Best family villas in France: where to stay in Normandy, Brittany, Dordogne, Provence and Burgundy

Whether you jump on a ferry from Dover or hop on a Eurostar train, France is a convenient choice for family holidays. With beautiful beaches, delicious cuisine and lush countryside to explore, it’s not surprising that over nine million Brits travel to France each year. 

From cultural city breaks to the obvious draw of Disneyland Paris and pretty coastal resorts in between, there are plenty of French destinations to visit with kids. And if you’re looking for a spacious base, it’s well worth considering a villa, or gites as they're more commonly known across the Channel. 

Many come with pools and gardens that are sure to appeal to younger guests. Offering peace and privacy while providing the freedom to fit around your family’s routine, villas make a great choice for larger families or those wanting the flexibility of a self-catering setup. 

But what are the best regions in France to visit with your family and how do you find the best villa to suit your needs? We’ve tapped into tried-and-tested recommendations from Mumsnet users to bring you the best places to stay for a bonnes vacances. 

Best places to stay for a villa holiday in France 

1. Dordogne

Why Mumsnetters love it

The Dordogne is amazing and loads to do. Beautiful scenery, castles, loads of pre-history, canoeing, medieval towns like Sarlat and lots of pretty villages.” (Mumsnet user Mynamesnotsam)

Book a kayaking trip! It's always our favourite thing to do in the Dordogne” (Mumsnet user Cataline) 

Thanks to its stunning scenery, beautiful castles and adrenaline-filled river activities, the Dordogne Valley makes a popular choice for family holidays and you’ll find a wealth of activities to entertain kids of all ages.

For children aged seven plus, a canoe trip down the river is an absolute must, along with exploring the prehistoric cave paintings on one of the many cave tours on offer in the region. 

Younger children will love embracing their inner knight and practising their sword fighting skills at the Tours de Merle medieval towers. Feeding the monkeys at Rocamadour Park after a picnic in the sunshine offers a fun-filled experience for all.

2. Normandy

Why Mumsnetters love it

We stayed near Honfleur which is lovely, with plenty to do there (our children were about eight and ten). We made trips across to Bayeux, to see the tapestry and battle Normandy museum etc. My favourite day trip was definitely the castle birthplace of William the Conqueror at Falaise. The town is really nice too.” CasparBloomberg

Bayeux Tapestry is a must. There is a British war cemetery at Bayeux......immaculately kept, white tombstones. There is also a German war cemetery (can't remember exactly where) where the tombstones are grey.” Eddiemairswife

Perhaps best known for its part in World War II history, Normandy is home to the iconic D-Day landing Omaha Beach, and the Bayeux Tapestry from 1066 - a great way to support children’s school lessons about William the Conqueror. 

It’s not all about history however, Normandy is also home to some stunning landscapes and an incredible coastline. It’s a great place to hire bikes and explore beautiful natural surroundings including forests and nature trails. The gardens that inspired impressionist artist Claude Monet are also worth a spot on your jam-packed itinerary. 

Read next: The best family hotels in Paris according to parents

3. Brittany

What Mumsnet users say

We have had quite a few holidays in the Sarzeau area, South Brittany, on the southern edge of the Gulf de Morbihan. Just over a 3-hour drive from Caen. Beautiful beaches, boat trips etc on the gulf itself, lots of nice harbours, fabulous seafood, plus Vannes is a lovely town on the north side of the Gulf.” (Mumsnet user Vickythevan63)

We started going to Brittany when our daughters were six and eight. Perfect for young families. There are lots of places in Brittany to visit with children.” (Mumsnet user OrangeBlossom28)

On the northwest coast of France, Brittany is home to some of the country’s best beaches, making it an ideal choice for a traditional family holiday by the sea. With plenty of stunning traffic-free trails, active families will also love hiking or hiring bikes to explore the beautiful Brittany countryside. 

Children will appreciate a visit to the Chateau de Fougeres - a fairytale-style castle and one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe. Younger guests will also love laying their eyes on life-sized dinosaurs and prehistoric exhibits at the Parc de Préhistoire de Bretagne. 

