Last year Harriet and I stayed at the Premier Inn in Margate for our few days by the sea. This year we went to Brighton as the lockdown conditions were lifting. Here are our thoughts.
On a recent visit to Paris, Harriet and Anne Coates stayed at the Normandy Hotel right in the heart of Paris. Perfect for sightseeing but how did it rate as a child-friendly hotel?
On a press trip to Bodrum, Anne Coates was a guest at La Blanche Resort & Spa at Turgutreis, just outside this major tourist destination. The hotel made a perfect base from which to explore the area as well as offering a range of amenities to enjoy.
Travelodge's Get up and Go Campaign highlights the new look, being delivered through a £57 million hotel modernisation programme. This includes the installation of more than 37,000 new bespoke king size Travelodge Dreamer beds. Anne Coates stayed at the Travelodge Manchester Central Arena.
Book Travelodge Early Autumn Saver rooms £25 or less. Choose from 500 locations across the UK to plan the perfect autumn retreat, half-term break or last minute weekend getaway.
With its great weather, perfect beaches and laidback lifestyle, the Algarve is, well, just perfect for families, writes Anna Selby who reviews the Martinhal Beach Resort.
Staying in a hotel with children can sometimes be stressful so an aparthotel which offers the facilities of a hotel with the advantages of self-catering is a perfect compromise. Anne Coates stayed in the Residhome Caserne de Bonne on her recent trip to Grenoble, France and was delighted with the accommodation.
The Algarve in Portugal is beautiful with so mucch to commend it. Anna Selby visited the Vila Vita Parc and discovered a fabulous family-friendly destination which offeres everything from beach to golf, children's clubs and spa.
On her recent visit to India, Anne Coates stayed at three Mahindra Homestays. An anitdote to anonymous hotels, Homestays offer the chance to stay with Indian families and learn more about the culture and the area. In Jaipur, Anne stayed at Cosy Home.
Lifehouse Spa & Hotel isn't for families with young children. Guests have to be 16 plus so this is a perfect place to chill out and celebrate after A level and GCSE results. Plus it's great for couples and friends taking a short break together!
Overlooking the breathtaking Lake Achensee on one side and the Alpenpark Karwendel – Tirol's largest nature park – the Hotel Wiesenhof offers the best of winter and summer vacations – it is truly a holiday destination for all seasons as Anne Coates discovered on a recent visit.
Hayley Willsher and her family dined at the Prezzo Italian Restaurant in Letchworth to try out the new children's menu and dining experience that included 3D specs and a digital game.
Footwear specialists, Kickers, have teamed up with Steven Thomas, The London Podiatrist, to share his expert guidance for back-to-school shoe shopping, plus they're offering readers a ten per cent discount.
Hokan Bowls are a time-saving, space-optimising essential. Whether storing batch-cooked baby food or gently reheating meals, these bowls rise to meet the demands of modern parenthood with effortless grace.
An exclusive teen party transforms into horror in this fast-paced thriller that takes place over the course of only one night. Suitable for older teenage readers and reviewed by Elaine Hewlett.
It's a day that's eagerly anticipated by some, dreaded by others – and that's just the parents of A level students! Here Anne Coates gives her top ten tips for parents to support their offspring.
Christine Mayle reviews Kaleidoscope Entertainment's action-packed family animation adventure film based on Swedish best-selling author, Camilla Läckberg’s, children’s hit book series, Super Charlie.
Summer's here and it's barbecue season and with this great play set the kids can enjoy cooking indoors or outside with probably more utensils than the adults own, writes Anne Coates.
Front Room Productions and Lawrence Batley Theatre expose the sensational trial for Humpty Dumpty’s murder this summer in a new fairy-tale inspired musical. Review by Joe O'Neill.
This charming adaptation of the Three Musketeers tale, with the well known “all for one and one for all” motto at its core, is a couple of hours very well spent, writes Sarah Taylor who attended with her son.
Sun protection becoming a daily battle? Dr Sonia Khorana shares her hacks for helping to keep children safe in the sun, including tips for applying suncream to reluctant little ones.
An energetic and entertaining start to the first full week of the Edinburgh Fringe as The Crawl, performed at a nearly-full Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh. Review by Joe O'Neill.
This whimsical retelling of a beloved fairy tale is a delightful adventure, bursting with laughter, infectious original songs, and playful mischief. Simon Collins' two young daughters loved the experience.
The trials and tribulations of pre-teen life and the start of secondary school are the subject of this first volume in a new comedy series. Review by Elaine Hewlett.
One in four women in the UK experiences bladder weakness – stress incontinence – but for most of them this could be solved by exercising the pelvic floor muscles.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Richard Scarry's Best Counting Book Ever, we have teamed up with HarperCollins Children's Books to offer you the chance to win a copy.
What to do when your city is full of out-of-control magic? Send in the cleaners! Elaine Hewlett reviews this delightful tale, perfect for middle grade readers.
There are a staggering 48 signs of menopause. M-Club has been set up to create a supportive community to help navigate this important stage of a woman's life.
Mark Bradley's full-colour graphic novel, the fifth in his Bumble & Snug series was greeted with great enthusiasm by Natasha Da Souza's older daughter.
Endearing fable about family, fun, friendship, and fear. Heidi proves love triumphs in the face of evil and corruption – animated film in Odeon cinemas from 1 August, 2025.
According to a recent report – Skin Matters by Hada Labo Tokyo – some 80 per cent of women have gone our on a warm and sunny day wearing no sunscreen. Anne Coates recommends their Water-Resistant Moisturising Sunscreen: Face Cream and Sun Lotion for your body.
With social media, there’s always something to compare: the child who seems to excel at everything, the family who’s always having more “picture-perfect” moments. If you or your child are caught in this comparison trap, there’s good news: you’re not powerless.
Fantastic magnetic shapes which actually increase in value as children get older and it's certainly fun for adults to join in with as Anne Coates discovered, playing with her granddaughter Lizzie.
Creating stability for children during divorce requires planning, communication, and practical solutions. These ensure both households operate clearly, allowing children to maintain their routines and relationships.