Let’s face it. When the weather is this glorious there are few places more blissful for the summer months than England. Forget airport queues, long haul flights and jet lag (all absolutely worth it for some of the fabulous places out there) but if air travel with tots isn’t floating your boat, then why go anywhere at all? Though I loathe the word “staycation,” the idea of holidaying at home works well for me if the sun is shining and I’ve the right place to lay my head at night. And The St. Moritz Hotel in Cornwall definitely appeals.

The St. Moritz Hotel

Whether you train it or drive, Cornwall is well worth the journey for its dramatic coastline, gorgeous waters, infamous surf, fresh seafood and jolly locals. Parts of it seem unchanged for centuries – tiny port towns still top heavy with salty, roped lobster traps and thick, gooey cornish ice cream. It’s a place where a pub is still a proper pub – not a tacky gastro joint serving bad Thai food – and children can play until dark in a safe, communal place. And it is also a place of great luxury, which is where the St. Moritz comes in. A stunning property right on the edge of Greenaway Beach, the St. Moritz pays as much attention to its little guests as it does their parents. There are sweeping penthouses, apartments and villas to choose from (aside from the hotel rooms) that offer self-catering options, ideal if away as a family and not up for keeping children quiet in a restaurant every day. After an afternoon playing on the beach, you can all head back and flop out without dealing with the formality often associated with hotel stays. The contemporary accommodation is extremely inviting but, again, ideal if with children as there is nothing precious or delicate in the rooms (no antiques here). And if the weather does take a turn for the worst then the indoor pool will keep everyone happy for hours. The outdoor pool is delightfully adorned with beach huts and hammocks and there is a St. Moritz kids’ room with games, too.

Wavehunters Surf School

Children with a thirst for surf can enjoy lessons from the Wavehunters Surf School at nearby Polzeath Beach, which during summer holidays is also host to the hotel’s Beach Club for kids. (This is open to children of all ages but those under 6 must be accompanied by an adult). I spent several memorable childhood summers on the Cornish coast with a net in one hand hovering over the rock pools looking for crabs and mini shrimp. St. Moritz will take your children off and teach them all about the life of the rock pools on the surrounding beach and arrange beach games, as well as overseeing the junior surf lessons, of course.

And when your children reappear at the end of the day all salty and happy, you can rest assured that they will be extremely well fed before bed. The array of children’s canapés are delicious and extremely healthy, all washed down with one of the many children’s cocktails on offer (remember Shirley Temples?)

The Cowshed Spa

While the children are off making friends, there is a fabulous Cowshed Spa in the hotel, which absolutely cannot be missed. Born at Somerset’s Babington House, the latest Cowshed is no less fabulous with its array of facials, hot stone massages, and manis and pedis. There is a Signature St. Moritz Sun and Sea treatment made exclusively for guests of this Cornish beauty: this is a full body brushing followed by a deep exfoliation using sea salt immersed in peppermint oil and a deep sea detoxifying body wrap. Also included is a refreshing express facial and a relaxing full body massage. Not to be missed if you’re expecting are the newest pregnancy treatments, or the “udderly gorgeous body treatments” as they are so aptly named. Recognising the constant changes of the body during pregnancy and the special needs of those expecting, the treatments are gentle, relaxing and utterly nourishing. They even offer a “calm before the storm” package for expectant parents that includes a two night stay, massages for both mum and dad and breakfast in bed. Not to be missed.

The Royal Albert Hall is one of those show-stopping, no-holds-barred beauties that defines the iconic and truly beautiful architecture of London. The heartbeat of music in central London, simply walking through the round edges into this amazing music hall is an experience in and of itself. And now, even if your little ones are too young for the Proms, you can introduce them to the Royal Albert Hall in all its Grade I listed glory by dining at Verdi.

I recently had a glorious evening there, dining and drinking (Mama had a night off, obviously) in the beautifully-curated and newly-opened Verdi restaurant. What was once Café Consort is now a bevy of stunning Italian eats, buttery brown leather seating, a striking turquoise tiled Mozzarella bar (my personal favourite) and all with the backdrop of the Royal Albert Hall.

