Hôtel Barrière Le Westminster: A luxury family weekend in Le Touquet

CHECK-IN: Hôtel Barrière Le Westminster

Set in an idyllic, quiet town just 45 minutes from Calais, the Hôtel Barrière Le Westminster boasts luxury and charm. Sitting up on a hill, the grand hotel is in a prime position as you first enter Le Touquet. Perfectly placed next to a quaint market with boutique shops, opposite the Barrière Casino.

Arriving at the foot of the hotel’s entrance, you could be stepping out of an Aston Martin into a Bond film. This might have something to do with the fact Le Touquet was actually the inspiration behind the fictional French town of “Royale-les-Eaux” in “Casino Royale”. The entrance hall is fit for a movie star with a wall of fame that leads to Le Westminster’s one of two outstanding restaurants.

The hotel is grand and luxurious, but still retains a cosy feel, with stone fireplaces, a low lit bar with antique arm chairs and our favourite feature - a typical French lift that runs through the middle of the hotel, straight out of the 1930s. Walking through the picturesque town you’ll find a number of small shops (we recommend taking a visit to the Beussent Chocolate shop and Chais Wine shop). This will take you to authentic restaurants and a huge stretch of sandy beach.

THE ROOMS

With 16 interconnecting family rooms, Le Westminster accommodates families of all sizes. We stayed in a king size room looking out from the front of the hotel, with a scenic view of the town and the Le Touquet countryside. Each room has its own individual style, some light and airy with a more modern feel, with some more cosy and traditional. The remote control blinds, a melt-in-to king size bed and a glorious breakfast spread delivered straight to your bedside, makes it hard to get up for the day! Every room is spacious, with a vast amount of storage and wardrobe space, meaning you can really relax and enjoy the full space of the room. The stylish bathrooms have been designed with luxury in mind, with most containing two sinks, a bath and a shower. Read more about the various rooms here.

ROOM TREATS

In addition to the luxury toiletries in the bathroom (with a nail kit and mini vanity set as little extras), each day you’ll find a box of delicious treats, we particularly enjoyed the French macaroons.

THE POOL & SPA

Relax and unwind in the spa found in the lower ground of the hotel. With a pool, Jacuzzi and tranquil spa. We fully relaxed with a deep tissue massage - rejuvenate with an hour and a half of pure relaxation. There is also a pool with loungers, so you can carry on the relaxation whilst the children play in the pool.

FOR KIDS

A five-minute walk from the hotel, through the Le Touquet town, you’ll find the gold, sandy beach stretching 12km. If you’re heading to Le Touquet in the summer, you can stock up on all beach necessities with plenty of shops selling buckets and spades. Head to Aqualud for some water park fun, open all summer from April. If you want to take in the scenery, you can go horse riding in the sand dunes or across the countryside, with the Equestrian Center Touquet Paris-Plage only five minute’s drive from the hotel. Further south along the beach, the Centre Nautique has ‘Tiny Boats’ all set up and ready for children to become mini sailors in an afternoon.

THE FOOD

The hotel’s Le Pavilion restaurant holds one Michelin star, headed up by chef William Elliott. Make sure to try the tasting menu, let the chefs work their magic and surprise you with their recommendations. For the mornings, le Brasserie provide a delicious buffet, which you can also order right to your bed (which we would HIGHLY recommend). There is plenty of options for children and the chefs will even offer to put together a packed lunch if you are off out for the day. Outside of the hotel, there are plenty of restaurants, full of French charm and delectable, fresh seafood choices.

CHECK-OUT:

Website: Hôtel Barrière Le Westminster

Address: Avenue du Verger, 62520 Le Touquet, France

Phone number: +33(0) 321 054 848

Prices start at £170 per night

• Only an hour from Kings Cross St Pancras to Calais and 40-minute drive to Le Touquet, this is an easy family getaway for anytime of the year.