A few ideas for a sneaky Xmas break or a full on family gathering with someone else doing the Xmas dinner - here are some UK destinations for some relaxed family holiday time together.
However your family marks the season, Christmas has a magic of its own – whether it starts with the smell of cinnamon rolls or a freezing-cold sea dip (because someone always thinks it’s a good idea). However you do it, it’s the cosy, slightly manic, memory-making stuff that makes the day so brilliant.
Watergate Bay is offering festive stays full of simple pleasures: Christmas crafts, games rooms, beach bonfires, cosy films and hot chocolates - Gitcombe has your tree, trappings and speed dial to a Xmas dinner delivery service all waiting. The Belfry is perfect for a short family meet up - without the stress of hosting.
Cornwall | Sleeps 2-6 | A Festive Break by the Sea
Presents first thing or post-feast? Slippers by the fire or boots on for a Boxing Day sea swim? Every family has their own rhythm at Christmas, and Watergate Bay makes space for all of them. The four-night break (23–27 December) is designed to take the pressure off: breakfasts and dinners included, Christmas Day lunch sorted, and a skate session for each night of your stay on their brand-new ice rink by the beach. All the magic, none of the manic. Kids are at the heart of it all — there are Christmas films, reindeer racing (the hobby kind), and seasonal crafts to keep little hands busy. Father Christmas makes himself at home in The Living Space snug, and there’s a buzz of excitement wherever you turn — whether it’s carols echoing through the hotel or the sound of small feet racing to the tree. Teenagers, toddlers, babies — there’s something for every age, and plenty of space to let the day unfold without rushing. And then there’s the setting. That huge sweep of Atlantic coastline just beyond the windows, inviting you out for beach walks, breezy wanders, and possibly a brave dip if tradition calls for it. Afterwards, everyone piles back in — cheeks pink, hot chocolates ready, someone in a paper crown already half-asleep on the sofa. For the grown-ups, there's time to slip away to the spa, sink into a sofa with a glass of wine, or just sit in the Ocean Room watching waves roll in. It’s festive, but never fussy. Coastal, but cosy. A Christmas break at Watergate Bay is for families who want time together that feels simple, spacious and quietly special — all wrapped up with a salty breeze and a sprig of sea-thrift.
Devon | Sleeps 2-13 | A Proper Family Gathering (Without the Chaos)
At Gitcombe Estate, Christmas feels like the kind you remember — just with underfloor heating, a private hot tub, and no one stuck peeling veg in the kitchen all day. Tucked into the rolling Devon hills, this cluster of beautifully designed cottages is perfect for bringing everyone together: children racing to the tree in the morning, grandparents reading by the fire, and you, finally sitting down with a glass of something warming.
Everything is set up for ease. The tree is already dressed, the lights are twinkling and someone else has handled the faff - you're ready to let the festivities begin. Kids are wide-eyed at the indoor pool and soft play, running off the buzz of stockings and too many chocolates. Meanwhile, the grown-ups can dip into the sauna, book a treatment, or lean back in the hot tub with steam rising into crisp winter air. With fully equipped kitchens, festive hampers available, and space for shared meals or solo escapes, it’s a Christmas break that gives you room to breathe — and actually enjoy each other.
Gitcombe's e-concierge service will happily help you plan every detail of your stay, while thanks to Dartmouth Fine Foods your Xmas feast can be produced at a knock at the door! There’s no pressure to perform, no schedule to keep. Just walks across frost-tipped fields, games around the kitchen table, and a sense that this is how Christmas should be: together, relaxed, and just the right side of luxurious.
Accessible options are available.
Central England | Sleeps 2-4 | Brilliant for a Multi-Generational Get-Together
There’s something special about gathering the whole family together — the little ones, the not-so-little-anymore, and the grown-ups who still sneak Quality Street when no one’s looking. The Belfry makes those gatherings feel easy, joyful, and just indulgent enough.
You arrive and immediately feel the calm of having everything in one place — no need to coordinate restaurants or wonder what to do with the kids while you sneak a moment of peace. The new leisure centre, The Club, is a proper standout: the little ones can whizz down the flume in the family pool while grandparents watch on with a coffee (or even join in), and older kids can roam freely between the playground and games spaces. There’s a real sense of flow here — everyone doing their own thing, but never too far apart.
Food-wise, it’s a dream for big groups. There are spaces for relaxed, unhurried breakfasts, easy-going lunches that stretch into the afternoon, and dinners where everyone gets what they fancy without a fuss — from picky toddlers to food-loving teens to grandparents after something classic. And when the kids have crashed out from all the excitement, there’s a bar for grown-up time and plenty of corners to curl up in for a quiet chat or a festive drink.
And then there’s the space to exhale. Parents can sneak off to the spa or sauna (hello, steam room), while the rest of the family is happily entertained. There’s something grounding about knowing you don’t need to plan every moment — it all just unfolds naturally. No one’s stuck in the kitchen, no one’s left out of the fun, and memories are made in the simple, shared moments — a splash in the pool, a walk in the woods, or a laugh over dessert.
The Belfry isn’t trying too hard to be everything. It just is — comfortable, considered, and really good at bringing people together. Exactly what a multi-gen break should feel like.
Whether you're hopping between board games and bracing sea dips, or just settling into slow, fire-lit afternoons, these are places where families can come together, unwind, and let Christmas unfold. Merry Xmas.