Weekend family brunches

This gorgeous eatery offers up fantastic family-style lunches on Saturdays all accompanied by live blues and jazz performances. There is a wonderful Sunday Brunch series on selected weekends, seeing beautiful family-friendly food accompanied by live jazz music. Parents: you’ll do well to kick the weekend off with a Campari Breakfast Martini – a beautiful hangover-healer made from Bombay Sapphire, Earl Grey tea, Campari and a scoop of homemade orange marmalade.

Little ones will adore the stone-baked pizzas, all of which are made from fine Italian Caputo flour. Toppings of porcini, parmesan reggiano, rocket, truffle oil and mozzarella abound, while more adventurous young eaters may try the pizzas with king prawns, asparagus, mushrooms, tomato and mozzarella. Perfect pasta is served too – we’re talking cannelloni al cinghiale, which is filled with wild boar meat or tagliatelle all salsicci, which uses Napoli sausages for its meatballs.

Sian Gwilliam launched the fantastic website Creative Bus Stop to share her passion for the incredible free (and cheap) cultural, creative and educational activities that are available in London and around the UK. Herewith, she gives kodomo.com her top ten things to do in and around the British capital this summer.

1. See a West End show for Free at Kids Theatre Week, London.

These include half price and free tickets for kids’ theatre shows this August (mainly in the West End). One child goes free for every adult ticket bought. There are loads of behind-the-scenes events including workshops with the crew, back stage tours and singing workshops, and all are absolutely free. Booking started on June 17th at 10am.

2. Get Arty and create your masterpiece at Tate Modern & Tate Britain.

From Thursdays through to Sundays throughout the summer holidays experience the Tate through a Sonic Trail created by Sound Artists. Visit the “Families Welcome” spaces to pick up your trail kit. (This recommended for children aged 7 and up). From the 24th of July at Tate Modern, The Family Gallery brings Matisse’s cut-outs to life through specially commissioned sound, animation and sculptural work. You can also talk part in Colour Walk, an activity that explores the tones of colour that Matisse used in his work.

If you’re nearer to the Tate St Ives and Barbara Hepworth Museum then take the “I Spy Challenge” and use picture clues to spy artworks on display. Prizes are available if children complete the challenge.

3. Wear your crown or take your sword and visit one of many stunning National Trust properties across the country.

Visit any of the endless National Trust houses, castles or majestic gardens. For 5000 acres of unspoiled Chiltern countryside, try the Ashridge Estate in Berkhamstead, Bucks. There you can choose to explore any number of trails and woodland walks. There are lots of specially organised family events, too. If you feel like a taste of France without the journey, try Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury in Bucks. It is a 19th century chateau built by Baron Rothschild, which houses an impressive personal art collection and has a lovely restaurant, shop and gardens – a little slice of fairytale life for all your Princes and Princesses.

4. Head to The BBC Proms to sing-a-long with CBeebies.

Book one of the many BBC Proms family events this summer. The Proms bring together acclaimed artists and great music at London’s Royal Albert Hall in Kensington. There are both ticketed and free events and there is even the dedicated CBeebies Prom on Sunday 27^th of July at 11am. (Please see their website for the full schedule and all booking information).

5. Head to The Imperial War Museum. 

Celebrate the 2014 centenary of World War 1 by paying a visit to the Imperial War Museum, which reopens on the 19^th of July after a much-anticipated transformative building project. The museum will now feature a huge new atrium that will house iconic objects from across their collections, and there will also be a moving, brand new First World War Gallery space to view. The First World War Centenary Partnership will last for four years from 2014 – 2018, and this huge project, which is led by the Imperial War Museums will be running a wide range of events across the UK.

