Luxury Family Stay at the Moonfleet Manor
A converted Georgian manor with sweeping views of the Fleet Lagoon, Moonfleet Manor is an amazing family-friendly hotel with an expansive garden, indoor pools, and creche.
Last November my mom friend whose daughter is the same age as Lady Yeya, suggested we go on holiday together. “Where to?” I asked? “To the uber kid-friendly Moonfleet Manor in Dorset,” she replied. The entire hotel is designed with kids in mind with a creche, indoor kid pool, play area, and a baby listening service. Say no more. We immediately booked for June 2021.
On the Road to Dorset
After the long winter slog, summer finally arrived in London. We were ready for our Dorset getway to reunite with our now ex-Londoner friends. With our contactless rental car from Virtuo, we set off on our drive to Chesil Beach with a pitstop in Winchester. We took a longer route via Salisbury due to bumper-to-bumper traffic going through the New Forest. Despite the detour, we enjoyed the scenic route of the English countryside. Special thanks to Lady Yeya who napped in the car. At last after six hours on the road, we met up with our friends for lunch at the Crab House Cafe before checking into the Moonfleet Manor, our “home away from home.”
Deluxe Family Rooms at the Moonfleet Manor
Part of the Luxury Family Hotels collection, Moonfleet Manor is set on an idyllic corner along the South West Coast Path overlooking the Fleet Lagoon. With 36 rooms, the Moonfleet Manor has a range of rooms to choose from standard rooms to coach houses. My mom friend who now has two children (3 yo and 5 months old) opted for the two-bedroom family room (Maxmillian). Set on the top floor of the main house, this was the perfect set-up for their growing family where the parents and kids can have their own space with separate TVs. Decorated with modern furnishings, this room has a practical family bathroom with a bathtub and a separate standing shower.
We chose the deluxe family room (Mohume) which was more than spacious for our family of three, plus Buddy. There is a super king bed for the parents, a sitting area, and a massive bathroom featuring a roll-top freestanding bath. With gorgeous views of the garden and Fleet Lagoon, I suspect that the Mohume room was previously one of the master bedrooms before it was converted to a hotel. The interior decor consists of tall wooden wardrobes and an Asian-accent headboard, whilst the bathroom had classic black-and-white tiled floors. Lady Yeya loved her “big girl” Z-bed which was set-up nicely for her next to one of the windows.
Moonfleet Manor provides everything you need for a comfortable and hassle-free stay including bubble baths and kids’s shampoo, toilet seat covers, and a child step. It is also very dog-friendly as well. Upon arrival, Buddy received a welcome note along with some dog treats and a new fleece blanket. We loved this sun-filled room and felt completely relaxed at our “home away from home.”
The Den and Playground
Marketed as an upmarket family hotel, Moonfleet Manor did not disappoint. There is a large array of amenities catered towards young children to teenagers. Everything is designed with families in mind.
For younger children, there is a Ofsted-registered creche known as “The Den,” where you can drop your kids off for one 1.5 hour session each day of your stay. We made full use of the complimentary creche, so the parents could enjoy some adult time over some alfresco drinks. The Den organises daily craft activities ranging from making flamingos with tissue paper to a bead-studded snail. The girls loved their daily visits to the creche and us parents were thankful for 90 minutes of peace.
Additionally there is an outdoor playground with a large sandpit as well as an abundance of garden games from archery, croquet, jenga, and dominos. With the gorgeous weather, we enjoyed the fresh sea breeze in the garden whilst the girls ran wild around the property with other kids.
Family Fun at the Verandah and Indoor Pool
For older kids, Moonfleet Manor has a dedicated indoor playzone located in The Verandah. Here, there is something for everyone of all ages. There are two separate softplay areas for under 5s and under 12 months. For pre-teens and teenagers, there are plenty of arcade games, air hockey, pool tables, football pitch, climbing wall, skittle alley, and dinosaur-themed crazy golf. The Verandah has plenty of lounge areas and sofas where the entire family can chill out, which would be great for rainy days. Luckily for us, we had perfect weather during our stay at the Moonfleet Manor.
Moonfleet Manor also has an indoor pool area consisting of three heated pools ranging from various depths including a kids pool. Rain or shine, the pool is always a great place for some family fun. There’s also a cinema room inside the main house with feature films daily starting at 6:30pm. It’s perfect for the whole family. Other facilities include tennis courts, business lounge, and spa treatment rooms. The hotel also hosts a “cookie and milk” hour for the kids.
After the kids go to bed, which the hotel offers a complimentary baby-listening service, adults can relax on the terrace or one of the many lounge areas. Recently refurbished, the lounges are stylish and elegant for afternoon tea or a nightcap.
Restaurant & Terrace
Each morning, my family and I (with Buddy in tow) enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on the terrace. In addition to fresh fruit, mini pastries, juices, and yogurts, there was also an a-la- carte menu featuring cooked breakfast. Keeping to the seafood theme, each morning I ordered a different entree “from the sea” section: smoked salmon, kippers, or smoked haddock. Kenz went for the classic Full English. Lady Yeya ate her weight with smashed avocado on toast and apple juice, a special treat as we don’t drink juice at home.
We had lunch on the property when the hotel hosted a pop-up pizza tent set in the middle of the garden. The pizzas were a bit pricey: £16 for the Dorset Deli meat. But, it was easy, convenient, and a big hit with the kids.
We had dinner each evening at the property where we even managed two adults-only dinners. After an afternoon of fun-filled activities at the beach, the girls went to bed surprisingly easy. Over crisp white wine and cold drinks, we enjoyed dinner over adult conversations. It was lovely. The menu was mostly modern European with emphasis on steaks and a few fish dishes. The food was perfectly acceptable, if slightly under seasoned.
The children’s menu was slightly pricey, averaging around £9 per main. There is plenty to pick from on the children’s menu even for the most fussy eater ranging from a variety of pasta (meatball and tomato, pesto, macaroni and cheese); sliders; goujons; and chipolata sausages.
Home Away from Home
True to its philosophy “home away from home,” Moonfleet Manor has a relaxed, elegant, and friendly atmosphere. The hotel makes every effort to make your stay comfortable and hassle-free for the entire family. A lovely hotel set in the most beautiful spot of Dorset.
