Suffolk The Ickworth Hotel: A Weekend October family break

by Take the Family
28 October 2007

The Ickworth Hotel and Dower House Apartments, Suffolk

“I loved it!” exclaimed our middle son. “When are we going back?” asked our eight year old. And our eighteen month old surely felt the same way.

We really enjoyed our October weekend break at the Ickworth too, as do most parents. Some return every school holiday. Yet when your family spends a weekend here you will also leave a grand lighter. So is it really worth it?

The Ickworth Hotel is near Bury St. Edmunds and opened in 2002. Just a two hour drive or train ride from London, it’s the flagship Luxury Family Hotel (there are four others in the chain – Fowey Hall in Cornwall, Moonfleet Manor in Dorset, Woolley Grange in Wiltshire and The Elms in Worcestershire). It occupies a wing of a beautiful late Georgian mansion, now owned by the National Trust,  and surrounded by 1800 acres of beautiful Suffolk countryside. There are a twenty seven family friendly bedrooms and a further eleven apartments in the grounds.

The General Manager, Peter Lord, puts the Ickworth’s success down to “informal hospitality without compromise”.  In other words nothing is too much trouble for his team and we certainly found that to be the case.
Unlike most British hotels the Ickworth really does put the family first. Wellington boots and bikes are provided with no extra charge in all sizes, as are bath robes and swim wings. Kids get their own dinner time and menu. Adults can choose to dine with or without their kids (the posh restaurant becomes a kid free zone in the evening). There’s a lovely indoor pool, fully supervised OFSTED regulated crèche for under sevens and a games room and spa. Outside there are beautiful walks, cycle tracks, gardens and playgrounds. You can spend as much time with your kids as you like or as little, although there is no supervision for the over sevens.

If you do choose to visit the Ickworth don’t compare it with similarly priced five star hotels, as many of those offer an even higher standard of accommodation. Some of them also provide slicker and more faultless service. Be prepared to set out early or late if you want exactly the right sized bikes for the family. Expect the dinner atmosphere to be less than lively as you are surrounded by other exhausted couples. And don’t look closely at the number on the final bill.

But all that considered Ickworth provides a treat-filled, luxurious and liberating weekend in a beautiful setting that the whole family will love.  Heartily recommended for over-tired parents in need of gentle relaxation and satisfied children.

Useful information about Suffolk:

Take the Family stayed at the The Ickworth Hotel and Dower House Apartments, Suffolk.

See Take the Family's Suffolk destination guide.

Other feature articles by Take the Family