Hip Brit hotels for babies

The Ickworth
Horringer
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
Tel: 01284 735 350
www.ickworthhotel.com
The scene: The Luxury Family Hotels group has found a winning formula and run with it, not least in this 18th-century elegant Italianate house - formerly owned by the dissolute Marquess of Bristol. Guest rooms in the main house are beautifully appointed and traditionally furnished, whilst the individually designed Dower House apartments (a short cycle ride across the estate) are ideal for families seeking more extravagance.

Best baby-friendly features: Four Bear's Den offers a nanny-supervised haven for children from 10am-5pm. You can leave children up to the age of seven for a maximum of two hours, but can also use the den at any time to play with your child. A children's 'grand high tea' is served in the den at 5pm for the very young. For older children there is Club/Blu with table tennis, table football, Playstation, adventure playground, nature trails. What the crèche lacks in soft-play facilities for weenie babes, it makes up for with lots of soft cushions scattered on the floor. The staff (ratio 1:3) are wonderful; maximum cuddles, minimum tears.

Other baby services: Children sharing their parent's room stay free of charge, so squeeze in as many as you can tolerate. Note that this rule changes over the Christmas/New Year period when you pay per child, according to age. There is baby-listening in the main hotel, but if you stay in the Dower apartments you will need to book a babysitter.

Just for parents: The great outdoors was somewhat let down by the indoors; the Aquae Sulis spa was lovely, but the pool, at just 50 feet, was a tad disappointing and could feel rather crammed. Tea was a bit too fancy and fussy, and generally the cuisine was too rich. The Dower apartments could also have done with a dust on our visit. Thank heavens we mistook Flash wipes for baby wipes when packing.

Cost: Doubles from £200 per night midweek; from £235 on weekends