As half terms go, the February “Spring” term one is, by some margin, my least favourite,  the Summer term/May one is invariably warmer and the Autumn term/October one has the sugar fest that is Halloween, so the Feb one is always the poor relation and inevitably cold, wet and miserable, weather wise.

But fear not, the affordable family getaway of dreams is here, to chase away those February blues.  Nestled in the gorgeous grounds of Hampton Court, The Kings Arms *is* the perfect, half term family getaway . From the minute we stepped into On the Six, the restaurant within The Kings Arms, we knew we were in for a treat.

Check in was friendly, prompt and efficient. Our accommodation was the family suite, comprising 2 rooms, one with a lounge area and a large bathroom. The décor is contemporary & neutral but comfortable and overlooks the Hampton Court Maze…as included within the price of the break is entry to Hampton Court. The genius thing about Hampton Court is that rain or shine, this is a great, cultural thing to do with the kids. All kids love mazes and this one, whilst outdoor is easy to navigate and even if it is raining you can do it relatively quickly and then head (as we did) to the warmth and splendour of the palace where you can dry off before exploring the gardens, if & when there is a brief interlude in the downpour. Top tip for maintaining little ones’ interest of the palace, is to take advantage of the guided headphones tour and opt for the family tour as this really helped to bring the palace to life for my small person.

Had it been a nicer day, we would have taken advantage of the hotel’s proximity to the river and had a dander down that too but, alas, rain spoiled play. A less than 5 minute walk and we were back in the cosy warmth of The Kings Arms. Not long after we headed to dinner at their restaurant, The Six, named after the number of wives Henry VIII had, and what a treat that was.

Their kid’s menu is as you’d expect, better than the usual chicken nuggets offered on every other kid’s menu and of a very high standard, even for my fussy lot. But, it is their dinner menu that blew my mind, with 2 vegetarians & a vegan in the fam, dining can often be an issue. Not so here, I had one of the best vegan here meals EVER –  and even if you don’t stay at the hotel, if you’re ever Hampton Court way, you should absolutely make a point of popping into The Six.

So, after a delicious family meal and a very comfortable night’s sleep and a delicious continental style breakfast, it was, sadly time to leave but not without having made some lovely family memories.

Family Rooms including breakfast & Hampton Court tickets for a family of 4 start from £200.

N.B. parking is limited on the premises but paid on street parking is available so you will need to factor this in.