CBeebies Land Hotel

If you've got young kids, CBeebies Land Hotel is basically a sleepover inside the theme park - you're staying right there at Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire. The hotel itself is themed around CBeebies characters and shows, so rooms are decorated with colourful designs that'll have under-eights absolutely delighted. It's not just a place to crash after a day on the rides; it's part of the experience.

You get early entry to CBeebies Land before the main park opens, which is genuinely useful if you want to avoid queues on the gentler attractions designed for smaller children. The hotel has its own entertainment and activities, so even if you're not theme-park focused, there's plenty to keep little ones occupied.

For families with children aged 2-8, this is proper value if you're planning multiple days at Alton Towers anyway. You'll save time faffing about with transport from Uttoxeter or the nearby touring parks like Lower Micklin or Ecopod Holidays. Those glamping pods and campsite options are fine for a budget break, but they're base camps really - staying at the hotel means everything's integrated.

Budget a full day minimum, though two days lets you pace it properly without the kids getting frazzled. It's not cheap, but if your family would otherwise pay for a hotel, restaurant meals, and parking separately, the maths works out less daft than it first appears. Worth it if you've got young children who'll actually engage with the CBeebies theming.