Magical overnight stays

Wildlife parks and the excitement of theme parks are fun days out for the whole family, but boy, are they exhausting.

Book yourself into an attraction with on-site accommodation however, and you can save yourself a drive home immediately after a tiring day enjoying yourself with the youngsters.

You also get fringe benefits, including access to the park before everyone else has arrived, and after they’ve all gone home. And, of course, bedding down in an adventurous tented lodge, pod or themed hotel room adds to the excitement for everyone, too.

ANIMAL MAGIC

Elephant Lodge, comprising 10 luxury tents, overlooks the cheetah and elephant paddocks at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, near Ashford, Kent. Each glamping tent sleeps up to eight people in two double bedrooms, bunk beds in the twin room and one double sofa bed in the living area.

The lodges have private loo and shower facilities and a log-burning stove to keep you cosy. The Laapa, or meeting house, has a bar and restaurant. Expect to pay from £510 per tent for three nights, with unlimited free entry to explore both Port Lympne and Howletts Wild Animal Parks.

0844-855 0274, www.aspinallfoundation.org/shortbreaks

PARK LIFE

The Crash Pad opened this year as the
rst on-site accommodation at Thorpe Park, Surrey, the ever-popular theme park with more than 25 rides and attractions. Each room in the Crash Pad sleeps up to four people, and costs from £44.50 per person, per night, which includes two days of park tickets and breakfast the next day. The rooms are compact – you won’t want to spend too much time in them – but they do come with ‹ at-screen TV and free Wi-Fi. And your party gets to be the
rst passengers on selected rides before the park opens to the public.

0871-360 2629, www.thorpepark.com/crashpad

Left: Port Lympne Elephant Lodge. Right: Lookout Lodge at Whipsnade zoo

LEGO HOTEL

So your youngsters like Lego? Legoland Windsor Resort has – what else – a 150-room Lego-themed hotel featuring 1,600 Lego models, from a giant, smoke-breathing green dragon to a tiny, 7cm delicate butterfly. Themed family rooms (two adults and up to three children) cost from £247 during low season or £337 in high season per night. The price includes breakfast and park tickets for two days, plus early bird access to selected rides. On-site car parking costs from £3 per day.

Legoland Windsor Resort, for children aged 2 to 12, has more than 55 interactive rides, attractions, live shows, building workshops and driving schools.

0844-844 8099, www.legoland.co.uk/hotel/shortbreak

THOMAS ROOM

Thomas The Tank Engine fans will love the Thomas-themed rooms at the 4-star Drayton Manor Hotel, close to Drayton Manor Park, near Tamworth, home of Thomas Land and Drayton Manor Zoo. The hotel has 150 rooms, 15 of which are Thomas rooms, and has a video games room and Thomas & Friends theatre, and during breakfast, one of the Thomas Land characters drops by.

A one-night stay in a Thomas bedroom costs from £226 for two adults and two children; a family pass (two adults and two children aged 11 and under) costs from £108, but do check the website for special o’ ers.

01827-285551, www.draytonmanorhotel.com
Clockwise from top: Have a ball with bugs at London zoo; sweet dreams for Thomas fans; The Crash Pad at Thorpe Park

SAFARI NIGHTS

Snuggling down next to a herd of rhinos might not seem the most appealing way to spend an evening, but the unique Lookout Lodges at Whipsnade are perfect for those looking for a unique experience. These handcrafted ‘cabins’ are great for couples or families. Once the doors to the safari park are closed, you (and your fellow guests) are taken on a sunset tour before being fed a freshly prepared barbecue and then led back by torchlight to your cosy haven, with the sounds of some of the world’s rarest animals ˜ lling the night sky. Who needs Africa when you have Bedfordshire? Prices from £135 per person, based on two sharing a cabin.

0844-225 1826, www.zsl.org

BED BUGS

And ˜finally… how about staying overnight in the bug house at London Zoo? B.U.G.S! is home to spiders and lots of other creepy crawlies. Open to 8- to 11-year-olds accompanied by an adult, the sleepover involves games, storytelling and exploring the zoo by torchlight. Held on selected Saturdays until November, the BedBUGS sleepovers cost £50 per person including all activities, breakfast and fullday access to the zoo on the day of departure.

020-7449 6363, www.zsl.org/shop/experiences/bedbugs

Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk

ASHLEY TEA Llangoed Hall near Brecon, South Wales, is o’ ering a special afternoon tea, £23 per person, in September and October. Inspired by Laura Ashley designs and featuring elder¤ ower champagne, ¤ oral teas, ˜ nger sandwiches, scones and cakes, rooms at the hotel, which was once the Ashleys’ family home, start at £150. 01874-754525, www.llangoedhall.co.uk

HAVE A BALL Michael Ball will be the guest performer on a 10-night Baltic cruise on Aurora (R322). Departing on 9 December from Southampton, ports of call include Bruges, Amsterdam, Copenhagen (overnight), and Oslo. From £599 per person. 0843-374 0111, www.pocruises.co.uk

DINOSAUR ISLAND The Isle of Wight is celebrating The Year Of The Dinosaur by laying on a 2013 Events Guide, available on all ferries to the island. Even the Autumn Walking Festival has a dinosaur theme for 2013. Walking With Dinosaurs: The 3D Movie launches in cinemas this December. www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/dinosaur-island