6. Feel the vibe at one of the many Family Friendly Festivals across the UK this Summer.

Festivalkidz have lots of advice and tips for first timers. They have an A to Z directory of the many festivals on offer, and posts on how to survive at festivals, what to pack for the potential wet weather, the range of food available, baby changing facilities, the size of each festival, and more. I recommend that if your little ones are under 4 years of age that you first try out a day pass and then embark on the full camping experience (complete with noise) when you feel ready.

7. Head out for a good countryside walk.

There are endless stunning walks around our beautiful countryside. There is little better medicine than leaving your car behind, turning off the phone, and packing your bag with treats for a glorious walk across the Chilterns, the Lake District, or even Hampstead Heath in North London. The National Trust have a guide to 10 best family walks around the UK or, if you’re ‘with buggy’ you should check out the Walks With Buggies blog, that offers tested walks across the UK. Walking Britain is a fantastic free resource for walkers covering the nation.

8. Grab your tin opener, firelighters, and arnica gel and take the kids camping at the bottom of the garden.

A great way to spend a day with the kids is to book in a whole 24 hours when you all live in your tent as a family. Each of you can take one bag full of whatever you need (apart from a picnic basket from the kitchen fairies), and cuddle up together, telling each other stories, drawing pictures (no iPads allowed), and playing cards. If Dad likes to ‘be prepared’ he can have a read of the Camping with Kids “Love the Outdoors” website, which has the best camping checklist and scavenger hunt ideas. For those that get the bug, you could order the Cool Camping Guide book to plan your next trip away (not forgetting your duvet and hand sanitizer, of course).

9. Don’t be put off by rain.

The team from The Wild Weather Book have lots of ideas on how to keep yourselves entertained during the rain, wind and even snow-filled days. These range from making wind flags and flying creatures, playing stuck in the mud, creating a wormery, making a water run, and catching raindrops. What could be more fun than that?

10. Pick your own fruit bowl and, better still, make your own fruit lollies.

One of the best days out that we ever had, which has never been forgotten by my girls, was picking our own fruit at our local farm. Although there weren’t many blackberries or raspberries left, and I was hoodwinked into buying the most expensive local honey ever, my girls and I enjoyed the fresh air, hunting down healthy runner beans, and the excitement of eating the very freshest strawberries. You can find your nearest pick your own farm in the UK on this website.

So you’re all well aware of my love affair with Barcelona by now. I lived there. I loved it. I went back again recently. It’s as fabulous as ever. The food, the Gothic architecture, the all-night swinging bars and the wonderfully eclectic mixture of permanent art exhibits from the likes of Picasso, Miro and Dali slam this right on top of my ever-adored European hotspots. And if I were able to be there on June 12th, I absolutely would be. Why? Because the fabulous Hotel Arts Barcelona, an original leader of the luxury hotel pack in the Catalan capital, is hosting a tapas feast created by chefs with no less than 52 Michelin stars between them. No, that’s not a typo and it’s absolutely possible: 52 hard-earned, mouth watering Michelin stars cooking tapas for one day only.

This one-off gala event sees the Hotel Arts Barcelona join forces with UNICEF to celebrate its 20^th anniversary with “Estrellas Solidarias.” Led by acclaimed chef Paco Perez of the hotel’s own two Michelin starred Enoteca restaurant, he will spend June 12th preparing this unrivalled tapas feast in the gardens of the hotel, alongside the likes of Albert Adria (yes, that’s Ferran’s brother), Joan Roca, Adoni Aduriz, and Marc Gascons, amongst others. Each cook a favourite tapas dish from a cooking station for guests to try in the hotel’s beautiful gardens, all under the shadow of the hotel’s signature Frank Gehry ‘Peix’ (or, fish) sculpture that glistens on the edge of the sea. And proceeds will go to UNICEF Spain, so you can indulge without conscience because your enjoyment will help others.

