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.
The perfect activity gym for a newborn which grows and adapts as the baby does, offering appropriate activities for different developmental stages in the first year or so of life, writes Anne Coates.
Super Charlie received a five heart review from Christine Mayle for its cinema release and if you missed it on the big screen it's soon to be available to view at home on all major digital channels.
With beautifully crafted wooden accessories and food to delight young chefs, this set from Melofaver makes a great complement to any existing culinary toys or is a great start-up set, writes Anne Coates.
Nurseries and primary schools will be gearing up to learn about Diwali – The Festival of Lights – falling on 20 October this year – which involves five days of celebrations. Find out more with these books from QuartoKids.
A huge number of Brits write wills without including critical elements, costing families thousands in legal fees and sparking bitter inheritance disputes, reveals legal expert Stephanie Hutton.
The Cave Downwind of the Café, The Hunt for the Fog Town Moose and Alone on My Rock – three colourful picture books to delight young readers and adults alike, reviewed by Anne Coates.
Lizzie loves penguins – and taking photos – so what better digital camera for her to try out than the Penguin from The Zoofamily which has recently launch its toys in the UK. Perfect for small hands.
To celebrate the launch of The Zoo Family range of child friendly adventure toys including video cameras, walkie-talkies and binoculars, we have a competition to win a Unicorn Kids Digital Camera.
From Tuesday 16 to Saturday 21 September, 2025 parents dining with their children can enjoy a complimentary main course from Bella Italia’s mouth-watering menu in one of their UK restaurants.
Giving children's early art attempts a new edge, Doodle Copy from Canal Toys provides reusable templates for young artists to create pictures – and then print them off to be coloured in.
In a welcome addition to the increasingly popular young adult romantasy market , Kiera Azara strikes just the right balance for younger teenagers in her new series, writes Elaine Hewlett.
Foldable Baby Standing Shower Support from Orzbow fits into walk-in showers perfectly, offering safer washing – especially useful if you don't have a conventional bath, writes Anne Coates.
Hay fever sufferers know the common, at times unbearable symptoms, that affect the eyes, and contact lens wearers have extra problems. Here's what to do, by Francesca Marchetti.
We're delighted to team up with QuartoKids with a competition for five readers to win two books from their bestselling series Little People, BIG DREAMS®.
Muddy Puddles has been one of our go-to places for outdoor toddler clothes and we were delighted to review this waterproof jumpsuit plus matching wellies, writes Anne Coates.
The latest impact report from Working Families Legal Advice Service shows that the charity’s helpline and 200-plus advice and guidance pages reached one in ten UK parents.
For bites and stings, Puressentiel has a number of products that can not only repel insects in the first place, but also soothe bitten, sore and itchy skin, writes Dr Tim Bond.
We had ten copies of the 50th anniversary edition of Richard Scarry's Best Counting Book Ever to be won. Here are the names of the winners who will receive their prize from HarperCollins Children's Books.
An engaging picture book from the award-winning author of Colin's Castle. In this second book, Colin the vegetarian vampire prepares for a visit from his Grandma. What could possibly go wrong? asks Anne Coates.
Natasha Da Souza and her daughter Theia loved this product! The premise is very simple – paint your picture, apply fluffy paint and decorate with accessories. The results were great!
The award-winning children’s outerwear brand has launched Muddy Puddles Preloved, a dedicated online platform where you can buy and sell pre-loved Muddy Puddles clothing.
Two of Anne Coates' recently published favourite books for children are now available in paperback: a book of poems by Michael Rosen and the first in a series by Philippa Leathley.
Mud play offers freedom, creativity, and a connection to the natural world. Activities such as mud kitchens can encourage skill development, problem-solving, and cooperation.