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York • Nottingham • Windsor (Legoland)

Sleeps5 Blog Article: Ten Tips for Budget Family Travel to Europe

Carlton House 
Budget-Moderate

Winner of York Tourism Awards for Excellence 2008 Guest House of the Year, and located just outside the city walls, this guest house has one family room for 5 people. All rooms are en-suite, and guests receive a complimentary tourist information pack. Free wifi and a private car park is available. The full breakfast menu is listed on the website. Breakfast is included in the rate.

Bishops Hotel 
Budget

15 min. walk to city. Includes place to park your car. Family suite is 2 bedroom, en suite, with private patio. Breakfast included.  

St. Raphael
Moderate - Splurge

5 min. walk to city centre, quiet area, parking permit included for on-street parking.  All rooms are non-smoking and en suite.  Our room came with a shower-only bathroom, king bed and 2 single beds and one comfortable rollaway with mattress. Children must be seven years and older to stay. Add 5% to use a credit card. The owners, a very friendly couple with young-adult children (ownership has since changed) greeted us and provided assistance with our luggage, issued a parking permit for our car, and advised us about family-friendly restaurants in the city. The room was on the upper floor, and in July, would have been too hot to spend time there in daylight hours.  Sleeping would have been more comfortable with a fan.  I have a feeling though, that had we asked for one, they would have gladly let us use one.  We searched the closets but didn’t find one in the room.  The bedding and towels were high-end quality (Ralph Lauren , for example) and prettily arranged, but not too floofy for my guys.  The furnishings, flooring and walls were pristine.  The bathroom was tiny (no tub), converted from a standard 3x6 wall closet, and everything worked perfectly, but the sliding door didn’t quite hide the person inside enough.  There was a 1-inch gap which felt awkward – I didn’t use the toilet if my son was facing that direction.  I wanted to spare him that embarrassment! Breakfast was delicious – a large grilled tomato, sausage, eggs and toast were available, along with a 'help-yourself' table of 2 juices, milk, and small cereal boxes.  We were instructed to indicate our menu choices each night before bed on a chart in the front hallway.

The location is quiet, on a side street near the Bootham city gate.  But one night we did hear music and voices from a low-key gathering outside as we were going to bed.  Wasn’t very bothersome.  My hubby was able to use the internet to check emails.  The sunny location (a lot of buildings seem to be shaded in York ) was lovely, but in hot months, might be better to actually choose a shaded hotel.  This place was beautiful, and the owners were lovely – a great bargain being so close to the city centre for just £105 (July 2005) per night, including a quality breakfast.  I would only add a fan or two to help move the air until the cooler night air relieved the heat of the day.

Please note that in August 2010 we were informed by Bishopgarth Guest House, which formerly had a room to sleep 5, that the rooms have since been furnished differently and now the two family rooms can only accommodate a maximum of 3 persons.

Ascot Lodge 
Moderate

Looks like a castle. May need a bus to get to city centre, under a mile away. Non-smoking. Rates are per person with 14 year olds and under at half price. Room has a double bed and 3 singles, and is en suite.

Dairy Guesthouse   
Moderate

Family room is en suite, sleeps 4 and a cot can be added for a fee. This room opens directly to garden. 300 yards to walls of city. The family room has a DVD player. 

Blossoms Hotel 
Splurge

Located ½ mile to city centre. Breakfast is extra fee per person. En suite room that sleeps 6. Also an en suite room that sleeps 4. Private parking available. Internet available.

Nottingham

Talbot House Hotel 
Budget

1 mile to city of Nottingham. Free parking, breakfast included. Set above a bar/restaurant that has a kids’ menu. Family room is en suite, with a double bed and 3 single beds.

Windsor (near Legoland)

There are other hotels in Windsor, but many seem to focus on a traveler seeking luxury: not any mention of families (at least one even prohibits children). -- Perhaps guests there just wish to see the castle. The guest houses below can accommodate a family of 5. If you know of another please email us!

We visited Legoland on a day trip by train from London. See our description of that adventure on the England Attractions page.

Submitted by a mom of 3, who says this hotel is amazing, very swish, fantastic, and she couldn't fault it:

Stirrups Country House Hotel 
Moderate

About 5 kilometers to Legoland, this 30-room hotel offers some larger rooms called Room Ensuite - Family and Suite Family that can accommodate a family of 5. The online reservations page states "children welcome" and even provides the option of selecting 2 adults and 3 children. Internet access is provided, and there is a lift, and free parking,. A restaurant and bar are onsite and open all day, with outdoor dining available in summer. A children's menu is available.

Bluebell House 
Moderate

On the outskirts of Windsor, this establishment offers two rooms to accommodate a family of 5: the Summer and Tap rooms. Booked together, the rooms have a separate entrance and private bathroom. Each room has a tv, hair dryer, and coffee, tea, and hot chocolate making facilities. Continental breakfast is supplied in your room. Click on the separate menu tabs for each room to see details on the hotel's website.

Rainworth Guest House 
Moderate

This guest house offers two rooms for a family of 5. One is very large and has a king bed with 2 singles and can accommodate an additional bed or baby cot. This room has an ensuite bath and shower room. The second room has a four-post bed with 2 singles and can accommodate an additional baby cot only. It has an ensuite shower room. The rate for either room includes a full English breakfast. Hair dryers are available upon request.

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