You’ll start the day with a bang of Cava and Catalan wine, enjoy the opportunity to bid in the auction for a Chef White, signed by all the chefs in attendance, and then you can spend the rest of the day sashaying from one stand to another, meeting some of the world’s finest chefs and sampling the delicious flavours of Spain cooked before you. Dessert, should you still be hungry, will be created by the Hotel Arts’ very own pastry chef, Sylvain Guyez and there will be live music playing throughout the day. So that’s Cava, good tunes, Michelin-starred food and sunshine on the sea. Who still needs convincing?

And should you be in Barcelona with your family there is no need to miss out on this just because the kids aren’t keen. The hotel’s restaurant Bites always has featured children’s items and their menu doubles as a drawing book. They can spend the afternoon enjoying the “hotel questionnaire” available at reception, which children have to complete (asking a waiter for an autograph, for example, is one such task) and, once filled out, they get a free ice cream. Of course, should they want to be outside there is the hotel’s inviting pool or the nearby sea and, if you’re able to play hooky for an extra hour, head from the gastronomic feast to the hotel’s Six Senses Spa, a leader in international spa awards with very good reason.

Hotel Arts has created an ‘Exclusive Experience’ package for the Royale and Presidential suites, the hotel’s most prestigious apartments located on the 42^nd floor. In addition to tickets to the UNICEF gala event, the package also includes behind the scenes access, interacting with the chefs as they prepare their signature dish, as well as preferred reservation and VIP access for one year in the restaurants of Albert Adria and Paco Perez. The ‘Exclusive Experience’ package is available for €20,000 per suite, with proceeds donated to UNICEF and can be booked directly through the Hotel Arts.

See our family-friendly guide to Barcelona here.

Mykonos

The magical Greek island of Mykonos has long held an extremely dear place in my heart. The location for many a teenage summer with my best friend from school, we would arrive on the island fresh-faced and ready for action, only to leave a week or so later exhausted and booze-soaked, but grinning from ear-to-ear. Gorgeous local Greek boys with mopeds became the target of instant adoration, lingering kisses were enjoyed on rocks that dotted the beaches under moonlight and we whirled annually onto the island at breakneck speed, ready for whatever that particular summer of love had in store.

Akon Mykonos Hotel and Villas

And so when Mykonos-related news crosses my desk, I pay attention. I’ve been wanting to revisit the ilsand for years (though I hear the gravel pathways we navigated on bikes are now highways and the island is busier than ever). One such place of interest to entice me back to this Greek gem, however, is Akon Mykonos Hotel and Villas. With views across to Deios from the bay of Agios Ioannis on which the Akon Villas sit, this hub of luxury and relaxation on the island’s southwest corner has me begging for a visit.

Family-friendly Mykonos

Extremely family-friendly, deliciously spacious and totally private, all villas (which come with three, four, five or six bedrooms) are replete with a private pool. And while your accomodation will afford you solitude and a home-from-home, you can still enjoy the pampering of a five-star hotel thanks to the amenities of the neighbouring Saint John Hotel, which guests are free to enjoy. The private pool of each villa means you can relax with an uninterrupted view of your children swimming and, should you book a villa, you’ll enjoy a chauffeured limousine service to any destination of your choosing (so none of the riding local buses of my youth). The hotel will particularly appeal to little ones, thanks to its fabulous playground and the beautiful private sandy beach on which they can make friends. You’ll love the infinity pool, the presence of an on-site first aid clinic (if you’re a worrier like me), and the gourmet restaurants. The Kalimera restaurant (which translates as “hello” in Greek) overlooks the stunning infinity pool and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks throughout the day.  Should you fancy a break away from your villa or the hotel resort, there are private daytime excursions arranged that are perfect for families of all ages and, if you’re up for really unwinding, the quintessentially Greek named Aphrodite spa will sucker you in in seconds.

The Akon Villas may not afford me the whirly, heady days of my teenage years, but I’m absolutely fine with that. The private pool and classic, sharp blue and stark white surroundings of this gorgeous Greek isle will absolutely suffice.

To view the website for Akon Mykonos Hotel and Vilas, click here.