Calcot & Spa Review: A Luxury Family Stay in the Cotswolds
Finding a family hotel that genuinely works for the children while still feeling like somewhere you’d choose to stay without them isn’t always easy. Calcot manages that balance particularly well.
Set in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside near Tetbury, Calcot & Spa combines gorgeous interiors, plenty of space for children and some seriously good family facilities – including up to four hours of childcare per child, per day.
This was our second visit to Calcot. We first stayed when our daughters were four and two, and returned this time as a family of five, with children aged seven, five and two.
And it worked just as well second time around.
Calcot & Spa at a Glance
Location: Near Tetbury, Cotswolds
Best for: Babies, toddlers and primary school aged children; luxury family staycations; Cotswolds weekends
Journey from London: Around 2.5 hours by car
We stayed in: Bowood, a Generous Family Suite
Children's ages: 7, 5 and 2
Overall family rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Would we return? Absolutely.
First Impressions
Calcot is a beautiful country house hotel surrounded by greenery and open countryside. It's the sort of setting that immediately makes you feel as though you've escaped London, despite being an easy enough drive for a weekend away.
The interiors are gorgeous, the grounds feel wonderfully rural and the whole hotel has a relaxed, homely feel.
Most importantly, children are genuinely welcome.
Rather than feeling like a grown-up hotel that happens to accommodate families, you get the sense that family life has been considered throughout – but without compromising on the things that make staying in a lovely hotel feel special for the adults.
There are also lots of little touches for children. In our suite there was a Toniebox, little bathrobes and bath toys, and throughout our stay there were thoughtful details that made travelling with three young children feel refreshingly easy.
The Location
Calcot is located in the Cotswolds countryside, close to the picturesque town of Tetbury.
We drove from London and the journey took us around two and a half hours, making it very doable for a weekend escape.
There's plenty to do without leaving the hotel. The grounds are lovely for walks, there's a children's playground with swings and slides, and complimentary bikes are available, including trailers and helmets for families wanting to explore.
Our Room: Bowood Generous Family Suite
Our suite was one of the highlights of our stay.
We stayed in Bowood, one of Calcot's Generous Family Suites. These usually accommodate two adults and two children, with a king-size bed and two mini beds, while selected suites can also accommodate a third child with a cot or additional rollaway bed.
Bertie, who was two at the time of our stay, slept in a cot.
The layout was brilliant for us as a family of five. Harry and I had our own bedroom, while the children had a separate bedroom and their own bathroom. We also had a separate lounge area, which made a huge difference once the children were asleep – we could put them to bed and still have somewhere comfortable to sit rather than everyone having to go to bed at the same time.
Our bathroom had a fabulous bath and separate shower, while the children's room had its own en-suite. There was plenty of space and, importantly when travelling with three children, it all felt very practical rather than cramped.
Calcot is also particularly well equipped for babies and toddlers. Family rooms and suites come with useful essentials including a steriliser, bottle warmer, changing mat, cot, nappy bin, bath toys and children's toiletries.
Parents can also request additional equipment including a baby bath, Next-to-Me crib, bouncer, potty, bed guards, microwave, highchair and baby monitor.
It's the sort of attention to detail that means you don't have to bring half the contents of your house with you.
Food & Restaurants
Dining at Calcot felt incredibly easy with children.
We ate together in The Brasserie at around 6.45pm. It has a lovely atmosphere and still feels like somewhere adults can enjoy a good dinner, but we never felt remotely self-conscious about arriving with three children.
The children's menu had plenty of choice, including familiar options such as burgers and pasta, while thoughtful details like colouring, children's cutlery and a bib for our youngest made life easier.
For younger children, Calcot Kids' Tea is served every afternoon in The Hive from 5pm–6pm and is included in children's stays, with no need to book.
Alternatively, if the children eat later with their parents in The Brasserie, they receive an allowance towards their food.
Breakfast was a combination of buffet and à la carte. There were pastries, cereals and fruit to help yourself to, alongside cooked dishes from the menu. The children chose pancakes while I had eggs and avocado.
We also enjoyed afternoon tea during our stay, and room service is available.
The Playbarn
For us, the Playbarn is one of Calcot's biggest selling points.
Each child receives up to four hours per day at Calcot's Ofsted-registered Playbarn and The Mez as part of their stay.
There are two daily sessions – 9am–1pm and 1.30pm–5.30pm – and booking ahead is recommended.
All three of our children went, aged seven, five and two, and most importantly, they genuinely wanted to go.
The staff were really friendly and there was plenty to keep them entertained, from play and crafts for younger children to facilities for older children, including gaming and a private cinema.
