Celtic Manor Resort – An Honest Family Review 2026

We recently spent a night at Celtic Manor Resort in Wales. Set in the countryside just outside Newport, it’s a mix of luxury hotel, family-friendly activities, and proper relaxation, which made it perfect for a little break away.

We caught an early morning flight from Ireland and travelled to Newport train station. Newport is well connected with direct services from places like London, Bristol, and Cardiff. From there, it was just a short taxi ride up to the resort. If you’re driving, the resort is conveniently located just off the M4 (Junction 24), making it really accessible from across South Wales and the South West. There’s plenty of on-site parking available too, but just a heads up – parking is chargeable with special rates for overnight guests.(The rate depends which car park you use and is between £13.50 – £25)

The Celtic Manor Resort Hotel

The Celtic Manor Resort itself is huge, more like a destination than just a hotel. It’s set within around 2,000 acres of parkland, so everything feels very open and scenic. The reception area is large and spacious. We arrived a little early and there was no queue in reception, and plenty of space to relax if you needed to wait. 

The room was large and cosy with a big comfy bed, sofa bed for the kids  and everything you need for an easy, relaxing stay. There were even some sweets and popcorn for the kids which was a hit! There’s a really good mix of rooms depending on what you’re after too. You’ve got standard superior and deluxe rooms, family rooms with extra space and sofa beds, and then more upgraded suites if you want to make it feel a bit more special. They also have “Signature” rooms and suites which are adults-only and come with extras like lounge access and little perks, or even bigger self-catering lodges with hot tubs – perfect if you’re going as a group. Overall, it’s one of those places where you can go simple and comfortable or fully treat-yourself luxury depending on your holiday style.

We had a balcony, and although there was no seating, we loved how bright and open it made the room feel with the sliding doors wide open. We really lucked out with the weather so it was lovely to enjoy the views in the sun.

Things to Do at Celtic Manor Resort

There is no shortage of things to do at the Celtic Manor Resort, with loads of bookable activities, there is something for everyone. Most are available on weekends and during school holidays, although there are some that are one everyday. During summer and school holidays there are often special themed activities too.  You can view their activity brochure here.

We were there over Easter and our two headed down for Easter Crafts shortly after check in. We headed to Activity Central on the same level as the Health Club, and the kids had an hour of painting and colouring. The Activity Central is also where the games room is located, which is a great place to pass some time in between things to do. There is a small play area with a play kitchen – great for little ones, and a colouring section. They also had a pool table, air hockey (£1 token), shuffleboard, darts and a Playstation. There is also seating so mums and dads can chill while the little ones play.

We also did the Forest Nets the following morning, which was a highlight for us all. It is a canopy maze set in the trees, with 4 different areas and 2 slides. The nets are really bouncy, so it’s a bit like being on a giant trampoline. In some areas there are balls to play with, and there are two slides to zip down as you navigate through. This was suitable for ages 3+, and after some initial nerves from my youngest, we all had a blast bouncing and playing together. There is also mini golf, archery, laser tag and more! If you are there mid week, or if you don’t fancy the bookable activities, there is also a lovely play park with climbing frames, a big slide and swing. This is located beside the mini golf and a few minutes walk from the front of the hotel. 

While the boys did their arts and crafts, I headed off to the spa for an amazing massage. The Celtic Manor Resort spa was gorgeous, and the staff were all so friendly. They offer a wide range of treatments and with it being located all in the same building it makes it so handy to nip away for an hour of relaxation.  Check out the spa treatments here.

In this area you will also find the swimming pool. This pool is lovely and spacious, with a separate area for kids. There are also jacuzzis, saunas and steam rooms for the grown ups. Each guest can book two 45-minute swim sessions per stay. These can be booked as two separate sessions of 45 minutes across the length of your stay, or combined to one 90 minute session. We did our swimming stay the following day after check out to really get the most of our time there. It ended up being a great idea, as there is so much to do it’s hard to fit everything in between check in and check out! The changing rooms have lockers, showers, hairdryers, making it easy if you want to book swimming before or after you have access to your room.

There are also plenty of walking trails, and you can find maps of these in the activity area, or with the concierge. Trails vary in length and ability, with a couple suitable for prams and wheelchairs. It’s a beautiful area and these walking trails would be the perfect thing to do on a sunny morning after breakfast!

If you are a golf lover then this is a perfect place! Celtic Manor was the home of the 2010 Ryder Cup, and there are 3 championship courses you can book a tee time on! 

Where to eat at Celtic Manor Resort

With so many options on site at the Celtic Manor Resort, you could easily stay a few nights and not run out of places to try. You’ve got Steak on Six for a more special, adults-only steak dinner with amazing views, while PAD is perfect if you love Asian-inspired dishes like bao buns and curries. Rafters leans more towards modern Welsh fine dining (a bit dressier), and The Olive Tree & Garden Room is great for relaxed meals, buffets, or even afternoon tea. There are also cafés, bars, and even room service if you just want something easy. Some restaurants are located outside the main resort building at the golf course or the Manor House. Pop by the concierge and they will arrange a free shuttle.

We opted for family-friendly The Grill, located in the clubhouse overlooking the Roman Road golf course. With classics like burgers, steaks, and pasta.  The concierge was happy to arrange a shuttle for us, but it was such a nice evening we opted for the ten minute walk to the clubhouse. The service here was top notch. They were so friendly and accommodating for the kids, while also making it feel like a special night out for the grown ups.

Breakfast in the morning was in the Olive Tree and had everything you would expect from a large buffet breakfast. We were there around 8am, and there was no wait for a table, although I can imagine during peak times it could be very busy.

We also visited the Forum Cafe after swimming, which is located on the same level. This is a casual cafe with sandwiches, cakes and coffees. They also have a small ice cream counter, perfect for an afternoon treat. 

Celtic Manor Resort – our Verdict

We loved our stay at Celtic Manor Resort and the kids are already asking when can we go back! We really wanted to make the most of our 1 night stay, so we arrived around 2pm with the idea that we would explore the grounds for a bit, but our room was ready early so we checked straight in. We did one booked activity each day, crafts on check in day, and then forest nets the following morning. We also visited the games room and playground each day. After we checked out we had a small walk and trip to the playground before going swimming. I thought booking swimming for after check out was a great idea, as trying to fit this in between booked activities and dinner etc was a bit rushed. This way we got to relax and the change rooms were fully equipped for getting ready after! We didn’t leave until about 4pm the day of check out, so it really felt like we had a proper getaway. When it was time to leave the concierge booked us a taxi back to the train station. (Both taxis we took were cash only, which we were not prepared for. Luckily there is a cash machine in the hotel reception area, if you find yourself in the same situation!)

Overall, Celtic Manor exceeded our expectations. The hotel has a great mix of family friendly, and luxury touches, which makes it so easy for everyone to relax and have fun. One of the best parts is once you are here, you don’t need to go anywhere else! Meals, things to do, entertainment, it’s all here! (And I highly recommend sneaking off to the spa for an hour if you can!) Our one night break felt like a real holiday, and everyone left happy and relaxed dreaming of another visit.

Check out our review of The Mole Resort, Devon.

This post contains affiliate links.