I took my baby to the UK spa which offers free childcare for tired parents

I have long thought that children have no place in ‘adult’ spaces like luxury spa hotels.

I vowed to never become one of those entitled parents who force their offspring onto others.

Then our little one arrived and, 10 months in, I have never craved a white fluffy robe and a French 75 more. Motherhood, as they say, is a humbling thing.

Still, I had reservations about how our particular bundle of joy would cope on the type of holiday we enjoyed BC (before child). First to roll, first to crawl, last to sleep, our inquisitive little livewire was recently described as ‘spirited’ by the leader of a local baby group. Expecting him to go unnoticed in an opulent country home seemed not only unrealistic, but also unfair. 

Then, we heard of Calcot.

Set within 220 acres of rewilded Cotswolds countryside, Calcot Manor, located four miles from Tetbury, prides itself on offering luxury spa breaks that go beyond the basic requisites of ‘family-friendly’.

Guests are encouraged to ‘hit the parental pause button’, with childcare included in your stay and a ‘baby-listening service’ available in the evenings, so the grown-ups can enjoy dinner while the little ones sleep, with staff keeping an ear out for any disturbances. 

‘Sign us up!’ we thought, as two tired parents in need of some TLC. But as our trip grew closer, anxiety crept in.

Would I feel comfortable trusting strangers to look after the most precious thing in my world? And more importantly, would the most precious thing in my world enjoy his first holiday, or simply feel abandoned while Mummy got a facial? 

First impressions

Those butterflies began to settle from the moment we checked in. Our room, one of the Generous Family Suites, was kitted out with everything parents could possibly need, including a comfy cot, steriliser, bottle warmer, changing mat and nappy bin, all easily accessible but neatly tucked away. 

Our two bedrooms, two bathrooms and spacious living area were subtly baby-proofed, with round-edge furniture perfect for a 10-month-old explorer, without compromising on style.

Added details like baby shampoo, bath toys and a fun door sign with my son’s name spelled out in magnets reassured me that he was welcome at Calcot, not seen as an inconvenience.

This theme extended across the site, with high chairs, baby cutlery, bibs and baby change all available in the communal areas, but so tastefully blended in, I’m not sure child-free guests would have noticed them. 

The childcare

The childcare at Calcot is a major selling point for parents seeking some down time. You get up to four hours per day included in your stay, with additional baby sitting available at £25 per hour.

We booked our baby into The Playbarn – the Ofsted-registered crèche – for two hours each day, not wanting to throw him in at the deep end (he’d not yet started nursery). 

The staff, who take babies from newborn, greeted us with smiles and were entirely unfazed when I handed over formula, nappies and a huge bag of snacks ‘just in case’. The purpose-built space has toys and crafts for little guests, while a separate area, The Mez, has PlayStations, Wii consoles, Xboxes, computers and a 12-seater cinema for kids aged 8 and over.  

Itching to play, my son broke into a smile and charged full speed towards a child of a similar age without looking back. There was nothing left to do but go and enjoy ourselves.

Adult-only spaces

The spa has a spacious pool, sauna, steam room, treatment rooms and relaxation rooms, each tastefully decorated with timeless, tranquil interiors. The outdoor hot tub, where staff will deliver a drink of your choice – from Champagne to Apple Cider Vinegar shot – is the star of the show. But do expect a steady rotation of guests taking their turn in the bubbles.

For deeper relaxation, book a treatment performed by one of the skilled therapists. I emerged from my Back Massage and Facial (£125 for 55 minutes) in a blissed-out haze, tight shoulders loosened, tired skin a smidgen more awake. 

Although the spa is adults-only for the majority of the day, there are two 45-minute family swim sessions available to book each afternoon, which our little one loved. From May to mid September there’s also a separate outdoor pool, open to kiddies from 8am to 8pm. 

The second adults-only area is the Grain Store, a newly refurbished fitness sanctuary with the latest gym equipment, plus a packed timetable with classes including strength and conditioning, spin, HIT, barre and ‘calorie blast’, at a cost of £10 per class for hotel guests.

The holistic studio was more my speed, with the evening yoga nidra class, taught by the lovely Jinny, a highlight. As the sun set on a glorious spring day, we stretched limbs, breathed deeply, and were invited to welcome the season, embracing ‘new beginnings’ as we emerged from winter, ourselves letting go of old worries, old coats, that no longer served us.

It felt serendipitous, considering I was taking this trip during my final week of maternity leave and would soon be taking on the new identity of ‘working parent’.

Food and drink

Calcot has two restaurants – The Hive and The Brasserie. The former, a stylish café lounge, offers sandwiches, salads and grazing boards throughout the day, transforming into a cocktail bar by night. Light bites start at £10 for soup, while flatbreads are from £15. It also serves children’s dinner from 5pm to 6pm, although younger guests are welcome to join parents for a meal later in the evening if they choose. 

We were really impressed by how the staff accommodated our little one, asking if we’d like his sandwich brought out before ours so we could start the lengthy feeding process (yes!).

Crudités were also laid out buffet-style at dinner, giving impatient kids something to nibble on while the chef whipped up sausages, tomato pasta and pizza at break-neck speed. The set meal time for kids is a great idea, allowing child-free guests to avoid the noise and enabling us to fully encourage our boy’s excitable babbling, without worrying about disturbing others.

Dinner at The Brasserie was, suitably, a more formal, quiet and leisurely affair. 

We decided to take up the baby listening service (something I was in two minds about in advance), reasoning that our room really was only thirty seconds from the restaurant, and our boy was likely to sleep through after such an exciting day. A monitor in the room notifies reception if your child makes a sound, and a member of staff will come and notify you. Like other parents in the dining room, we also borrowed a video monitor from reception (available by request), for added reassurance. Calcot’s ‘home from home’ atmosphere meant I soon relaxed into it.

The food was exceptional, with our mains on the first night – lemon sole for him, venison for me – both knockouts. Those with a sweet tooth will want to order the pecan choux bun for pudding. Starters start at £12, while mains are from £24, and all desserts cost £5. And if you’re looking for a digestif, the Perfect Pear (similar to a French 75 cocktail, with a surprise hit of pepper), was so good we ordered it twice. 

Breakfast is also served in The Brasserie, with a well-stocked buffet alongside an à la carte menu. Unsurprisingly, our baby inhaled his first ever pancakes. 

Breakfast for adults and children is included in the cost of your stay, as is kids’ dinners if you stay midweek. Lunch and adults’ evening meals is at an extra charge.

The perfect balance  

We needn’t have worried how our baby would fit in on a luxury holiday. Calcot Manor manages to be family-friendly while simultaneously feeling entirely grown-up. Far from feeling like we’d abandoned him at the crèche, our short baby-free hours left us rejuvenated for some action-packed family time.

It’s hard to convey in an article how much we laughed – on family walks, splashing in the pool, playing in the room and trying new, exciting food at every meal. The staff made a real fuss over him, as did the other guests – he was going through a real ‘waving phase’ that week, and almost everyone enthusiastically obliged! There were plenty of other families too, and thanks to the creative timetables, we didn’t feel like we were encroaching on a haven for the child-free.

The true surprise, perhaps, was that the calm atmosphere seemed to rub off on our lively boy, who simply smiled in wonder at this strange, delightful turn of events.

Family-friendly doesn’t have to mean kiddie discos, soft play and beige food. Those holidays have their place (and I’m sure we’ll experience our fair share of them too). But while we’re in the phase where every environment is new and exciting, I know where I’d rather be. 

Rachel Moss was a guest of Calcot Manor and Spa, where prices start at £344 per night, including full spa access.

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