THE LOWDOWN

Woolley Grange Hotel Bradford on Avon Wiltshire

If the words ‘family hotel’ conjure wipe-clean tablecloths, sugar-high shrieking, and the faint aroma of fish fingers, fear not. Woolley Grange is the original member of the Luxury Family Hotels group – the one that proved you can travel with kids and keep hold of your high standards. Fresh from a chic glow-up, it now sits confidently in that sweet spot between relaxed country house retreat and wholesome, child-friendly haven, with stylish interiors, genuinely good food, and those thoughtful touches that help parents finally exhale.

Woolley Grange Hotel Bradford on Avon Wiltshire DRAWING ROOM

The house itself is a 17th-century Jacobean manor, once home to the Baskerville family (famous for fonts and paper), and still full of character: creaking staircases, mullioned windows, and honeyed stone warmed by the sun. It feels storied and welcoming rather than stiff or museum-like. And just a short stroll away is Bradford-on-Avon, a postcard-perfect little market town that often gets compared to Bath’s younger, calmer sister – all indie cafés, riverside walks and golden buildings.

Muddy Stilettos Woolley Grange Hotel Bradford on Avon Wiltshire

We visited for some mum-son time (he’s 11: that fleeting, precious window between cuddly and too cool to be seen with you). While many guests skewed younger, he was perfectly happy exploring Bradford-on-Avon, whizzing down the garden zipline, and taking up full residency in The Hen House – the hotel’s teen-tween den.

THE VIBE

A honey-stone 17th-century manor wrapped in dreamy gardens and woodsmoke-scented country air, Woolley Grange has always had charm – but the recent refurb has elevated it from ‘lovely for families’ to genuinely chic countryside escape. Antique oak sideboards, original beams, and inherited heirloom-y pieces now sit happily alongside contemporary artwork, tactile soft furnishings, and the occasional life-size fluffy sheep (yes, really). The palette leans into those delicious sludgy Farrow & Ball tones – warm clay, smoky olive, muddy taupe – which makes everything feel calm, layered, and quietly luxurious.

WOOLLEY GRANGE HOTEL WILTSHIRE THE ORANGERY RESTAURANT — The Orangery restaurant

Honestly, it feels like an extremely stylish friend’s manor house rather than a hotel straining to impress. There’s a playfulness threaded through it: whimsical framed prints, soft textures, joyful little surprises at child height. It feels polished, but never precious.

Parents linger over flat whites and actual newspapers (a rare and endangered sight), while kids roam between fairy gardens and the giant tree swing with the kind of freedom that makes you realise how tightly you’ve been holding everything. The spa is serene, offering a heated pool, sauna, steam room, Elemis treatments, and an outdoor hot tub. When the outdoor pool reopens in summer, it will become an English-holiday-in-technicolour moment: striped towels, dappled sunshine, Aperol in hand, and children splashing in the background without it feeling chaotic. Hallelujah.

CHILD’S PLAY

WOOLLEY GRANGE HOTEL WILTSHIRE THE four bears den — The Four Bears Den

This is where Woolley Grange really proves its parenting genius. There’s an Ofsted-registered crèche, a proper playground, games room and wooden fort, but the real magic is the Four Bears Den, where children get two free hours of supervised fun for every day of your stay (either 9.30am–11.30am or 2.30pm–4.30pm). Translation: spa, cocktails, sit in silence or swing from the proverbial chandelier – you do you.

For the older kids, The Hen House is a dream set-up with a pool table, PS5, and Nintendo Switch – we hear rumours of air hockey coming soon too. Yes, you could just send them off and reclaim your life, but I went in with my 11-year-old. Crawling down to the very-low gaming chair was not my most elegant moment, and my gaming skills are deeply unimpressive, but he adored it. Really adored it. And honestly, that was the whole point of the trip.

Outside, the grounds are basically childhood distilled: a zipline, football nets, and a ground-level trampoline (no hovering nervously to prevent someone bouncing off the edge), plus gardens that invite roaming and a fairy garden tucked away for miniature adventurers. A large kitchen garden will be something to admire next year when it is more established, for those who like their vegetables with a side of wholesome countryside storytelling.

The indoor pool is warm, relaxed, and – praise be – completely free from those maddening ‘children only allowed between obscure and inconvenient times’ rules. At weekends, you can go from 8am-8pm. The hairdryer and GHD straighteners were a nice touch in the changing room.

Evenings are softened with popcorn cinema sessions (during our visit, it was Snail & the Whale, Finding Nemo, and Mary Poppins Returns), followed by milk and cookies, and the comforting glow of Yoto bedtime stories. Nightlights and baby monitors are readily available, too. It all adds up to the kind of thoughtful, unshowy brilliance that makes frazzled families appreciate.

During our visit (just the other side of Guy Fawkes), the hotel hosted its own back garden bonfire and fireworks display for guests, with hot chocolate and vin chaud to keep you toasty. Boom!

