Eat, Stay, Play: A Family Destination Guide Where Style Meets Simplicity
TRAVELFOOD & DRINK
1. Margate, Kent: Seaside Culture with a Culinary Edge
Eat
Margate’s food scene is now firmly on the map. Head to Angela’s for hyper-local seafood served with sustainability and simplicity, or enjoy sourdough pizza at Ralph’s. For coffee and child-friendly breakfasts, The Grain Grocer is a warm, plant-filled stop just off the Old Town.
Stay
Fort Road Hotel offers design-led rooms with sweeping views of the coast. It’s boutique but surprisingly welcoming to families, with travel cots available and highchairs in the restaurant. For self-catering, try The Reading Rooms, a B&B in a Georgian townhouse that balances elegance with home comforts.
Play
You can’t visit Margate without spending time at the Turner Contemporary — free to enter and always with child-accessible exhibitions. Then walk the beach, hop on the vintage rides at Dreamland, or pop into the Shell Grotto for something a little offbeat. The local playground on the seafront is well-equipped and not too busy midweek.
2. Frome, Somerset: Market Town Meets Creative Retreat
Eat
Frome punches above its weight in food. The River House serves upgrown-up brunch with crayons on the table for little ones. For dinner, The High Pavement offers Mediterranean sharing plates in a warm, candle-lit setting that welcomes children early in the evening.
Stay
The Chapel is a stylish yet relaxed hotel with family rooms, while Babington House (a short drive away) gives families access to the full Soho House experience with a crèche, heated pool, and cinema room.
Play
Frome’s independent shops are surprisingly child-friendly — with toy corners and patient staff — and the nearby Nunney Castle is great for a low-key outdoor adventure. Head out on countryside walks or plan around the Frome Independent Market (first Sunday of the month), which has live music, food stalls, and space to roam.
3. Edinburgh: City Energy with Space to Breathe
Eat
Stop in at Honeycomb & Co for excellent cakes and toddler-friendly bites, or head to Dishoom’s Edinburgh outpost where staff warmly welcome children and there’s enough buzz to mask any toddler chatter. Brochan serves beautiful porridge in a cosy, stroller-accessible café for slow mornings.
Stay
Eden Locke offers apartment-style stays with minimal, modern design and kitchenettes—ideal for bottle prep or early breakfasts. It’s centrally located and surrounded by small parks for play breaks.
Play
Beyond the Castle and Royal Mile (which children do love, despite the tourist crush), head to Jupiter Artland for outdoor sculpture trails or take the tram to The Royal Botanic Garden. Many museums, like the National Museum of Scotland, are free and include hands-on zones for little ones.
Why “Eat, Stay, Play” Works for Modern Families
This approach takes pressure off. You’re not searching for the perfect child activity or panicking over a fussy meal. Instead, you’re travelling in a way that blends daily life with discovery—prioritising good food, comfortable places to stay, and play that’s woven into the local rhythm.
It’s not about being extravagant or rigidly planning every moment. It’s about curating experiences that work for the whole family, with a sense of place, quality, and care.