During the infamous Cheltenham Festival, you’d be hard-pressed to get a reservation at Ellenborough Park hotel – so booked up in advance are their luxurious rooms for the special racing event. But it’s not just the hotel’s five-star status and excellent amenities that are the big draw. It’s Ellenborough’s strategic position at the top of the hill looking down to the racecourse –as well as their own private track that leads straight there – that allows guests unfettered access.
An overnight stay at Ellenborough Park hotel
But what about the rest of the time? And is this only five-star hotel in the county of Gloucestershire good for families? After our overnight stay at Ellenborough Park hotel’s superior family rooms, our verdict is a resounding yes.
This wasn’t the first time I had driven up to the impressive historic stone-bricked manor. After enjoying a delightful afternoon tea at Ellenborough Park during a weekend in Cheltenham at Christmas last year, I was looking forward to returning to the grounds and discovering what it would be like to be an overnight guest with the family in tow.
History of Ellenborough Park
As soon as you step into the main entrance, you can’t help but notice the intricate details of the original door that is said to have been there since the 14th century – or the great oak beams, stone fireplaces, artwork and stain-glassed windows of the Great Hall.
Ellenborough Park hotel has history seeping through its very walls. From its modest beginnings as a farmhouse in 1485, to its grand and aristocratic transformation during its time as the estate for the 1st Earl of Ellenborough and former Governor-General of India, to that of a girls’ school in the 1940s, the hotel has fascinating nooks to discover as well as some glorious 90 acres of land to explore.
Our spacious family room
After a warm welcome and a quick check-in at the main desk, we were shown to our family room in the modern part of the hotel estate. With a total of 61 rooms, the hotel isn’t so large that it is overwhelming. In fact, it’s a perfect size if you have young children with easy access to all the amenities including the spa [for adults] and the outdoor heated swimming pool.
Our home for the night was in 56 – classed as a luxury family room these can be found in the mews section of the hotel. A private hallway leads into a huge room and the centrepiece of a four-poster bed. It even had its own seating area and plenty of space for two single beds to be made up for the boys.
What I particularly liked was the impressive bathroom with its roll-top bath, his-and-her sinks as well as private cubicles of the toilet and the shower. I enjoyed drawing myself a huge bubble bath using the heavenly smelling complimentary Noble Isle toiletries while the rest of the family chilled out in the comfortable surroundings. Monkey even made me a coffee with the Nespresso machine and brought it in for me while I was soaking in the tub. [Yes, I have trained him well].
If you have a furry member of the family – Ellenborough Park also welcomes dogs with several dog-friendly rooms.
Hotel amenities
Although we didn’t get to use the spa – by all accounts it’s the perfect place to unwind – with a vast menu of pampering spa treatments as well as a steam room and sauna. The reason we didn’t get to go was that we were getting out splashy thrills from the outdoor heated swimming pool. The kids adored it and it was tough getting them to leave.
You might be wondering how we even managed to brave the cold March air – but once in the pool, it was lovely and warm – heated to a balmy 40c. It was just a chilly two-minute stroll back to the room in our bathrobe and slippers. And the great thing – the pool is heated all year round, and open to all guests whatever the weather. There are also no restrictions on what time you can swim with the children – and at one point, we were the only ones in it. There are also plenty of fluffy white towels on hand to use.
Dining options
There are several dining options in the hotel – including sumptuous afternoon teas and room service. The Horse Box brassiere and bar offers up laidback and comfortable dining. while The Restaurant is situated in the historic part of the house with old beams and traditional interiors.
We had the pleasure of eating dinner here, and we loved the extensive choice of dishes – a mix of fine pub dining and British classics. I opted for fish and chips, while my husband had the wagyu beef burger. The children felt extremely grown-up when they were presented with a three-course menu, too – and I felt this was a lovely touch. Both enjoyed their melted cheese on sourdough bread, main meals of spaghetti bolognese and ice cream. The service was attentive, the atmosphere was informal and relaxed and not at all stuffy. And it was nice to see other families with young children in the dining room, too.
Breakfast the following day offered a choice from a continental buffet, fruits, meats and cheeses, cereals and freshly baked bread. If that’s not enough, then there’s also made-to-order cooked breakfasts – from a Cotswold full English to eggs benedict and smoked salmon. I’ll be honest – I was still full from dinner, I couldn’t really manage much to eat. However, the boys tucked into all the sweet pastries and cakes – much to their utter delight.
During the summer, the South Lawn is open to guests for alfresco dining in the outdoor dining carriages, while Taittinger is served on the Cedar Pavilion.
Family activities
The location of Ellenborough in Cheltenham means that it is perfect to explore the Cotswolds and all its attractions including nearby Sudeley Castle and the Cotswolds Farm Park. So it’s a great base if you’re looking to discover more of the area.
If you just want to chill out in the hotel and enjoy some games, the boys were quick to discover the giant chest full of board games in The Great Hall. It was lovely after dinner to sit by the roaring fire and play Pop up Pirate and Scrabble.
The following morning, we wanted to stay close to the hotel and decided to borrow the hotel’s Durburry boots and wellies from the Boot Room and go on their brilliant Treasure and Scavenger Hunt. Using their guide, it’s a fun activity in order to explore the hotel’s hidden gems and history with quiz questions and photo opportunities.
We even walked all the way to Cheltenham Racecourse, finding the rope swing, and hidden lake, picking up lots of items along the way from sticks, stones and leaves. It was a great way to get the children outside and walk off our huge breakfast.
If you can complete the full Treasure Hunt there’s even a prize waiting for you at reception.
Overall
There are many luxurious upmarket hotels that claim to be family-friendly but in reality, parents are constantly shushing their children and worried sick that they might break some expensive ornament. However, not so here at Ellenborough Park hotel. While there isn’t a playground or a dedicated kids pool, the atmosphere at the hotel is laidback and friendly, and my children were made to feel welcome. There was also plenty of space for them to explore and let off steam.
While the price tag at Ellenborough Park is at the upper end of the scale, and our drinks tab, with added gratuity, was on the expensive side, the saying of ‘you get what you pay for certainly rings true here. It really is an exquisite hotel and estate, with exceptional service and food.
Would I go back? Absolutely – and happily with the children. The balance of having an overnight break alongside some pampering and some relaxation was spot on and Ellenborough Park managed to please every single member of our tribe – which is no mean feat these days.
*Family rooms at a dinner, bed and breakfast rate starting from £369 per night. We received a complimentary night’s stay at Ellenborough Park in exchange for this review. As always my opinions are my own.Â