Moonfleet Manor

By far one of the finest family hotels in the south of England, Moonfleet Manor enjoys a spectacular location right on the Fleet Lagoon, west of Weymouth on the Dorset coast. It’s worth coming here for the location alone – there’s direct access to the glorious coastal path, which hugs the lagoon, and beautiful views out to sea on clear days.

But beyond its perfect positioning on the coast, there’s lots to love about Moonfleet. The Georgian manor house formerly belonged to the Mohune family, who were made famous by J. Meade Falkner’s tale of smuggling in his novel, Moonfleet. The story was fiction, of course, but the family and their home was real, although the property has seen some renovation and extension since then. Beyond its various bedrooms in the main house – all tastefully decorated and some sleeping up to six people – there’s also now a spa, a huge games room for the kids, and even a crèche (free for two hours a day) for the little ones. Afternoons can be spent playing indoor football, air hockey or even bouncing on trampolines should the weather not be on your side, or you can swim in one of the three heated indoor pools. There’s an escape room suitable for all the family, tennis courts and lessons available, and a soft play area and outdoor sandpit for your youngest members.

Dogs aren’t allowed in the games room but are welcome on leads in the lounge areas and outdoor spaces. The 11-year-old house dog, working cocker Snoopy, roams free throughout and will happily share his water bowls. The restaurant, overlooking Chesil Beach, serves excellent food, which children can either eat with their parents or at a separate late-afternoon high tea.