The 49 best family-friendly hotels in Dorset (2025)

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I don’t give 5 star reviews lightly but this deserves it. We stayed in an estate room with a small garden. It had very welcoming neutral tones with tasteful furniture and accessories. As always the spa is great. I couldn’t fault the service but Lauren in reception stood out showing real energy, passion and care. She set the scene with her warmth and professionalism which was echoed during our stay. Corey in the bar strikes a perfect balance in welcoming guests.Looking forward to coming back soon.

I booked here for my girlfriend’s birthday.Staff are all very friendly and informative.The grounds are amazing. Brings the inner child out of you. Every detail of the estate is planned to the smallest detail. From apple trees to the berry bushes. For special occasions please check in with the reservations team. They made sure I had rose petals and balloons in the room on arrival as well as a personal card. Lots of other things you could also have but that’s all I wanted. They also made a vegan cake for my girlfriend’s birthday which I was also allowed to add 4 words on which was lovely.The spa was amazing and the main reason for booking. The massage was the best my girlfriend had ever had which was a massive relief. The spa can be used after check in so it makes it feel like you really had a spa getaway even if you went for 1 night only.Definitely will be back and I love this property. Magical place!

We had a great family time at Chewton Glen for our wedding anniversary. Everything was wonderful from warm service to food and spa. We dined at both The Kitchen and The Dining Room restaurants and enjoyed the meals. We particularly enjoyed the bar which has an interesting selection of cocktails. There were many attention to details in general which made our stay very special. We would definitely recommend this hotel and come back there again! Thank you.

This is a wonderful place to stay for a celebration. The hotel is situated in magnificent grounds yet still handy for the beach. The bedrooms were large and extremely comfortable and the food was excellent. All the staff were very friendly and couldn't do enough gor you.

Unreal weekend at Chewton Glen!From the moment we arrived, to the moment we left the service was 5 star. The room was incredible, so spacious and luxury. The grounds were beautiful and the outdoor pool was so nice. The spa was the only thing that let it down a bit, it was a little tired and dated but nevertheless, still relaxing. I had a massage by Emma and it was the best massage I’ve ever had, so nice and relaxing.The afternoon tea was lovely and the food was 10/10. We were sat in the conservatory section and it was uncomfortably hot, it’s a shame they didn’t open the windows/doors.Breakfast was so good, service was always outstanding.We also ate in James Martins restaurant, lovely chilled vibe with brilliant service and yummy food.We will be visiting again next year!

Came for an evening spa for my partners birthday. Really lovely spa and very friendly staff.Plenty of parking and easy checkin. Robes were provided and there was plenty of fresh towels throughout.Went on a Tuesday as it was my partners birthday. We basically had the place to ourselves. The outdoor hot-tub was fantastic in the cold.Lots of bubbles and fun things to try. The hot stones to relax on were amazing.We went £58 for an evening each. Well worth the money.

I came for the twilight spa evening. When I had the twilight spa evening previously I was a little disappointed in the treatment I received. However, this time I wanted to shout out Charlotte! I had the detox wrap and it was really fantastic. Charlotte was early, explained everything and left me to change. I had a seaweed mask applied and a wrap, then hair oil was applied. I then showered in the room while Charlotte tidied very efficiently. The treatment was finished by applying oil with a massage, including the face. Then Charlotte brought a sorbet to the bed to relax! It was really great, felt like ages and felt really luxury. On a Monday evening the spa was very quiet too. Thanks Charlotte!

We absolutely loved our stay at the Chewton Glen’s Treehouse! The secluded location, surrounded by trees and away from other guests, provided a true sense of privacy and tranquility. The house's design and finishes were exceptional and luxurious, reflecting the high attention to detail. The well-stocked pantry and fridge, along with the morning breakfast hamper, were thoughtful touches.The hotel grounds were beautiful, and the staff were generally polite and helpful. However, we had a pretty disappointing experience during our dinner at the main restaurant. The service felt rushed and impersonal, and the food was merely satisfactory.

We had a wonderful couple weekend away here. It’s like an old grandfather of a hotel, making you feel loved and rested! I wouldn’t bother with the restaurant which was over priced and had an odd atmosphere but the hotel was amazing and the location near the beach was a treat. The spa is wonderful. I really enjoyed the sauna and cold showers, the pool which was fabulous for lengths and the hydrotherapy pool.

Staying here at the moment in one of the treehouse suites. Having a great time, the treehouses are private, spacious rooms & outdoor area with loungers & hot tubs. Excellent concierge service. Food and drink amazing, all the staff we have come across are friendly, polite & professional. Don't really want to go home!

Excellent hotel!! Very warm, lovely and helpful staff. Lauren at reception was such a sweet and kind lady. And the manager, Paris was very helpful. Our suite was clean, comfy and very spacious. The selection of hot teas were so good. For a tea-loving person like me, I enjoyed the green teas and the other herbal teas. Beds were fantastic and comfy. The bathroom was spacious and immaculately clean. Our kids had a lovely night’s sleep too. And the grounds of the property were so gorgeous. I definitely recommend Chewton Glen. We will be back for sure!!

