The 10 best family-friendly hotels in Washington D.C. for a historic adventure

This boutique hotel right next to Union Station looks way too stylish to be kid-friendly, right? Wrong. The Kimpton George has a range of ‘extras’ entirely focused on making sure the whole family can stay here happily. These include their First Family package which gives you discounts on parking and multiple room bookings, kid-friendly treats and a backpack and water bottle combo. The hotel also subscribes to a “Forgot it? We’ve got it!” programme and have teamed up with 4moms to provide high quality baths, ‘playards’, changing equipment and a rocking seat perfect for putting infants in when you need your hands free to deal with the day’s itinerary (or just to comb your hair for the first time in a week). There’s also a welcome gift for your child as well. 

Mood? A quirky and amusing take on historic Washington.
Location perks? If your kid’s into museums, you’re in for a treat.
Budget range? Your big once-a-year city break.

Located pleasingly close to the zoo, the Omni Shoreham Hotel has that all-important blend of headline kids features with the adult-friendly small print ‘things’ that, yes, seem boring but often make a big difference. For example, the hotel’s ‘Stay Together’ allows you to book interconnecting but separate rooms (ideal for giving older kids space or putting a younger one to bed earlier without worrying about being actually separated from them). There’s also lovely bulbous pool and ample garden space, both perfect for when you need an additional late-afternoon activity that doesn’t involve venturing back outside the hotel. And we really rate the Omni Junior Chef’s Program which gives little eaters a welcome bag with organic snacks, activities and a wholesome menu.

Mood? Refined elegance.
Location perks? Make the Smithsonian National Zoological Park your first stop!
Budget range? Treat the family.

Another high-end hotel in the heart of Washington DC that is also surprisingly family-friendly, the Four Seasons delivers luxury without compromising on the practicalities of traveling with children. The hotel will happily provide baby hardware (monitors, bottle warmers, strollers, bath products, the lot!) along with some thoughtful ‘software’ like local itineraries aimed at younger brains and bodies. Board games, sports equipment and kids’ menus (inc. the possibility of a slap-up brekkie in bed) sweetens the deal even further. And if you’re looking for some mother-teenage-daughter bonding time, why not treat her to the hotel’s delicious afternoon tea? 

Mood? All the Four Seasons usually is.
Location perks? Site-seeing spot par excellence.
Budget range? Go big while you're away from home!

If you want a Washington DC hotel that really and truly makes you feel like you are in Washington DC, try this one. The Capitol Hill Hotel is, as the name suggests, about close to the Capitol as you can get without pitching a tent on the National Mall. It’s also got a range of family-friendly attributes, including suites with full kitchens and refrigerators. They’ll also provide pack-n-plays, highchairs and rollaway beds. If your children are on the older side, make use of the hotel’s bike-borrowing program and zip around town on one of their super cute red bicycles. 

Mood? Urban intellectual.
Location perks? Capitol Hill, baby!
Budget range? Leaves a little more in your account for trips out and about.

Another of those Washington hotels that looks way too sophisticated to welcome small people with sticky hands, the Lyle is proudly family-friendly and offers some one-of-a-kind cute perks. The ‘Little Lyle’ experience package includes an in-room teepee, a new cuddly croc friend and a book ‘Lyle Lyle Crocodile’. You can also ask for additional cots, toys and books, and stay in interconnecting rooms and suites, some of which have handy kitchenettes. Oh, and they deliver soft serve ice cream right to your door. We know more than a few kids that might impress…

Mood? Simplicity and grace.
Location perks? Midway between the zoo and the White House.
Budget range? Another one to save up for.

The pretty much iconic Fairmont will tick a lot of boxes for any adults booking a stay, but it’s also more welcoming to families than you might expect. The hotel offers family rooms (additional cots are standard) or you can book the hotel’s interconnecting rooms family package (designed for two adults and two kids), which includes the sweet add-on of a free in room movie, plus four sodas and two bags of popcorn. The Fairmont is also one of the few hotels in this area to have an all-ages indoor pool and - wait for it - a resident ‘canine ambassador’ named Georgie, an adopted labrador. They also offer bikes to rent and have a babysitting service - perfect for a vacation date night. 

Mood? A contemporary take on old fashioned glamor.
Location perks? A great West End base to start each day’s exploring from.
Budget range? For when you’re really feeling flush.

A former bank, this sumptuously decorated five-star hotel is a real treat just to look at. They offer the Family Stay Package which includes a discount on interconnecting rooms and a range of treats for little ones, including a Riggsy Bear (with hotel decor-matching ribbon, naturally), a Riggs Adventure Passport, colouring pages and some other little treats. We think, however, that this would be a great place to take older children who might enjoy, for example, a very fancy weekend brunch in the gorgeous Cafe Riggs.

Mood? Maximalist luxury that isn’t afraid of color and pattern.
Location perks? Love museums? Then you’re in for a treat…
Budget range? You might want to visit your current bank before you stay in this former one…

Located in the lovely Wharf, Hyatt House is a great choice for a family stay with active teenagers. There’s a brilliant *seasonal* rooftop pool - which you can see the Potomac from - and super easy access to the waterfront piers, where you can rent kayaks, paddle boards and water taxis. You can also use the hotel’s BBQs and enjoy time around the outdoor fireplace. The H Bar restaurant and the complimentary breakfast both cater to classic American tastes with lots of ‘family favorite’ dishes on the menu.

Mood? Unpretentious attractiveness.
Location perks? Go undercover at the nearby International Spy Museum
Budget range? More pleasantly ‘middle’.

Another addition to the reinvigorated Wharf area of town, the InterContinental trades on its superb location and its internal elegance. There’s a very cool rooftop pool with river views (again, seasonal and weather dependent - only the super hardcore would take an al fresco dip in the Washington winters), and proximity to a golf course, plus canoeing and fishing. The spa facilities are perfect for some alone time for you - or for your extremely glamorous daughter with her scarily complex facial routine.

Mood? Streamlined chic.
Location perks? Beautiful waterfront views.
Budget range? Getting higher but not super expensive.

If the mere idea of visiting a hotel with your brood in tow fills you with horror given their superhuman ability to destroy tidy rooms in seconds, consider the relaxing environment of the Residence Inn. The studios and suites in this fun hotel are decorated in a way that is truly family friendly (yes, even if they never stay sat down while eating a snack). They offer super convenient in-room kitchenettes (dishwasher included) along with spacious eating areas and a living room space. To make traveling-with-kids even easier, make use of the hotel’s laundry services. 

Mood? Home from home (yes, really).
Location perks? Catch a game at Nationals Park.
Budget range? Affordable to mid-range.