You might think that a trip to a luxury hotel and spa for the weekend would be relaxing, but after a virtually sleepless first night, I was desperate for my massage and a manicure.

My sleepless night was not the fault of my hosts at Woolley Grange, a beautiful and cosy hotel in Wiltshire which is part of the Von Essen group.

I had been persuaded to come here for a three-generation weekend, so I was accompanied by my parents and my brother’s family, which included their two boys, aged 5 and 3. I was sharing a room with my daughter Maya, nearly 4.

It was a charming, traditionally furnished room, right down to the patchwork bedspread, and Maya liked the fact that her camp bed was only a stride away from my comfortable berth. But it was the loud springs of the camp bed that were to blame for my sleepless night. Who would have thought that Maya would move so much in the night?

The weather was glorious, the sun shone all weekend, showing off not only England’s luscious countryside but also the lovely Woolley Grange house itself. The kids were able to muck around in the hotel’s pretty gardens while their parents enjoyed the heated pool in the quintessential West Country surroundings. However, we weren’t the only ones who wanted to appreciate the splendours of Woolley Grange. At lunchtime there was a huge influx of non-residents when about 40 elegantly dressed people arrived to celebrate a golden wedding.

Unfortunately, this meant that there was nowhere for us residents to have a drink on the shaded terrace, and we were made to feel uncomfortable lounging in our towelling robes, with the children running round in their bikinis.

So I needed calming down and, on top of the sleepless night, I was desperate to unwind. Thankfully, a very good Swedish massage did the trick, topped off with a soothing session having my nails done. I felt so relaxed afterwards that I struggled to stay awake.

Woolley Grange prides itself on being child-friendly: there are football pitches, a baby- listening service and a kids’ club. This means that even single parents like me can relax and be pampered, knowing that their little one is having fun, too.

I loved many aspects of the hotel, particularly the fact that the area where families mingled was well shaded with parasols that protected the kids’ skin, and that their tea was served at 6pm and didn’t consist of chicken nuggets. They could choose from chicken and noodles, macaroni cheese with broccoli and other nutritious options. But, most of all, it was lovely to be with my family, all together somewhere where we could all be pampered.

In brief

USP Woolley Grange prides itself on being child-friendly: there are football pitches, a baby- listening service and a kids’ club.

AMBIENCE Cosy and clean, but don’t expect to work up a sweat in a gym, there isn’t one. They offer in-your-room Swedish massage.

EXPERIENCE Good. The therapist made me feel very comfortable.

FOOD OK, but the cooked dishes could include more light salad-style dishes, especially as they grow a lot of the vegetables themselves.

IN CROWD Parents who want to have fun with their kids and some pampering on their own.

WALLET WATCH Dinner, bed and breakfast for one night is from £215 for a small double. An hour-long Swedish body massage is £40. A 45-minute manicure costs £28.

NEED TO KNOW Woolley Grange Hotel, Woolley Green, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire; 01225 864705, www.woolleygrangehotel.co.uk

More family-friendly spas

Celtic Manor, Wales
This spa, part of a large hotel complex with a world-class golf course, is the perfect host to the three-generational spa break. Two swimming pools, full of families having watery fun, means that the kids will be happy, while a whirlpool bath, steam room and plunge pool will keep mum and grandma occupied. If a facial isn’t grandad’s thing there is tennis, woodland walks, biking and, of course, golf.
Wallet watch: There is a summer deal until September 30, where you get three treatments and a day at the spa for £150. A night in a double room costs about £134 and treatments are on top of that. Spa prices are generally reasonable. A 25-minute mineral scalp treatment and dry flotation costs £30 and an hour-long hot stone massage £65.
Need to know: Celtic Manor, Coldra Woods, South Wales; 01633 413000, www.celtic-manor.com

Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa, Berkshire
The new-look Donnington Valley Hotel and spa, near Newbury, opens on Monday. Although under-16s cannot indulge in spa treatments, the swimming pool is roomy and the hotel is child-friendly with a babysitting service on request, golf lessons and DVDs for rent. For the elderly members of the family, the £5 million spa has a monsoon shower, aqua sun mineral treatments, and a Sanyo massage chair, which is supposed to improve dad and grandad’s golf swing.
Wallet watch: Spa breaks including accommodation are available from £179 per person and include 150 minutes of treatment time.
Need to know: Donnington Valley Hotel, Old Oxford Road, Donnington, Newbury, Berkshire; 01635 551199, www.donningtonvalley.co.uk

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