21 best family-friendly hotels in the UK, handpicked by our editors

Best for: animal lovers

You’d be forgiven for believing you’d been transported to the savannah after just 24 hours at Port Lympne wildlife and safari park in Kent. Spanning 600 acres of rolling English countryside, it’s primarily a breeding sanctuary for rare and endangered species, and (within reason) the animals roam freely across the plains. After a night in our treehouse, we spot rhino and zebra as the sun comes up, and can’t quite comprehend just how untouched and peaceful the land is – all just an hour and a half’s drive from our home in zone 6. Port Lympne’s goal is to return the animals it breeds to their natural habitat, and so far, it’s proven a success. Clouded leopards, Brazza monkeys, gorillas and wild cats are just some of those the Reserve has helped to preserve and reintroduce to the wild.

Perhaps it goes without saying, but this is the kind of staycation that children will remember forever. There are adults-only groups, as well as couples checking in, but it’s primarily families we encounter on our travels. Our treehouse has two bedrooms and comes equipped with the requested cots, but the bonus is the kitchenette and the option to self-cater. Despite the on-site restaurants (there are two, and the Garden Room is particularly lovely), most day and overnight guests seem to bring picnics and plot up at one of the benches around the park, of which there are many. Included in the room is a buggy, which is great fun for all, and means we can zip around with ease, reaching enclosures much more quickly than we would pushing two strollers on foot.

The best part about the overnight stay for me (aside from the aforementioned morning views) was the ability to enjoy the animals before anyone else arrived, and take our time in the knowledge that we had two full days here. Those precious hours post breakfast were when we got the best look at the brown bears and tigers, and we even got to watch the lions being fed without so much as an ‘excuse me’ to get a better view. The real highlight, though, was the giraffe safari. A semi-private tour and a chance to feed these beautiful, majestic creatures were something I’ll never forget. Sarah Leigh Bannerman

Address: Aldington Rd, Lympne, Hythe CT21 4LR