The budget all-inclusive family holiday you’ve (probably) never heard of
Louisa Sherlock
Associate EditorWant an active – and affordable – holiday that will keep children AND adults entertained? We've found it … and it’s definitely not where you’d expect
Keeping the kids entertained on holiday, especially with the unpredictable UK weather, can be tricky. So finding somewhere with free activities – from paddle boarding and rafting to shooting and zip lining – plus all your meals included AND a heated outdoor pool is quite literally the dream.
Step forward PGL. Yep, they’re not just locations for your child’s school residential. Instead, their centres in Devon and Lincolnshire cater for families during the school holidays. Who knew?!
I travelled to Barton Hall in Torquay for a 4-night break with my husband and our sons aged 8 and 10 during the May half term. Here’s our verdict (and why we’re totally booking again!).
And keep reading to find out the special discount PGL is offering Netmums readers ...
Why choose PGL family holidays?
Are you kids constantly on the go? Then this is the holiday for you. There’s no sitting around wondering how to fill your day, or paying for expensive activities when it rains.
You’ll be doing 4 activities a day as a family, probably ones you’ve never tried before (including an ENORMOUS giant swing).
And don’t worry if you’re not overly sporty. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do any of the activities but surprised myself with what I could do. Jumping through the air to catch a trapeze being a personal highlight!
What’s included in a PGL family holiday?
Pretty much everything. All your meals, activities, the heated outdoor pool and evening entertainment are all included. There’s also a huge basketball court, football goals and table tennis that your kids can use at any time. On top of that there’s a choice of inflatable courses that are set up in the toasty pool twice a day.
The fact it’s all included makes it a really affordable holiday. Prices start from £159 per person and there’s no need to keep forking out cash if your kids suddenly want to try their hand at microscooters, aeroball or axe throwing.
You do need to pay extra for alcohol and soft drinks, although your kids can have free squash during their meals. There’s also a dry ski slope which costs £20 to have a go.
Who should go on a PGL family holiday?
It’s perfect for kids aged from 5 upwards – there was a mix of tweens and teens when we visited – and they can be as independent as they like. When they weren’t doing the activities with us, our boys were off playing with other children they’d met.
The instructors are around in between activities and are literally amazing with the kids. We'd often find the boys having an impromptu football match against some of the staff!
PGL is also a great holiday for single parent families. You’re put into a group with other families for your activities. This means you instantly have people to chat with. Our group was absolutely lovely and we spent the trip hanging out together (and showing off our mum and dad dancing at the silent disco!).
What activities can we do on a PGL family holiday?
On arrival you’ll be given your family timetable. This shows the activities you’ll be doing each day, usually 2 in the morning and 2 after lunch.
We did abseiling, archery, raft building, giant paddleboarding, trapeze, zip lining and loads more. There’s also the biggest swing you’ve ever seen (see below). One of the nicest things about PGL is that you do all the activities with your kids. It was lovely to see them try everything, and to hear them encourage each other even if they were feeling a bit nervous.
While it’s an on-the-go holiday, it’s all optional. Fancy chilling out by the pool? That’s totally fine, too. We skipped a couple of activities so the boys could have a swim in the pool and we could chill out for a bit.
Here’s the list of activities on offer at Barton Hall:
- Abseiling
- Giant swing
- Jacob's ladder
- Vertical climbing
- Aeroball
- Archery
- Ball sports
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- Zip wires
- Climbing
- Trapeze
- Sensory trail
- Survivor
- Dragon boating
- Giant stand up paddleboarding
- Dry ski slope (additional cost)
- Fencing
- Forest trail
- Hiking
And loads more!
What is the accommodation like at PGL?
Rooms are fairly basic but to be honest, you’re barely in them. Choose from interconnecting rooms with single beds for you and bunk beds for the kids. Or you can have a bunk room for the whole family. All have private bathrooms, heaters and tea and coffee.
I had the best nights' sleep I've had in months, which is reason in itself to go back!
Where to eat
PGL might usually cater for school groups, but that doesn’t mean the food is anything like the school canteen. There’s a huge choice of tasty dishes like curry, pasta bakes and fish, and vegetarian options too.
There’s also a salad bar, crates of fresh fruit and help-yourself puddings (the donuts are not to be missed!).
All your meals are included and if you’re feeling peckish again later on, the Devi bar sells pizzas that you can eat inside or on the sun terrace.
We’d planned to head into Torquay one evening to try a local restaurant (there’s loads to choose from) but ended up staying onsite the whole holiday.
Who goes on PGL family holidays?
Everyone! You can visit with kids and adults of all ages. There were families there with grandparents too.
However, while all ages are definitely welcome, children generally need to be aged 5 and above to do most of the activities. Any younger and they might not be big enough for the safety harnesses
What do I need to pack?
One minute you’re in the lake, the next you’re climbing up the tricky Jacobs Ladder. Which means it’s hard to know what to pack. You’ll need long trousers for some of the activities, swimming costumes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet in the lake. PGL has a handy kit list so you know what to bring with you, along with what to wear for each session.
How long are PGL family holidays?
You can choose from a 2, 3 or 4-night stay during the school holidays. We stayed for 4 nights but could happily have stayed longer!
They also offer Family Activity Days at their Torquay and Lincolnshire sites where you'll get to try out some of the activities on offer.
What else do I need to know?
One of the biggest wins for me was the fact it’s a screen free holiday. There are no TVs in the rooms and there’s actually no time for the kids to even think about their devices. I was barely on my phone either which was a big win.
Overall, it’s a holiday that completely de-stresses you. After all, you can’t be worrying about work or life when you’re jumping through the air reaching for a trapeze! You’ll leave feeling super proud of what you and your kids have achieved.
How much are PGL family holidays?
Prices start from £159pp, which includes your room, your food, activities and full use of the pool. However the lovely folk at PGL are offering a special discount for Netmums.
Enter the promocode NETMUM23 for the following discount:
- 10% off Kids’ Adventure Camps, including Specialist Camps
- 10% off Family Adventure Breaks
- 10% off Family Activity Days
Book by 31 August 2023 and travel by 31 October 2023. See full Ts & Cs on the PGL website.
*Louisa Sherlock was a guest of PGL. All views her own.
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