Property
Located in a 16th century house in the middle of little Hay-on-Wye, the Seven Stars is an affordable and child-friendly B&B. The family room (or suite, really) is large, bright and airy, with two bedrooms, a bathroom and a sitting room. The rooms have stone walls, oak beams and creaky floors, a TV and coffee/tea/hot chocolate-making facilities.

Location
A few hours from London, Hay-on-Wye is just across the border in Wales. This is the original book town. Book shops (including children’s) and other quirky stores abound. Book shelves even line the walls of spooky, 12th century Hay Castle. My daughters, one teen and one 7-year-old, adored browsing old fairytales in the castle book shop. Next door to the B&B is a large old-fashioned toy shop. My youngest spent most of her holiday money on stuffed animals here.

Hay is located in the beautiful Welsh marches and the area offers great hiking, pony trekking and canoeing in the River Wye. Every Thursday, a market is held around the town clock, where you can buy everything you need for a picnic by Hay Castle.

Sleeps
2 – 4.

Highlights
The heated indoor swimming pool and sauna is a definite highlight – and unusual for a B&B. My kids liked it so much they would rather keep swimming than have breakfast. Their loss, as Russell, owner and award-winning chef, prepared a delicious Full Welsh breakfast with eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, smoked haddock and fruit compote.

Good to know
Several tea rooms and restaurants are very close to the B&B. We enjoyed The Granary, a large lively pub across the street, with a large menu, including lots of child-friendly fare.

In May-June, the Hay Festival offers heaps of great events for children: animation, poetry, drama, yoga, opera, story telling, street dance and much more.

Contact
http://theseven-stars.co.uk/

January 4th, 2010 | by Anne-Sophie Redisch