Four hours also feels like a genuinely useful amount of time. We chose the morning session, which gave us enough time to head to the spa and properly relax before collecting the children and having lunch together.
Having first visited Calcot when our daughters were four and two, I was interested to see whether it would work as well now that they're seven and five and we also have a two-year-old.
It absolutely did.
Swimming & Spa
Children can use Calcot's indoor pool during designated family swimming sessions, which are bookable in advance.
Family swims take place at 3.45pm and 4.30pm every day, with additional 8.45am and 9.30am sessions on Saturdays and Sundays. Outside these times, the spa is reserved for guests aged 14 and over.
We booked our swimming session before arriving and found the system worked really well. It still meant the spa retained a lovely, relaxing atmosphere while families had dedicated opportunities to enjoy the pool together.
During the summer months, there's also a heated outdoor pool, open from May to October, where children can swim throughout the day with adult supervision.
While the children were in the Playbarn, I booked myself in for a facial, which was amazing. Being able to leave all three children somewhere they were genuinely happy and head to the spa meant I could properly switch off and enjoy it.
For parents, I think that's one of the real benefits of Calcot. The childcare isn't simply there so you can say it's available – four hours gives you enough time to actually do something with it.
Baby & Toddler Friendliness
This is an area where Calcot really excels.
Travelling with babies and toddlers can involve bringing an extraordinary amount of equipment, so having so much provided by the hotel makes a genuine difference.
Alongside the equipment already provided in family rooms, parents can request everything from a baby bath and bouncer to a Next-to-Me crib, highchair and video monitor.
There's also the early Kids' Tea, dedicated family swimming, the Playbarn and plenty of space outside for younger children.
Babysitting can be arranged with at least 48 hours' notice for an additional charge. Sitters are DBS checked, and many are nannies from the Playbarn.
What Parents Should Know Before Booking
My biggest tip would be to organise the things that matter to you before you arrive.
We pre-booked our Playbarn session, family swimming, spa treatments and dinner. Calcot actively encourages guests to do this and we found the process very easy, but I wouldn't leave it until you arrive if you have particular times in mind.
It's also worth understanding that Calcot is very much a family hotel.
That's one of the reasons we love it, but it does mean I wouldn't necessarily choose it if the main purpose of your stay is to arrange a babysitter and have a romantic date night.
There isn't a dedicated adults-only bar or lounge for the evening, so although you can arrange babysitting, you're still very much within the atmosphere of a family hotel.
And finally, Calcot is a considered purchase. It's at the more expensive end of the family staycation market, so this isn't necessarily a spontaneous cheap weekend away.
For us, however, the quality of the accommodation, beautiful setting and particularly the four hours of Playbarn childcare included each day add considerable value to the experience.
What We Loved Most
The Playbarn: Four hours of included childcare per child is a huge benefit. The children loved going, while it gave us enough time to genuinely enjoy the spa and have some downtime.
Our suite: Bowood worked brilliantly for a family of five. Separate sleeping spaces, two bathrooms and a lounge meant we didn't have to compromise our evening because the children were in bed.
The setting: Beautiful Cotswolds countryside, gorgeous interiors and plenty of outdoor space make Calcot feel like a proper escape.
Anything We Didn't Love?
There was very little we didn't enjoy.
If I had to pick something, Calcot is somewhere I'd choose primarily for a brilliant family weekend rather than a romantic break.
There are some great opportunities for parents to have time to themselves during the day – particularly thanks to the Playbarn and spa – but there isn't a separate adults-only evening space if you do arrange a babysitter for a date night.
It's also a premium stay, so the price will understandably be a consideration for families.
Final Verdict: Is Calcot Worth It for Families?
For us, yes.
We've now stayed at Calcot at two very different stages of family life – first with daughters aged four and two, and now with children aged seven, five and two – and it worked brilliantly on both occasions.
What Calcot does particularly well is make children feel genuinely welcome without sacrificing the things parents want from a lovely hotel.
The interiors are beautiful, the food feels grown-up, the Cotswolds setting is gorgeous and the family accommodation has clearly been designed with the practical realities of travelling with children in mind.
But the standout for us is the Playbarn. Having up to four hours per child, per day included gives parents the opportunity to enjoy the spa, book a treatment or simply have some proper downtime, while the children are somewhere they genuinely enjoy being.
If you're looking for a luxury family hotel in the Cotswolds that genuinely caters for both children and parents, Calcot is a brilliant option – particularly for families with babies, toddlers and primary-school-aged children.
Tinies & Co stayed as a guest of Calcot & Spa on this occasion. We had previously visited independently and paid for our first stay. As always, all opinions are our own.
