, served 5.15-5.45pm, which has an array of 12 main meal options including 5 vegetarian choices.

A short walk over sand dunes takes you down to the sandy expanse of popular Aberdovey beach, where children can build sandcastles, fly kites, and fish for crabs. Scenic boat trips also run from the harbour, and families with older children can try out watersports including paddleboarding. Family reviewers on TripAdvisor praised the location and how close the hotel is to the beach.

A 25-minute drive away is Bwlchgwyn Farm Pony Trekking Centre, which organises rides for children aged 4 and above, and can arrange beach treks for those over 7.

The local area is a nature-lover’s dream, as it is part of the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere, and wildlife includes otters, ospreys and red kites, while pods of dolphins regularly visit the beaches.

Pros: Close to beach, indoor pool, walking distance to village, lots of facilities for children, child listening service available

Cons: Short window for children’s early dinner, expensive

Book at: The Trefeddian Hotel, Booking.com

8. The Gwbert Hotel, Cardigan, Ceredigion

— Best for Blue Flag beaches

Price Family rooms from £174 for 4 | Number of bedrooms 23 | Swimming pool No | Dogs welcome Yes – £10 per dog first night, £5 after that | Parking Free on-site parking | Fishguard Harbour station 25.3 miles | Baby cot is £10 supplement

Nearby attractions: Cardigan Castle is 9 minutes by car, Blue Flag-awarded Poppit Sands and Tresaith beaches are within a 20-minute drive and Llangrannog beach half an hour, while Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park is a 12-minute walk and it’s a 19-minute drive to the Welsh Wildlife Centre.

Standing on the banks of the River Teifi at the estuary at Gwbert-on-Sea, this hotel is surrounded by multiple Blue Flag beaches and renowned for its dolphin and seal-spotting opportunities. A colony of Atlantic grey seals breeds in the caves below the nearby cliffs and can be seen regularly, while Cardigan Bay's bottlenose dolphins are frequent visitors to the waters.

The comfortable family rooms sleep up to 4 and there are dog-friendly rooms available, with families rating The Gwbert a score of 9.4 on Booking.com for a stay with kids. One reviewer highlighted their roomy family accommodation: “My family (2 adults & 2 children) stayed in a family room which was spacious, well decorated and it was lovely for the children to have a proper full size single bed each, instead of a pull-out bed or sofa bed.” In addition to the main hotel, there’s a further 8 holiday cottages on site, sleeping 8-14.

Families writing on TripAdvisor loved the location and praised the food in the hotel’s Flat Rock Bistro, which includes 6 children’s choices.

As well as the range of sandy Blue Flag beaches suitable for swimming, all within a half hour drive, it’s a 12-minute walk to Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park from the hotel, with its outdoor adventure playground and café

Pros: Full size single beds for children, close to Blue Flag beaches, good on-site restaurant, choice of accommodation options

Cons: Far from public transport, no swimming pool

Book at: The Gwbert Hotel, Booking.com

9. Ty Glyn Davis Trust Holiday Centre and Gardens, Lampeter, Ceredigion

— Best for families with accessibility needs

Price from £150 for up to 10 (min. 3-night stay) | Number of bedrooms 9 | Swimming pool No | Dogs welcome Yes | Parking Free on-site parking | Aberystwyth station 20.4 miles | Tracking hoist and mobile hoist available

Nearby attractions: Aberaeron Harbour is around a 13-minute drive, while the National Trust’s Georgian property and farm Llanerchaeron is a 14-minute drive. Llain Activity Centre is a 2-minute drive or 12-minute walk away and offers archery, bushcraft, watersports and climbing for family groups.

Nestled among mature woodland and with its own walled sensory secret garden, the Ty Glyn Davis Trust Holiday Centre is a hidden gem for families with accessibility needs. The single-storey building and gardens are fully accessible for wheelchair users and include helpful features like a tracking hoist and adult-sized shower bed in the bathroom, a mobile hoist and a profile bed.

There’s a total of 9 bedrooms, if needed, and a spacious open plan lounge/dining and recreation area including a snooker table, TV, DVD/video player, Xbox and board games for entertaining all the family.

The decked patio and BBQ area are perfect for summer gatherings, and there’s a giant chess set too.