PILLOW TALK

Woolley Grange Hotel John Baskerville suite

Rooms at Woolley Grange come in a pleasing sweep of sizes and styles, from Cosy boltholes for couples to generous Suites designed for families who come with half the contents of their home in tow. When all the work is completed, there will be 30 rooms and suites to choose from, each one individually styled so no two stays feel the same.

We stayed in the John Baskerville Suite (suitable for 2 adults and up to 3 kids) – and this is one you’ll want to request by name when you book. It’s split-level and full of character, the kind of room that makes children immediately fling themselves into exploration mode. Downstairs has a cosy sitting room with a fireplace for hot chocolate/wine, check-in moments. Tucked under the staircase is a built-in bed that feels like a storybook hideaway – the sort of quirk children fall in love with instantly – plus there’s still room for a sofa to curl up in front of the telly.

Woolley Grange Hotel John Baskerville suite BATHROOM

Upstairs, the king-size bed looks out over the gardens. The bathroom is tucked under the eaves (consider this your ‘mind your head’ warning) and has been done in earthy, beautifully muted tones with an antique-style shower-over-bath that feels indulgent rather than old-fashioned. It’s heritage charm with a shot of boutique polish – the sweet spot Woolley does so well.

Painting of John Baskerville Woolley Grange

Windows etched with history (Baskerville himself scratched his name here in 1760), beams that have seen centuries of family life, genuinely cloud-soft beds, and bathrobes that encourage immediate evening relaxation. We slept like logs.

SCOFF & QUAFF

WOOLLEY GRANGE HOTEL WILTSHIRE THE RESTAURANT

This is where Woolley Grange proves that a kids-first hotel doesn’t mean grown-ups sacrifice flavour. The Orangery does a very sweet high tea at 5pm with kid-friendly cutlery and cheerfully unprecious vibes for smaller guests. Then once they’re tucked up (or upstairs on the baby monitor – yes, there’s a service), you move on to the candlelit grown-up dinner with a menu that means business. Seasonal ingredients, garden herbs, proper cooking, and flavour that’s memorable for the right reasons

Woolley Grange Hotel Jerusalem artichoke soup

The dining room is grown-up but not stuffy, so if you want to eat with your kids, you can – and the menu includes crowdpleasers and more adventurous options. We tucked into comfort food classics, starting with a Jerusalem artichoke soup and calamari with the lightest batter, followed by fishy mains – pan-fried sea trout, crushed potatoes and fennel for me, and fish and chips for the tween. The clean plates speak volumes, and ‘can we come again’ chat is the best recommendation you can get.

Breakfast is a relaxed affair in The Orangery, where you can graze your way through the self-service juices, cereals, and toast. The hot options are curated with a bit of nostalgic twist – full English, pancakes, every kinda egg, kippers, and strong coffee just the way you like it. I actually went for a Dippy egg and soldiers (sadly hard-boiled, so not a lot of dipping), but it set me up for the morning before an epic Sunday roast.

No weekend away is complete without a roast that you haven’t had to cook your kicked yourself. We kicked off with a beetroot-cured Gravlax before the main event – roast pork, with seasonal veg, crackling, apple sauce and chef wasn’t shy with the gravy. Epic.

I also loved that you can order a drink anywhere. There’s no bar, but find a member of staff and that large Picpoul de Pinet and vanilla milkshake magically appear from nowhere.

OUT & ABOUT

LONGLEAT FESTIVAL OF LIGHT WALLACE AND GROMIT

There’s relaxation on tap at Woolley Grange’s spa, with soothing Elemis treatments, a calm relaxation room, 12m indoor pool, and a heated outdoor pool for sunny dips. Book a babysitter, robe up, restore sanity.

A short stroll away, Bradford-on-Avon is all honey-stone prettiness – indie cafés, bookshops, and gentle Kennet & Avon Canal walks (pastries recommended). For a deeper culture fix, Bath is just 20 mins by car for boutiques, museums and the Bath Skyline Walk with dreamy views.

For family thrills, Longleat is a surefire hit – safari adventure, historic house, and the brilliant Festival of Light in winter (this year’s theme: Wallace & Gromit, running until 11 Jan 2026). Still time to explore? Try Lacock Abbey for atmospheric cloisters or Bowood House for knockout gardens and play spaces.

DOG-FRIENDLY?

Bring the pooch. For £25 a night, dogs get their own bed, bowl, ball and treats, plus an a la bark’ menu and even a canine afternoon tea (yes, really). After muddy romps, wash them off at the dog station before heading back inside.

ACCESSIBILITY

It’s a listed building, so stair-free access to rooms isn’t possible, but some bathrooms have walk-in showers. The spa has an accessible changing room and poolside facilities.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Families who want time together without sacrificing style.

NOT FOR: Hardcore minimalists. Children who must have an arcade + waterpark + laser tag on site.

THE DAMAGE: Rooms from around £195+, with breakfast. Good value given the included facilities and general parent sanity-salvage.

Woolley Grange, Woolley Green, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1TX

Review: Woolley Grange, Wilts – a hotel that loves your kids more than you do

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