Something & Somewhere for Everyone
For a successful family break, you need group accommodation that has something for everyone, young and old. You need to stay for less than a week but more than a weekend, and you need to find local days out to keep everyone busy and wear them out! You also need somewhere for everyone to sleep, eat, sit and relax and somewhere that has oodles of outside space…where to start…
Agree a Date
First of all, agree on a date, a mid-week break allows you to take advantage of mid-week prices, which can be high during the peak July and August summer months but there are deals to be found if you look carefully. Long weekends in the UK are a good choice as your guests can work hard during the week but with a short journey or train ride can be away for a four-day break and only need to take two days off work.
Next, pick one person to do the research. It’s easier if one person is in charge, you can find a place, check it ticks the boxes for all the above and simply include a link to the website, then send a message to say ‘Hi everyone, I’ve found the perfect place for us all to stay for a long weekend, it’s available on these dates and has plenty for us all to do. Have a look at the website and let me know if you are in!’
https://thefarmhouse.polehanger.co.uk
So, as you can see I’ve taken the hard work out and have found you the ideal place already. The Farmhouse at Polehanger, located in a secluded corner of Bedfordshire, is ideal for groups and allows dogs. It is within easy reach of an English Heritage site at Wrest Park, a beautiful pick your own lavender farm at Hitchin Lavender, a choice of coffee shops and cafés in nearby Hitchin, has ample room to hang out, is surrounded by beautiful and lush green fields perfect for a family walk after dinner, and has its own Polehanger River Woodland walk on its doorstep to keep the younger ones entertained while the adults do the washing up – but if you need more convincing, read on!
Luxury Group Accommodation - Somewhere to Sleep
With its beautifully decorated six double bedrooms, spread across the contemporary furnished 18th century farmhouse building and attached cottage, plus the option to book one or more of its four luxury glamping cabins in the meadows of the farm, the Farmhouse at Polehanger, is a great example of group accommodation that works well and enables three generations of a family to stay in one place.
The luxury cabins at this location sleep between four and six, depending whether you require bunk beds for the children (or adults as are full sized single beds) or would prefer a free-standing roll top bath instead. Three of the cabins at the Meadows at Polehanger also have an outside wood-fired hot tub for an added bit of luxury or an evening dip under the stars after lights out.
Think About Where you will eat
Of course, the ideal accommodation for a large group should have a family-sized kitchen to gather around for morning coffee and toast plus space to create a stunning sit-down feast once back from a long day out – to be enjoyed in a vast dining room with high ceilings and grandeur should you be celebrating a special occasion and with a table that extends to seat at least twelve, such as the one we have here at the Farmhouse at Polehanger.
Should the weather be kind this summer you can get everyone involved in preparations for a delectable warm weather BBQ on the patio followed by long evenings of croquet on the lawn or a three generational game of tennis, if you are lucky enough to find group accommodation with gardens and a tennis court that is!
Space to Relax or to Escape
Even though we all love our families it is important to ensure there is room for everyone to break into smaller groups or wander off to do their own thing.
The ideal group accommodation will have a main living area, a snug or additional lounge for children to play or for teens to gather, a large kitchen and outside space galore to be explored.
Woodlands and local walks on your doorstep make for an easy distraction for young children and a landscaped garden and patio area gives quiet time outside on a sunny day for all ages.
So, take time to do your research, the more boxes you can tick the more likely everyone will agree first time and you can get your break booked before you lose those dates – to be honest if you’ve done the leg work, checked there is something for everyone and included a link to a website with images to help set the scene, it will be hard for your guests to say no!
I hope this has been useful for helping you plan your perfect multi-generational family break – we do look forward to welcoming you to the Farmhouse at Polehanger, in case you are still wondering where to book!