of greenery in the Royal Parks. The view from our Executive Room at the Royal Garden Hotel in High StreetKensington afforded a stunningview of Kensington Gardens, which, even on the early evening of a rather grey Fridaywas sprinkled with dog

, pool, gym, treatment rooms and tennis courts. There’s also a restaurant and a bar with a cosy log fire and a spectacular view across New Grimbsy Harbour. Entry to Tresco’s beautiful Abbey Gardens is included, too.Christmas rates are from £1,600 per

, take part in specially tailored tours of nearby Victoria Falls and game drives and enjoy drumming sessions around the campfire. Bailey Robinson is offering a seven-night stay in the luxurious two-bedroom Garden Cottage from £11,550 for a family of four

at the Intercontinental Aphrodite Hills Hotel, including B&B, transfers and flights with Easyjet. Book with W&O Travel Kids in the Med, tel. 0845 277 3300.AlmyraThis chic boutique hotel in Paphos, part of the Thanos Hotels group, is very popular with stylish families

lovers can see white lions roaming free. The Gondwana Family Lodge resembles a typical thatched Karoo homestead and has children’s activity rooms, a spacious lawn, an outdoor play area and pool. A guide will even take children through the gardens

parillero (barbecue-pit room) ressemble a Kandinsky-meets-Richard Rogers art installation; the games room is a Cubist fantasy; even the vegetable gardens exhibit pleasing symmetry. Your children will be adored by staff, and you will be bowled over

and tranquillity. With 360 degree windows crowned by contrasting panels of stained glass, the bright sunlight floods in, highlighting the elaborate curtains of ivy which cascade down the walls. It’s a welcome sight for the weary traveller, and augurs well for a

a little disappointed to discover a pretty courtyard garden, complete with a lemon tree with plumptious fruit, but sadly no pool. (We did later take a tour of one of the stunning three-bedroom Imperial Garden Villas, complete with its own majestic 16

), with a separate living area and touches like ornatearchways, colourful lanterns and rich Berber carpets. Eight of thepavilions have their own pool and extended private garden and severalhave a minzah (a gazebo) and a courtyard with a splashing fountain

for fearless Joe, though I was getting a little tired of looking like a drowned rat as another bucket a water toppled on my head. And we must have floated round in the giant rubber rings for hours, traveling through rapids, torrents and dodging waterfalls