Review: Wookey Hole Hotel, Wookey Hole and COVID19 Restrictions
Working all the way through COVID19 has felt like a bit of a slog, and we booked some much needed time off before the kids go back to school next week.
Wookey Hole came up in my timehop for back in July and the kids all expressed an interest in heading back for a re-visit.
I looked into various options for staying in the area and the best value option was to stay at the Wookey Hole Hotel, using their summer package.
The Wookey Hole Hotel is situated alongside to the world famous Wookey Hole Caves Attraction, near Wells in Somerset, making it a great base for exploring locally.
I loved the look of the Witches Hat VIP suite, but it was booked, so we opted for the Superior Family Room which comfortably sleeps 5. We were actually in the curved room in the below right of the picture which also has a witches fun roof above.
The room was ideal for us, with a large double bed and three singles for the kids.
The room also had free WIFI, an LCD TV, Tea and Coffee Making facilities and plenty of space for luggage.
The en-suite bathroom had a bath and over-head shower.
The decor did feel a bit dated in places, but the room was clean, which is what matters in the time of COVID19.
Booking in was straight forward, the receptionist had all our details and advised us which room was ours and that our key was waiting in the door, to prevent touch points. We also had to wear masks in communal areas, including Captain Jack’s Restaurant where you have breakfast.
Captain Jack’s Restaurant is a short stroll from the hotel, just past the crazy golf course. Breakfast is a continental breakfast served in a box, however for £2 extra (£1) for children, you can upgrade it to a cooked breakfast.
COVID19 restrictions in the restaurant mean that plastic cutlery and cardboard cups are used instead of normal cutlery and plates and all the tables are set at least 2m apart.
The hotel felt really quiet and everyone in the restaurant were respectful of social distancing measures. We then wasted some time until the caves opened with a game of crazy golf.
The best bit about staying at the hotel is that you are there early enough to book your timed entry and we managed to get into the Wookey Hole Caves ahead of everyone else, literally having the caves to ourselves, with the exception of the guides.
We all sanitised our hands before we went in and adults have to wear a face mask inside the caves.
Because it was so quiet, we witnessed a guide throwing a rock into the pool, to listen to the ripples slap against the underground caves, which was fascinating.
The kids loved listening to tales of witches, goats and the lives of people who might have lived in the caves. We even spotted a rock formation that looked like a Dementor.
The cave is also used to mature cheese from Ford Farm.
The constant, year-round temperature and humidity offers the ideal conditions to create a cheddar that is deliciously rich, tangy and mature combined with the distinctive, earthy and nutty flavours from the Caves’ unique atmosphere………..we cannot wait to try it once we are home!
Sadly, one of the chambers was closed to the public, so we headed outside to explore, taking the opportunity to recreate a picture from our last visit in 2014.
It is from here I found the rest of our visit disappointing. The fairy garden is a bit of a non-event, the dinosaurs are looking very dated and old, with the exception of a couple of new animatronic ones.
With cinema’s open, we expected the 4D cinema to be open, but sadly it wasn’t, although we did recreate some spells outside.
In fact, much of the activities that we previously enjoyed at Wookey Hole were no longer in action and our entire visit took just 50 minutes. The kids did enjoy the vintage arcade, just make sure you take some change with you.
The caves are well worth seeing, but during these current times I would definitely recommend tying them into to visit to other local attractions like Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury Tor or Wells, where they filmed Hot Fuzz.
Have you been to Wookey Hole?
Claire
I had to count the hotel beds twice, as a family of 5 we often struggle to get a family room that sleeps more than 4 so this is a winner in my eyes.
I’ve never been here but it looks like a great day out x
Jenni
This sounds like a great place to visit with the kids, I really love that they were taking the social distancing measures seriously.
Rebecca Smith
I’ve never been to Wookey Hole but I have been to Cheddar Gorge – we didn’t manage to make time for Wookey Hole but I would like to visit one day. Shame you found some of the visit disappointing.
Liam | Whatthedadsaid
Still looks like a nice place to visit with some good things to do in the surrounding area, at the moment some normal attractions can be a bit up and down depending on what’s been closed off, its not necessarily there fault but some are just not as good at the moment, however it still looks like a fun place and chance to have a little bit of difference this year.
Niraj Shah
I live the mini golf aspect of this! I think this seems like a nice and peaceful place to go to get away from the home environment for a while!
Rhian westbury
I’d love to explore the caves here, it looks like such an awesome and it’s great that you got in before the crowds. It seems like the hotel have done a lot to be safe as well x
Lyndsey O'Halloran
Sounds like a great place to visit. I was supposed to go to Somerset earlier this year but sadly was cancelled
Kira
I’ve never been here or even heard of it but it does look a nice place to take a family visit . Love that they have a crazy golf too
SARAH L FLANAGAN
What a fun place to visit! I love the caves. My daughter and I went to explore a cave years ago
Kristine Nicole Alessandra
Your hotel room is huge. I loved that it was able to fit 3 small beds. That is going to save families some money. The caves you went to was so cool. I am happy you found this hotel and had the chance to spend some outdoors family fun.
Jess Howliston
The hotel sounds lovely but it is such a shame that lots of the other bits were closed. We have been to Wookey Hole a few times and the kids always find the caves fascinating but its all the other bits that turn it into a “family day out” for us. Since we are around an hour drive away I dont think we would risk visiting until everything was definitely open. It sounds like had a lovely stay though.
Kacie Morgan
I remember visiting Wookey Hole on a family holiday when I was younger. It’s good to know it’s still just as popular today 🙂
Jenni
I had never heard of the Wookey Hole Caves before. Looks like a proper adventurous outing, I think my boys would love it.
Anosa
What a lovely hotel and love that you can fit so many beds in it. COVID has changed the landscape of tourism forever.
Playdays and Runways
I’ve heard lots of great things about Wookey Hole but didn’t realise they had a hotel too.
Kathy
I have just returned, a shame that some activities were not available.Covid affected my enjoyment.But I couldn’t fault the cleanliness and the staff were great. I especially like Walter.
Lots to do in the area must remember to return when the virus is beaten.