But the jewel in Ty Glyn Davis Trust’s crown must be the secluded sensory garden, which is set within a beautiful woodland area alongside the River Aeron and developed specifically for people with special needs. Child-friendly features are dotted among fruit trees, a kitchen garden and scented plants.

One family reviewer writing on TripAdvisor highlighted the accommodation “was very spacious and accessible for youngsters with mobility issues”, adding that the “secret garden is stunning and is a joy to walk round. All the children loved the instruments and the aromas around the garden”. It’s also a short drive to the beaches of Cardigan Bay.

Pros: Accessible for wheelchair users, beautiful sensory garden, can accommodate a large group, great facilities for children, good value

Cons: Minimum 3-night stay, additional charge for linen hire, self-catering only, no swimming pool

Book at: Ty Glyn Davis Trust

SOUTH WALES/PEMBROKESHIRE

10. Folly Farm Holiday Park, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire

— Best for on-site activities

Price from £220 for 4 (min. 2-night stay) | Number of bedrooms 2 or 3 per lodge| Swimming pool No | Dogs welcome No | Parking Free on-site parking | Kilgetty station 1.3 miles | Hot tub from age 8

Nearby attractions: Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo shares the same site, while the popular fishing town of Tenby is a 15-minute drive and the seaside resort of Saundersfoot a 10-minute drive. If the little ones want even more thrills, Wales’ largest theme park – Oakwood – is just 10 minutes’ drive too.

There’s no chance of getting bored when you stay at Folly Farm Holiday Park’s new zoo-themed lodges. Opening in March 2023, they include unlimited entry to the adventure park – a real family favourite. The Pembrokeshire attraction first opened its holiday park in 2020, and is expanding this year with its new Kifaru Lodges, which directly overlook the zoo’s Eastern black rhino enclosure and sleep up to 6, and its Simba lion-themed lodge sleeping up to 7.

The lodges all include a private hot tub for guests over the age of 8, and there’s also giraffe-themed safari tents for family glamping for up to 6 opening in the spring.

Although the new zoo-themed lodges are yet to get the official MFM seal of approval, reviews of Folly Farm’s existing fairground-themed lodges are glowing, highlighting the comfy beds, well-stocked welcome hampers making life easier when arriving with young children, and added touches like a popcorn machine.
One reviewer who booked through Hoseasons explained the “location of the lodge and its proximity to Folly Farm was perfect… Being able to visit every single day was a massive bonus for my children. It proved to be excellent value for money.”

There’s also accommodation in the more compact Showman’s Wagons, which can sleep a family of 4 with children under 10. Prices start from £122.50 a night, for a minimum 2-night stay.

The adventure park and zoo itself includes a vintage fairground, which is home to 17 rides, as well as indoor and outdoor play areas for all ages. The enormous Carousel Woods indoor play zone is made up of a wooden climbing structure, with slides, tubes, climbing nets and rope walks, while there’s separate soft play areas for babies and toddlers.

Animal-loving families can also discover native and rare breed farm animals at the 120-acre Folly Farm, and explore the zoo’s giraffes, penguins, lions, zebras, rhinos, camels and meerkats.

Read the full MadeForMums review of Folly Farm, Pembrokeshire for more tips on this attraction.

Pros: Unlimited entry to adventure park, well-stocked arrival hamper, hot tubs, unusual accommodation options

Cons: No swimming pool, self-catering only, no dogs allowed, must be over 8 to go in hot tub, minimum 2-night stay

Book at: Hoseasons

11. Celtic Manor Resort, Coldra Woods, Usk Valley, Newport

— Best for a luxury family holiday

Price Family rooms from £178 for 4 | Number of bedrooms 332| Swimming pool Yes | Dogs welcome No – except assistance dogs | Parking £8.50 for outdoor parking, £20 underground parking per 24 hours | Newport station 3.9 miles | EV charging; pre-booking for activities essential

Nearby attractions: Newport is home to the RSPB Newport Wetlands, where it’s possible to spot kingfishers, marsh harriers and otters, while Cardiff is a half-hour drive and boasts the iconic Principality Stadium, Cardiff Castle and leisure venues including Infinity Trampoline Park and a Ninja Warrior UK base.

