Our Family Stay at Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa
Just a short drive from London and surrounded by the Surrey countryside, Pennyhill Park Hotel has always been somewhere I have wanted to experience. Best known for its impressive spa, I had thought of it mainly as a couples’ retreat, but our recent visit showed us a different side of the hotel
This time it was Frenchie, Clara and me, along with our Maltipoo, Maggie. Being able to bring her made it a proper family weekend away, and our choice of room turned out to be perfect when travelling with a dog
Our Garden Junior Suite
We stayed in one of Pennyhill Park’s Garden Junior Suites, and this was definitely one of the highlights of our stay
The suite was incredibly spacious, with a super king-size bed, a comfortable seating area and plenty of room for all four of us
The bathroom was enormous too, with a separate bath and shower and even an Aquavision TV
There were some lovely surprises waiting when we arrived. Pennyhill Park had set up the cutest little tent for Clara with a few toys for her to play with, while Frenchie and I had a bottle of champagne, sweet treats and snacks waiting for us. We were also very well stocked with still water throughout our stay
Maggie had her own little welcoming waiting too, which was such a cute touch. There was the sweetest dog bed ready for her to sleep in, along with food, dog treats, bowls, a poo bag and her own towel. Brilliant!
Probably the best feature of the suite when travelling with Maggie was the direct garden access. We could simply open the door and step outside, rather than walking through the hotel every time she needed to go out
Pennyhill Park is surrounded by 120 acres of countryside, so there was plenty of space for walks too
For me, the Garden Junior Suite gave us the best of both worlds: the comfort of a five-star country hotel while still being incredibly practical for a family travelling with both a child and a dog
Around Pennyhill Park
Pennyhill Park is located in Bagshot, Surrey, and although it is an easy escape from London, once you arrive it feels wonderfully peaceful and secluded
With 120 acres of grounds, gardens and pathways to explore, we did not feel the need to fill our weekend with activities. It was lovely simply having time to enjoy the hotel and countryside together
We wandered into the kitchen garden during our stay, and it ended up being such a sweet little moment for Frenchie and Clara. They were smelling all the different herbs together, with Frenchie (being French and all) trying to teach Clara which was which
Dining at Pennyhill Park
There are two main restaurants at Pennyhill Park. Latymer is the hotel’s Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant, while Hillfield offers a more relaxed dining experience
As we had Maggie with us, we could not take her inside the restaurants, so we spent quite a bit of time in the dog-friendly Hillfield Bar instead — and we really enjoyed it
The atmosphere was very relaxed, often with piano music playing in the background, and there was plenty to choose from on the menu. We could still enjoy delicious food and drinks with Maggie right beside us, so we never really felt as though we were missing out
One evening we decided to stay in and order room service instead. Sometimes it is just nice to make the most of your suite, put the television on and have a relaxed evening together — especially when you have your dog with you. The in-room dining menu had a really good selection of dishes, so we could have a proper dinner without leaving the comfort of our room. It ended up being such a cosy evening just hanging out together with Maggie
Afternoon Tea
We also enjoyed afternoon tea in the Hillfield Bar, with a lovely selection of savouries, sweet treats and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam
Maggie could join us too, and with the piano music playing in the background, it was such a lovely way to spend a relaxed afternoon together
The Spa at Pennyhill Park
This photo is taken with our drone (with permission from the hotel)
Of course, Pennyhill Park is famous for its spa. At around 45,000 square feet, it is one of the UK’s largest hotel spas, with indoor and outdoor pools, hydrotherapy, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms and numerous thermal experiences
I cannot give you a full review of it this time because this was very much a family stay. The main spa facilities are for guests aged 16 and over, but during the summer months younger guests can use the outdoor pool
Clara absolutely loved it, and we spent a lovely part of the day swimming and relaxing outside
Seeing just a little of the spa has definitely made me want to return and experience it properly
Is Pennyhill Park Good for Families and Dogs?
I had always thought of Pennyhill Park primarily as a grown-up spa hotel, but it worked surprisingly well for us as a family
It is not a traditional children’s hotel, which I actually liked. You still have the feeling of staying somewhere luxurious, but thoughtful touches such as Clara’s tent and toys and access to the outdoor pool made her feel very welcome too
It is also genuinely convenient with a dog, particularly if you choose a room with direct garden access
There is one thing I would bear in mind, though. If the main purpose of your stay is to spend lots of time in the spa, I would personally consider leaving your dog at home. There is no dog-sitting service, so unless your dog is completely comfortable being left alone in the room, it can be difficult to relax for several hours. Maggie could hear other dogs nearby and would sometimes start barking too
For a relaxed family countryside break, however, bringing her was lovely
Final Thoughts
Our stay at Pennyhill Park showed us a completely different side of a hotel I had previously associated mainly with spa breaks
The Garden Junior Suite was perfect for us, particularly with its huge bathroom and direct garden access, and I loved all the little touches for both Clara and Maggie
Next time, however, I would love to come back with Frenchie for a proper spa break. We only scratched the surface of what the enormous spa has to offer, so perhaps the next visit will have to be just the two of us…
Pennyhill Park at a Glance
Location: Bagshot, Surrey, set within 120 acres of countryside.
Hotel style: Five-star country house hotel and spa.
Our room: Garden Junior Suite with a huge bathroom and direct garden access.
Family-friendly: Yes, although it is not a traditional children’s hotel. Younger guests can use the outdoor pool during designated summer periods.
Dog-friendly: Yes. Dog-friendly rooms have direct access to the grounds, and dogs are welcome in selected areas including the Hillfield Bar.
Good to know: There is no dog-sitting service, which is worth considering if you are planning to spend a lot of time in the spa.
Spa: An impressive 45,000 sq ft spa with indoor and outdoor pools, hydrotherapy and extensive thermal facilities.
Dining: Michelin-starred Latymer, relaxed Hillfield and the dog-friendly Hillfield Bar.
Best for: Luxury family breaks, couples’ spa weekends and dog-friendly countryside escapes.
Would we return? Absolutely — next time I would love to come back with Frenchie and finally experience the spa properly.
Press-visit. All opinions are as always my own