4. Provence

Why Mumsnetters love it

Provence is such a lovely area. Rousillion is a hilltop town where the rocks are a lovely red. Les Baux de Provence is a gorgeous medieval fortress/town built into the hills. Near Cavaillon, there is a bright blue beautiful grotto pond under white cliffs that bushes into a crazy river in spring when the snows melt in the Alps (think it’s called Isle sur la Sorgue). Then there’s the Roman Pont du Gard in between Avignon and Nimes. The lavender fields. Plus the beautiful towns of Arles, Nimes, Avignon etc" Honeyroar

I had a lovely week in Oppede. We stayed in a villa that was split into apartments and we all had access to a great pool. It was near to lots of beautiful hilltop towns to wander around. And lavender!” Spudina

I went to Provence by train with two young kids. It was dead easy. The train from London left at 07.30. Arrived in Avignon at 13.30 to 40-degree heat. Hired a car out of the station and it was a 40-minute drive to our villa.” Spudina

A popular choice for multi-generational holidays, it doesn’t come much more quintessentially French than Provence, with rolling lavender fields, picturesque villages and endless countryside to explore. 

Children will love paddling in the calm warm waters of the beautiful beaches across the region, while trips to Avignon’s medieval fortresses and Les Baux de Provence village make great days out for the whole family to enjoy. 

If your kids are learning French at school, why not head to a traditional market square where they can practise their language skills and help you indulge in the local cheese and wine.

Read next: The best destinations in the south of France for family holidays

5. Burgundy

Why Mumsnetters love it

Burgundy. Lots of wine and fabulous food, places to visit. Oh and did I mention the wine? Not too far to drive from the Channel crossings (five hours or so). I have been to many places in France and this was one of my best.” drivingtofrance

While this wine region known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is understandably popular with couples, it also makes a relaxing base for a family holiday - a great place to switch off and soak up the stunning surroundings. 

While you’ll find fewer activities tailored specifically for kids in this region, Burgundy has fantastic countryside cycle routes along the Voie Verte, offering stunning views of the vineyards, villages and River Saone. 

Best family villas in Burgundy 

Which part of France is good for families?

With so many diverse regions to explore, you can’t go wrong with most French resorts in France, with plenty of outdoor activities and family-friendly attractions to explore. That said, the Dordogne is a popular choice among Mumsnetters, providing the perfect balance of natural beauty, cultural activities and fun-filled attractions to cater for guests of all ages.

What's included in the price of a villa holiday?

The full list of what's included will depend upon the specific villa you stay in, however the vast majority of villa bookings provide all bed linen and towels, with the cost of WiFi and utility bills included in your package.  

It's important to leave the villa exactly the way you found it, as many villas request a refundable security deposit to cover the cost of any breakages or damages. They may also charge a fee to bring in their own cleaners at the end of your holiday.

Depending on the location, you might need to pay a separate tourist tax so it's worth checking carefully when booking to see when you might need to pay it. It's also worth asking whether there are any extra fees for use of the facilities (e.g. heating the pool) or for parking on site. 

Along with travel insurance, to cover you in case of unexpected cancellation, you may find better protection from cancellation policies when booking through an online travel agency like Booking.com or Vrbo rather than direct with a villa owner.

Do you need to hire a car in France?

It’s very convenient to get to France via plane, ferry or the Eurostar and while the French public transport network is very good, you may want to hire a car for a more comfortable way to explore upon arrival, especially if travelling with young children. 

Whether you need to hire a car will ultimately depend on where you’re staying and what’s on your itinerary. If you intend to visit locations further afield from your villa or explore more scenic areas such as the Loire Valley, Provence, and the French Riviera, hiring a car may be the most affordable and practical option. On the flip side, driving around big cities like Paris can be extremely challenging with limited parking available. 

How we chose our recommendations

Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which destinations in France were being recommended. We then did some online research, looking at which regions and villas come highly rated on review sites and booking sites like Booking.com, Oliver’s Travels, Vrbo, Airbnb and Tripadvisor. We scrutinised user reviews to ensure positive guest experiences before narrowing down our list of the best villas in France for families. 

About the author

Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in product reviews and roundups. Having written reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products to help people make confident purchases. She has also written for US parenting site Pregistry and the Evening Standard. 

As a city dweller, Lucy lives for the summer holidays, relishing the opportunity to travel with her daughters and get that first sight of the sea, whether that's staying at one of the best family hotels in Cornwall, or exploring the best Mark Warner or Neilson resorts for active family breaks.

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