In 2,000 acres of parkland in the Usk Valley, Celtic Manor Resort is perhaps best known for hosting the Ryder Cup golfing competition in 2010. But the expansive resort is a haven for families with young children too, with its 55 dedicated family rooms, huge array of fun activities including its Forest Nets adventure playground, and a spa with a children’s pool.

For families travelling from the south of the UK, Celtic Manor Resort is ideal for a weekend break as it’s just off the M4 – you can’t miss the imposing hotel with its distinctive red window awnings as you approach over the Severn Bridge. Public transport links are good too, with direct trains from London, Cardiff and Birmingham.

Family rooms can sleep from 4 to 6 people, and there’s child-friendly dining across the resort’s 6 restaurants, with choices including pizzas, vegan options and even traditional Welsh rarebit or Welsh sirloin steak for little ones.

Celtic Manor has 3 colour-coded woodland trail walks snaking around its grounds, taking 20-40 minutes each, and additional paid activities on site include the Forest Nets treetop adventure from age 3, plus archery, adventure golf, laser combat and an indoor inflatable obstacle course from age 6. Family swimming in the Forum Spa pool is available from 8.30am-9pm, but be sure to pre-book a slot as it can get busy.

Special half-term offers include ‘children stay and eat free’, with rooms priced from £129 a night. Reviewers on TripAdvisor highlight the large range of activities, with one family writing the hotel is “impressive with plenty of facilities and activities for kids aged 6 to 16”. One thing to be aware of is that booking activities and restaurants can get busy during school holiday times, a niggle for some reviewers. But, as long as you’re prepared, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Pros: Easy to reach by car or public transport, luxurious rooms, swimming pool, multiple dining options, good choice of accommodation options, money-saving offers at half term

Cons: Additional cost for many family activities, paid car parking, only assistance dogs allowed

Book at: Celtic Manor Resort, Booking.com

12. Bluestone Resort, Preseli Hills, Pembrokeshire

— Best for large family groups

Price from £65 for 4 (per night for 4-night midweek stay) | Number of bedrooms 1-6 per lodge | Swimming pool Yes | Dogs welcome No – except assistance dogs | Parking Yes | Narberth station 4.8 miles | EV charging; day visitor guest passes available for £25; card payments only

Nearby attractions: The Blue Flag-awarded beaches of Tenby are a 25-minute drive, while fans of Harry Potter might recognise Freshwater West beach, which is a half-hour drive away. Carew Castle and Millpond are a 15-minute drive and feature a mile-long circular walk suitable for buggies and wheelchairs.

Large family gatherings will go off with a bang at Bluestone Resort in Pembrokeshire, where the comfortable self-catering lodges can sleep between 2 and 12 guests, and there’s plenty of action for all ages.

Set in 500 acres of Pembrokeshire countryside, the park currently has 344 lodges, cottages and apartments – with another 80 luxury lodges due to open in summer 2023 – so there’s plenty of space for the whole family to stay.

The best part about staying at Bluestone is that there’s loads of free activities included to keep little ones entertained. The Blue Lagoon sub-tropical indoor water park has a gently sloping pool, waves and flumes, as well as splash areas especially for under-5s. The Hive indoor play zone’s free activities include an inflatable arena, multi-sport arena, and play towers packed with slides, tubes, climbing nets, bridges, ladders and tunnels to exhaust little ones aged 3 to 10. There’s also the Serendome biome with tree climbing, sky walks and go-karting for an additional cost, and parents wanting to escape can check out the spa.

The beauty of Bluestone is its countryside setting and car-free environment, so it’s easy to roam the park on foot or on wheels in safety. Four colour-coded nature trails mean you can explore some of the park’s hidden corners, like the site of an Iron Age fort.

The lodges are well-equipped with everything for self-catering, but there’s also some quirky dining options like Camp Smokey, Bluestone’s rustic woodland diner, if you want a night off from cooking. As well as serving BBQ favourites – with veggie options – there’s an open fire pit where budding Bear Grylls can toast marshmallows. If you’re having a celebration, the resort can also sort out a personalised birthday cake delivered to your lodge.

Families writing on TripAdvisor loved the range of activities, with one mixed-age family group of 12 explaining the “Blue Lagoon water park was so much fun for us all”. Another family thought the “free activities are plentiful and great. The paid for activities are not cheap, but are good”, recommending advance booking to get a slot.

