Amie O’Shaughnessy is the Founder and Managing Editor of Ciao Bambino, an award-winning global family travel resource featuring trusted hotel recommendations, extensive destination-related insight, and tips for traveling with kids all ages from babies to teens.

 I asked Jeffrey Epstein for his advice on a family-friendly weekend getaway from the Best Loved Hotels portfolio that would be appropriate and fun for a multi-generational group including our 8-year-old son. Given our limited time for this holiday — just 72 hours — we also needed something that was no more than a 2–hour drive from Heathrow. The Best Loved team booked us at Bowood Hotel in Wiltshire. The property is situated in the vast 2,000-acre parkland of the historic Bowood Estate, home to the prestigious Landsdowne family who has lived here for centuries.

Jeffrey chose wisely. We loved our experience and every one of us, from 8 to 73-years-old, felt wonderfully at home and relaxed at this luxury hotel.

The main hotel is new construction (opened in 2009). For a hotel has only 43 guest rooms, the public spaces are quite grand. The decor is fresh and modern, yet very inviting with rich fabrics and colors at every turn. A big part of what makes this hotel work so well for families is that the atmosphere is upscale but not fussy. We sat in their cozy library each evening sipping tea and wine. The beauty is that the main lounge areas open up to an enormous green space where children can run around while parents get “me” and “us” time.

The Shelburne Restaurant offers fine dining and the Clubhouse Brasserie is casual. Given the inclusion of our 8-year-old, we opted for the Brasserie offering an excellent selection of fish, locally-sourced meat, and vegetarian dishes. They offer a children’s menu too with plenty of options for picky eaters. The food quality here is outstanding. I’m still dreaming about the tender steak I cooked myself on a hot stone with zippy peppercorn sauce.

We made sure to leave time each day for a visit to Bowood’s state-of-the-art spa and fitness center. A glorious indoor pool is enclosed in a light and airy room with wonderful views of the golf course and surrounding parkland.

Without a doubt the big attraction at Bowood for families is the Adventure Playground. The playground is a very popular Wiltshire area activity for ages 12 and under. With good reason, this is one of the best playgrounds I’ve ever seen with aerial walkways, trampolines, a massive pirate ship, and a network of truly steep slides. Families staying at the Bowood Hotel have unlimited free entry to the playground, as well as Bowood main house and gardens.  It is a 5-minute drive from the hotel (via golf cart or car).

 Rejuvenating getaway mission accomplished!

Photos courtesy of Ciao Bambino and Bowood Hotel.  We received one-night complimentary accommodations from Bowood Hotel. The other nights, as well as food and services, were paid for by Amie O’Shaughnessy. We were not asked to present any particular point of view in our editorial follow up.

For more about Bowood House, including special offers, click here