Tucked away on a serene bend of the Helford River, Budock Vean Hotel & Spa is a gem for parents seeking a five star countryside retreat in Cornwall. Spread across 65 acres of woodlands, gardens, and its own nine-hole golf course, family friendly accommodation includes luxurious hotel accommodation as well as self-catering lodges and cottages (and includes some dog friendly options). Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, hot tub, spa, bar/restaurant and a nine-hole golf course.
Size: up to 4 people per hotel room; 6 people per lodge; 8 per cottage
Cost: from £1700 per summer week for a family of four
Location: Cornwall
Great for: babies and toddlers | children | tweens and teens | grandparents | big groups
Skip to: photos | like this holiday | location | features | our review | video | prices & availability | enquiries
LIKE THIS HOLIDAY?
Need to know more? Read on below for our full review with details of this holiday’s location, accommodation, amenities and prices. Or if it’s not quite what you’re looking for, find another parent friendly holiday by location, type or facilities.
Contact details & location
Web: Click here for website (link opens in new tab)
Address: Budock Vean Hotel, near Helford Passage, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5RG
Tel: 01326 250288
Budock Vean is nestled by Mawnan Smith, just 6 miles from bustling Falmouth and within walking distance of Trebah and Glendurgan Gardens. The South West Coast Path is right on the doorstep, perfect for family hikes. A short drive brings you to Pendennis Castle and the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth, and there are numerous sandy coves nearby for beach fun, paddling and picnics: Durgan, Helford Passage, Maenporth, Swanpool, and Castle Beach. Popular attractions including the Eden Project and Tate St Ives are within an hour’s drive, or pop to Cornwall’s cathedral city of Truro.
FEATURES AT A GLANCE
Our review of Budock Vean Hotel and Spa
ACCOMMODATION AND PRICES
Budock Vean caters brilliantly for families with a variety of accommodation options.
The main hotel features 50 en-suite bedrooms, spanning Standard, Signature and spacious Suites. Most can accommodate a cot or rollaway bed for those travelling with younger tots. There are dog friendly rooms available too.
For bigger families or those craving a bit more independence and space, the estate also offers three contemporary self-catering lodges and four traditional holiday cottages. Spread over three floors, each lodge sleeps up to six adults in three en-suite bedrooms – and some include a small annex big enough for two children. The lodges benefit from floor-to-ceiling windows, open plan living spaces and a fully equipped kitchen. The cottages, meanwhile, are mostly on the ground floor and offer cosy, comfortable accommodation sleeping either 4, 6 or 8 people.
For an idea of prices, a week-long stay in the summer holiday peak season in four bed Badger Cottage costs around £1700; while a stay of similar length in the hotel varies between £964 for a standard double up to £2300 for a signature room with sofa king bed and sofa bed. Note that there are various ‘book direct’ special offers available if you book with the hotel, including reduced-price dinners, flexible booking, complimentary upgrades and more.
All guests enjoy full access to the complex’s on-site spa and entertainment facilities, wherever you’re staying.
CHILD FRIENDLY HOLIDAY FEATURES
Little ones are spoiled for choice at Budock Vean. The centrepiece is a 15 m heated indoor swimming pool with a shallow end starting at just 1 m, gradually increasing—perfect for early‑school-age and supervised toddlers. A bubbling outdoor hot tub spills onto a decking area overlooking the landscaped gardens, though it’s off‑limits for under‑6s for safety.
For active families, there are two all‑weather tennis courts, a croquet lawn, table tennis and a snooker room where board games can also be borrowed. And of course, scenic coastal and woodland walks can be enjoyed right from your doorstep.
The grounds of the hotel stretch down to a private foreshore on the river, where kayaking, stand‑up paddle‑boarding, and boat trips can be arranged. Seasonal family‑focused river cruises and family‑friendly riverside pizza evenings are perfect for creating lasting memories for visitors of all ages.
PARENT FRIENDLY HOLIDAY FEATURES
Parents staying at Budock Vean will find plenty of ways to unwind while the kids are occupied. The Natural Health Spa boasts three treatment rooms, a nail bar, and a spa lounge with GAIA skincare rituals, pre‑ and post‑natal treatments, facials, and body therapies. A Finnish sauna adds to the pampering experience. Step out from the pool area onto the outdoor hot tub deck for relaxing moments with a view.
For grown-ups wanting a bit of ‘me time’, the hotel provides CRB-checked babysitting services and a baby‑listening service – perfect for enabling mum and dad to head out for dinner or unwind with a spa session.
Dinner times are a doddle with an in-house restaurant and bar serving modern cuisine, terrace lunches and delicious afternoon teas. Child friendly options are available. There are also three pubs close by including one, the Ferryboat Inn, within walking distance.
Golf fans will, of course, enjoy making the most of the challenging 9 hole/18 tee hole course set in mature parkland around the hotel. Golf is inclusive for those staying at Budock Vean.
Practical touches at the hotel like free Wi‑Fi, EV‑charging points, dog‑friendly bedrooms, and crisp bathrobes ensure adult comfort too. Plus, stay in a lodge or cottage and you’ll find a lovely welcome pack on arrival including cereal, milk, sugar, bread, coffee, tea, butter, jam and marmalade plus a starter pack of dishwashing and clothes washing tablets.
IN SUMMARY…
Budock Vean Hotel & Spa strikes the perfect parent friendly balance: enough child-friendly entertainment and outdoor freedom to keep children happy, with thoughtful facilities and services to enable mum and dad to enjoy their own escape too. With flexible accommodation options, a soothing spa, tasty dining options and a beautiful Cornish setting, this is an excellent option for parents seeking a holiday which blends family fun with a touch of grown-up indulgence.
In video
WHAT THE OWNERS SAY
“Budock Vean Hotel & Spa is a 4 star hotel in Cornwall that also offers self catering contemporary holiday homes and traditional cottages.
With a restaurant renowned for amazing food (including a Visit England Breakfast Award), Natural Health Spa, swimming pool, outdoor hot tub, golf course, croquet lawn, snooker room and tennis courts on site, plus boating, kayaking and paddle-boarding from our private cove, you can be as active or as relaxed as you wish.”
SUBMIT A BOOKING ENQUIRY
If you’d like to find out more about family friendly holidays at Budock Vean Hotel and Spa, including booking and availability enquiries, just fill out the form below.
All enquiries will be forwarded to the owners who will reply directly to you.
If you liked this, you might also like...
Or visit our find a holiday page to discover more great family holidays searchable by location, type or child and parent friendly facilities.