Travel: Holidays For Larger Families
 What do David Cameron, Angelina Jolie and Sharon Osborne have in common? They're all parents of large families. And while we can't imagine it's hard for them to find suitable holiday accommodation, it's a tricky task for most larger than average families. Happily, we've done the hard work for you to come up with a selection of holiday ideas that should suit bigger families down to the ground.
All prices are for a week's accommodation in the school summer holidays. Accommodation only unless otherwise stated.
 Action-packed
Clever old Center Parcs – with their wide range of lodges, only the largest of families would find it hard to shoehorn their brood into one of their properties. If budget allows, ask for one of the newly-renovated lodges by interior designer Tara Bernerd which are particularly bright and colourful.
The big picture: Most of the villas and lodges come in sizes ranging from 1-4 bedrooms with the biggest easily accommodating a family with up to six children.
Price: £2455 for a Comfort Plus villa with four bedrooms for a week from 25 July 2008.
Click here for the Center Parcs website.
 Under Canvas
As any large family knows, camping is always a good alternative to the restricted space of most hotel rooms. Featherdown Farms are in their second year of operation and offer families camping with more than a touch of luxury. Each 'tent' is actually a platform with running water, ensuite loo and wood-burning stove, covered with canvas. They're all situated on farms in idyllic locations, offering stressed-out families a chance to return to nature and enjoy a slow life for a change.
The big picture: Each tent has a master bedroom, canopy or 'cupboard' bed and bunk bed which will sleep two adults and four children in total.
Price: £679 for a week in a tent during the summer holidays.
Click here for the Featherdown website.
 Self-catering Plus
One of the downsides to staying in a cottage is you're often miles from anywhere with no other kids in sight. Staying at Tuckenhay Mill in Devon, you'll get the best of both worlds as this former paper mill and assorted adjoining cottages features the kind of facilities you'd normally get in a hotel, such an indoor and outdoor play area and fabulous indoor pool complex.
The big picture: Cottages come in a range of sizes with the biggest house sleeping 14.
Price: A week in three-bed cottage Primrose Bank costs from £1000 for a week in August.
Tuckenhay is represented by English Country Cottages.
 Life of luxury
On the one hand, a stay at one of the Luxury Family Hotels properties can be seriously injurious to your pocket. But they're laid-back about the number of kids you can cram in, charging only for the room and not the number of children you have. The price also includes childcare during the day. The big picture: The best hotel in the range for large families is Ickworth in Suffolk where Dower House apartments can accommodate families of up to six children. Alternatively a large family room in the main hotel can sleep up to three kids in the same room as their parents.
Price: DB&B for the hotel from £310 per room per night. £500 for the three bed Dower House apartment for DB&B during the summer holidays.
Click here for the Ickworth website.
 Messing about on the water
Have you ever thought of taking to the water for your main family holiday? The pace of life slows down to a crawl as you motor on through the Scottish loughs or Norfolk broads. And the best bit is that the scenery changes every day.
The big picture: Depending on the size of boat, you could accommodate up to six children, although given the potential dangers of mixing children with open water, we wouldn't recommend this for families with very young children.
Price: An Osprey Cruiser costs £1009 for a week in August in Scotland and sleeps up to 4 kids.
Click here for the Blakes website.
 On the beach
If going on holiday with a large family is pricey, then going on holiday to the seaside usually adds on the kind of premium that makes summer holidays eye-wateringly expensive. So we were happy to find the family-friendly Trefeddian hotel in Aberdovey which has family suites of an appropriate size. Certainly rooms aren't cheap during July and August – but they're reasonably priced compared to many we've seen, considering they include dinner and high tea for the kids.
The big picture: Family suites fit up to 3 children.
Price: A family room costs £172 for a couple and then children are added on. For a family of five with a baby, toddler and pre-teen, one night's half board comes to £257.
Click here for the Trefeddian Hotel website.
 Room to roam
A stay at Ribby Hall holiday village in Lancashire would certainly tick most of the boxes for an active family. This complex has 100 acres of grounds to roam around in, with every activity from fishing to boating and climbing on offer. There's a kids' club open during the holidays and if the British summer fails to materialise, there's always the indoors facilities complete with children and toddlers' pools to keep everyone happy.
The big picture: They call it a standard cottage – but the Jasmine range is nicely appointed and has three bedrooms – one double and two twins taking up to four children.
Price: A week's self-catering at the end of July costs £970
Click here for the Ribby Hall website.
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