Woolley Grange Hotel Review

I had the pleasure of staying at Woolley Grange one Tuesday night in April 2022. Woolley Grange caters for a variety of guests. The facilities for families with young children are exceptional. It also caters for couples, solo guests and people with dogs.

The picturesque hotel is a former Jacobean manor. It’s set in 14 acres of grounds. It’s in a great location, about a 25 minute walk from the beautiful town of Bradford on Avon. Bath is just 12 miles away (about a 20 minute drive). You can also take a 15 minute train ride from Bradford on Avon to Bath if you prefer.

Is Woolly Grange the right break or holiday for you? This article will help you decide!

A 3 Star Hotel

Woolley Grange is a very good 3 star hotel. Thoughtful touches such as bottles of sparkling and still water in the hotel room and Elemis products in the bathroom add a touch of luxury. If you come to Woolley Grange expecting a 5 star experience, you will be disappointed. However, if you come expecting a 3 star experience you will be pleasantly surprised.

A Hotel For Families

Woolley Grange markets itself as a luxury hotel for families. Families with young children from 0 to 9 will find it hard to find a hotel that is more accommodating to their needs. Everything has been thought of. Some of the facilities include:

• An on site creche with 1.5 hours of childcare each day included in the cost of the accommodation. Book in advance to get the slot you want. The creche has lots of different toys and crafts for children up to 8 years of age.

• Outdoor activities including a sheep trail, trampoline, football goals, tree swing, outdoor pool, small fairy garden, bug hotel, ride on toys, hoola hoops, a walled garden growing vegetables and lots more.

• Kids movie night with a film at 6pm and 8pm.

• Video monitoring service where staff keep an eye on the children, while Mums and Dads enjoy a meal in the restaurant.

• Alternatively book a babysitter

• Matilda afternoon tea for children

• Family dining option from 6pm

• Kids menu

For Adults (Couples, Friends and Solo Guests)

As an solo adult staying the hotel, I was concerned my one night break away was going to be over run with kids!

Don’t get me wrong, I love kids and have 2 boys of my own. However, my one night break away was also a break away from the demands of my own children, so I didn’t want to be bothered by everybody else’s!

I needn’t have worried. The hotel has obviously thought of this. When I was there they separated the dining areas, so families could eat in the orangery without having to worry about disturbing other diners. Adults sat in a separate area.

There are lots of kids around but it didn’t impact on my stay so this wouldn’t deter me from going again.

The Spa and Pool

I visited the spa at 7pm in the evening. The changing rooms and pool were spotless. I was the only one in the 12m swimming pool for a while. I loved the full length glass windows so I could look outside as I swam. It was delightful to see the ducks pottering around outside.

The spa has a sauna and a steam room. I love a jacuzzi and unfortunately there wasn’t one but swimming in the pool was so relaxing it didn’t matter. The hot shower after was amazing!

You can book spa treatments during your stay. Book as far in advance as possible to ensure you get the times and treatments you want. There’s a zoned area for adults to relax after swimming or getting a treatment.

Outdoor Pool

Woolley Grange also has a 12m outdoor pool which is open from May to September. Unfortunately as I visited in April, I didn’t use it but I did take a picture and it looks lovely for the summer months.

The Room

I stayed in a cosy room which was super clean and comfortable. The rooms have decor and furniture which gives a shabby chic look. I loved it! It gave the room a charm, homely feel that you don’t get in other standard hotel rooms. However, if you’re looking for a stream lined, modern look in your hotel room, it’s definitely not that!

There was everything you could want in the room including a mini fridge, kettle, hairdryer, iron, ironing board, still and sparkling bottled water, tea, coffee and biscuits. You can ask reception for your choice of milk (especially great if you’re vegan).

The bed was comfortable with a mattress slightly on the harder side which some people might like. I prefer a softer bed but it was still fine to get a good night’s sleep. The high quality linen added a luxurious touch. The double bed was perfect for me on my own, although I might have not thought so if I’d shared it with my 6’3″ husband. If you like a king size bed, it’s best to upgrade to another room.

It was quiet during the night and nothing woke me. I could hear the floorboards creaking above when people were walking around in the morning but it wasn’t too loud.

One thing to note is that the room was quite hot. That’s common in many hotel rooms and not unique to Woolley, but it’s something to be aware of. I kept the windows open until I went to sleep to keep it as cool as possible. There were fans in the room that I didn’t need in April but I think you would need them during a summer visit.

The Restaurant

Being on my own, I didn’t take an evening meal in the restaurant so can’t comment on the evening food. However, the reviews I’ve read are excellent. The menu isn’t cheap but you get what you pay for! Many of the ingredients are locally and freshly sourced. If you don’t want to dine in the restaurant, there are a selection of eateries in Bradford on Avon and a pub about a 10 minutes walk down the road.

I did have breakfast in the restaurant. There was a selection of fresh fruit, juices and cereals and lots of options on the cooked breakfast menu including a Full English. I would have loved to have seen an option of a cooked full English vegetarian breakfast which was missing. However there were lots of options for vegetarians with eggs and a couple of options for vegans too. In the end I chose American pancakes which were lush.

You can check out the menus on the hotel website.

The Hideout Pizza Cafe

Another option of dining on site is the pop up dining experience which is the Hideout Pizza Cafe. They serve a selection of pizza, anti pasta and vegetables from the garden. Check out the menus on the website.

The Staff

A special mention to the staff who were friendly, welcoming and helpful. There’s nothing that’s too much trouble.

Other Things To Note:

Here are some other things to note about Woolley

Some of the staircases are narrow, so if you have mobility issues it’s worth contacting the hotel before you book to see how they could accommodate you.

Check in is at 3pm and checkout is at 11am. For me, 11am is a late checkout and I loved that I could stay in the room until late morning.

Would I Visit Again?

Yes! I enjoyed my stay at Woolley Grange and left feeling relaxed and happy. It’s part of the luxury family hotels chain and I would also try out one of their other hotels as well. Fowey Hall may be next on my list!

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