So the New Year’s festivities are over. It’s the start of another year … 2016 is well and truly upon us. Already, some of those good intention resolutions might’ve gone by the wayside and possibly left you a tad flat. Perhaps you’re even longing for the next holiday to roll around already?

If any or all of this is true, you should enjoy this blog post, which focuses on the best family holiday ideas in the UK. Many of these places offer babysitting or crèche services to keep your little ones occupied, a plethora of family activities and all the facilities you need to look after your kids, no matter what age they are.

Self-contained cottages

Kids feed the pony at North Bradbury cottage in the UK (Picture courtesy of Away with the Kids)

A self-contained cottage is a great getaway solution, especially for a short-term stay like a long weekend. There are diverse options; some offer animals on-site – a sure-fire hit with kiddies – while others offer fantastic play areas, baby equipment, swimming pools and much more.

Whichever options (and price) you choose, cottages are undoubtedly a great way for the kids to run around, explore the vast surroundings, go barefoot and roll around in the grass. Premier Cottages specialises in UK family-friendly holiday cottages.

Country hotels

Stoke Park features a 27-hole golf course as one of its luxury amenities (Picture courtesy of Conde Nast)

These range from quaint B&B-like hotels to 300 acre, Downton Abbey-style manors. As with the cottages, you can choose a hotel that caters to your personal preferences. Want a hotel with an archery range? Sure thing. Fancy some on-site quad-biking while the kids engage in some face painting? No worries!

For the luxury treatment, it’s hard to go past Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire where your kids will find rubber ducks in the bathtub, mini dressing gowns in the closet, an adventure playground, cinema, junior golf, special splash times in the pool, and much more. There are many similar alternatives, which you can find in this handy Conde Nast article.

Camping (and glamping)

Camping and Glamping is such a great way for your kids to engage with other children, in a setting designed for character-building fun. The UK is renowned for a great array of campsites, combining world-class facilities with the natural, outdoorsy fun you and your cherubs will love.

In this hyperactive age of technology, it’s important to stop and appreciate the power of nature on occasion. It’s hard to argue with the claims and mounting evidence that say exposure to the environment improves health and wellbeing. But paradoxically, this is becoming harder and harder to find. So get out there, immerse yourself in nature and feel better as a result.

Family-friendly festivals

For a more vibrant, colourful experience, it’s hard to beat a family-friendly music festival, which allows you to combine camping with a heap of culture and a hive of activity.

The mecca of festivals, Glastonbury offers awesome activities for kids along with family campsites, so you can escape the late night hedonism. The dedicated ‘Kidz Field’ is a magical place where kids are entertained by magicians, face painters, animals and much more. Stephen Hawking even stopped by for a guest appearance last year.

Other family-friendly festivals include but are not limited to Blissfields (Hampshire), Shambala (Northants – the exact location is secret until they contact you) and Lakefest (Gloucester).

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Be sure to check out our family-friendly holiday ideas in Australia and don’t forget to stock up on comfortable, quality, supportive kids shoes right here at Bobux before you head on your next getaway.

And of course, enjoy your next holiday!