We had afternoon tea at this glorious establishment on Wednesday afternoon and as we have a 7 month old puppy we were going to have this outside, however, as the weather looked rather grim the staff setup a table for us inside instead. This was a fantastic start to our experience even before the tea had arrived!! As for the tea etc. it was simply scrumptious and the sandwiches and cakes were fantastic. The staff who looked after us were first class and if you have the opportunity to visit you’ll not be disappointed……

I have wanted to visit Chewton Glen for many years and it did not disappoint. The service was excellent. The spa was very relaxing and the treatments were wonderful. The food was first class in all the restaurants. The room was immaculate and clean. The team had thought of everything you may require for a relaxing break. Thank you so much and we look forward to visiting again soon.

Lovely location and the hotel overall is quite well presented. Good parking availability. For me, the overall experience was the substantial number of corporate events which are loud, and completely ruin what could be a very relaxing atmosphere. I also don’t feel the £800 room price is justifiable and the suites we were in were rather tired.

We booked the afternoon tea for my mum's birthday. From the moment we walked in we were treated like royalty. We started with a drink in the bar then got lead to the restaurant. The service was amazing. Your sandwichs get topped up and your not rushed so take your time and enjoy. We will be coming back here again

Mostly brilliant. My partner has been there on and off for 10 yrs. So, still 5* is: reception - excellent; staff remembering you, asking about you; portage - super, grounds - magnificent, the lawns, walks, croquet, poolside etc; outdoor staff - faultless; kids club - he loved it; room- wonderful; spa- beyond amazing. See below for the not brilliant.

Chewton Glen is a 5-Star hotel with an excellent professional staff. However, my wife and I were unsatisfied with our garden room. The room and bathroom were spotlessly clean, but small and outdated. We were there for 3 nights and a small closet and 4 very small drawers meant we had to live out of our suitcases. One more mention, the shower in our bathroom did not work the first day, but was quickly fixed when I complained. For the other two days, our shower was warm, but not nearly hot enough. This is not what makes a 5-Star establishment.

The perfect (luxurious !) short break.Staff could not have been friendlier, or more thoughtful. It made our stay wonderful. We'll definitely be back !Everything about the place showed care and arrention to detail. Their work allowed us maximum relaxation. And don't start me on the food !...all you could ask for, and in the perfect setting. Highly recommended.

Stayed in June of this year. Absolutely fantastic. We had a smaller room which was honestly plenty for the two of us. Lovely balcony overlooking the manicured lawns. Outdoor pool fantastic. Indoor pool fantastic. Restaurant fantastic. Croquet was fun. Went for my partners birthday. CG organised a lovely bottle of Champagne & stunning flowers on arrival. 15 minute walk to the beach. We will be back - just saving for the tree house so that we can take the little ones too!

I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the exceptional experience my father and I had at Chewton Glen Restaurant yesterday afternoon. It was the first time in six years that we had spent Father's Day together, and it was made all the more special by the surprise at the afternoon tea you helped arrange, going abov and beyond and then some!My father was truly surprised and delighted, and he thoroughly enjoyed his day. I am so grateful to you and the team for going above and beyond to make it a special occasion.Thank you again for everything, you truly live up to your reputation and my memory of being the place to go to!The food was amazing and the staff wonderful!

We just had a brilliant weekend here, the staff are friendly and welcoming, rooms and whole hotel clean and presented well and the hydrapools are Amazing. The only mark down on service being 4 stars was shell left on my poached egg and it was visible before I attempted to eat it, the eggs weren’t runny so disappointing and staff didn’t check why not or clear table before we left. Although I have to say rest of breakfast from buffet was great, there was no checking in to see if you wanted more tea or coffee and clearing plates from table was slow both days.We also didn’t have our room ready when we arrived and we had a refreshment in the bar and barman failed to open bottle and pour it!.If you have children and can afford to treat them to a stay there are a lot if not mostly families staying in the summer holidays here, so very kid friendly ….A stay was on the bucket list and a return stay is now on the bucket list, we will definitely return.

Superb grounds & gardens. Well kept with such beautiful flowers, and well manicured lawns.The Kitchen is well worth a visit, my travel companion and I ate there twice it was so good. Thank you Luke. The Spa (especially the Sound Bath treatment with Melissa) is also worth enjoying!The General Manager Clive is very welcoming and can be found rolling up his sleeves up (literally) to help out on occasion.He is very keen to make sure guests are happy, and really is a great host.Also shouting out to Maria, a lovely lady, Travis Paris & Christie. See you in the Autumn!

This historic English hotel is almost everything you’d want from a luxury retreat. The staff are very kind and attentive, the grounds are green and luscious. Great spa facilities and a lovely pitch and putt golf course. This hotel is let down by 2 things. Firstly the lack of a kids only pool (or an adults only) as the noise is quite loud. And mainly, the food at the dining room. Breakfast was worse than a premier inn!! To me the ingredients seemed to be of poor quality, and were not cooked to order, instead the ingredients (bacon etc) were sweating away in metal containers. This is not what you would expect, and GENUINELY means I will be hesitant in rebooking as for me, breakfast is one of the things I most look forward to when I’m away. The evening meal was just okay, and again I would hope it was just an off night however I get the feeling that it wasn’t. If the food was improved and there was a bit more love put into it, this place would be nearly unbeatable. With that said, the lunch we had at the kitchen restaurant was very nice. So 1 meal out of 3 was above the acceptable level.

Christchurch Rd, New Milton, BH25 6QS, United Kingdom•

•+44 1425 275341•