Pros: Lots of free activities, swimming pool, suitable for large family groups, ‘per night’ price good value, restaurants on-site as well as self-catering facilities, excellent indoor water park

Cons: Advance booking essential for dining and paid activities, minimum 3-night stay, only assistance dogs allowed

Book at: Bluestone Wales

13. The Vale Resort, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan

— Best hotel with a crèche

Price Family rooms from £159 for 4 | Number of bedrooms 143 | Swimming pool Yes | Dogs welcome No – except assistance dogs | Parking Free on-site parking | Cardiff Central station 12.1 miles | Crèche pre-booking essential

Nearby attractions: Cardiff Castle is a 20-minute drive and it’s around half an hour to the Blue Flag award-winning Dunraven Bay beach, which is minutes from organic family-run Slade Farm, offering animal and wildlife tours. Barry Island Beach and Pleasure Park are around a 25-minute drive.

A stone’s throw from Cardiff, the Vale Resort is set in 650 acres of grounds and includes 2 golf courses and a spa/gym. While it might not have as many child-friendly activities on offer as some other resorts, one of its unique features is the crèche for children aged 3 months to 5 years, as part of its on-site nursery.

Frazzled parents can book up to 2 hours drop-off time for messy play and other activities – chance for a well-earned break in the pool or spa before emerging refreshed for the next bout of family life.

Children can use the 20m swimming pool from 9am to 8pm during weekends and school holidays, and if you’ve got an older teen over 14, they can use the sauna, steam room and whirlpool too.

There’s a children’s menu with a range of 7 options and the hotel also offers family break packages. Families on Booking.com rated the resort an 8.8 for a stay with children, highlighting the great location as a big plus.

The spacious rooms are a winner with families sharing their reviews on TripAdvisor, with one writing: “Our room was super clean and massive – huge bed and a sofa bed, with more than enough room for me my husband and the 2 kids.” Another TripAdvisor reviewer shared: “We had a brilliant stay at the Vale with our 2 young children. Room and bathroom both brilliant size and the staff were so helpful bringing milk for the children etc. The pool is also good for kids and all very clean.”

Pros: Great location, indoor pool, creche for hotel residents, swimming pool, good value

Cons: Limited vegetarian dining options, only assistance dogs allowed, no specific activities for children, children only allowed in the pool at certain times

Book at: Vale Resort, Booking.com

14. Morgans Hotel, Swansea city centre

— Best city centre hotel

Price Family rooms from £175.50 for 4 | Number of bedrooms 42 | Swimming pool No | Dogs welcome No | Parking Free on-site parking | Swansea station 0.6 miles | EV charging

Nearby attractions: Swansea Castle is a 5-minute walk, while it’s around the same into the city’s maritime quarter and National Waterfront Museum. The Mumbles and Gower coastline is a 15-minute drive away.

This beautiful Edwardian hotel – a former Swansea harbour office – is walking distance to many of the city’s attractions and train station, making it a great option for a short break for the whole family. Spacious rooms suitable for up to 2 adults and 2 children under 12 are split across the main hotel and its townhouse annexe.

Location is a plus – it’s a 5-minute walk to Swansea Castle, and right in the centre of town around a 12-minute walk to the train station. There’s no time to get bored in Swansea, with its attractions including Plantasia Tropical Zoo, Swansea Botanical Gardens, art galleries, a trampoline park, climbing hangar and its maritime museum.

While Morgans is easily accessible by train and public transport from around the UK, it’s also close to the quaint Mumbles area with its sandy beaches, Norman castle, shops and cafes. Car-free families can hop on a direct bus in central Swansea that takes around 20 minutes to the Mumbles.

Families particularly like the location — they rated it 9.1 for a stay with kids on Booking.com.

One family reviewer writing on TripAdvisor agreed: “Location was perfect, central to the city and a short drive to the beautiful Mumbles beaches.”

One thing to bear in mind is that the hotel’s restaurant is currently only open for breakfast and Sunday lunch, but there’s a plethora of nearby dining options to suit all pockets in Swansea.

Pros: Great central location, easily accessible by public transport, free city-centre parking, close to beaches, choice of accommodation options

Cons: Restaurant has limited opening, no swimming pool, no dogs allowed

Book at: Morgans Hotel, Booking.com

Header pic: Turtle Photography