A weekend break in Slough in one of those faceless hotels you see on motorway feeder road roundabouts all over the country? Why would anyone choose to spend a night there, unless they were a travelling salesman or hapless executive trapped by a conference?

The answer is that the Copthorne is 20 minutes’ drive from Legoland in Windsor, one of several hotels that fill empty beds at weekends with family packages that include a theme-park pass. I had been brushing aside my daughter’s “When can we go to Legoland?” with the standard “We’ll see” for too long, and when she asked again before her fifth birthday I didn’t have the heart to fob her off. And why drive right across London on a Sunday morning when we could arrive the night before and be first in the queue?

The family room was comfortable, if cramped — a double for Mum and Dad and a pull-out sofa-bed big enough for the birthday girl and her 11-year-old brother.

What to do in the hours before supper? We joined other families splashing about in the hotel’s small pool, although the water was pretty chilly, and the Jacuzzi was out of action, making the steam room and sauna very inviting.

The food would be nothing to write home about, but then I noticed the elegant Turner’s Grill, run by celebrity chef Brian Turner, with a truly mouthwatering menu. Not the venue for an early family supper, sadly, so we headed for Café Retrouve. We were served promptly, with friendly efficiency — a key to successful eating out with children. They ordered pizzas from the children’s menu, while we scanned the adult version.

My husband’s open ravioli of butternut squash, asparagus spears and Spanish onion wouldn’t have shamed the trendiest of London bistros. The buffet breakfast next day was possibly the best I’ve had in a hotel: huge silver salvers keeping the full English piping hot, plus an excellent continental range. Service was excellent, with frequent top-ups of tea and coffee.

Well rested and fuelled, our Legoland dawn-raid strategy paid off. We barely had to queue for the first few rides; the longest waits were for overpriced, poor-quality food. The highlight was the fire engine race where you spray water on to a mock façade of burning houses, and the 3D cinema offered a nice sit-down before the journey home.

Bottom line: Hilly Janes paid £220 for one night in a family room sleeping four, including breakfast and two-day passes to Legoland, through Superbreak (01904 644455, www.superbreak.com).

Sampling the fare: Two courses for two and two children’s menus, plus soft drinks, cost about £80.

What we think: Takes the strain out of a theme-park day out.

Best thing: Excellent service.

Worst thing: Lack of atmosphere.

Need to know: Copthorne Hotel Slough-Windsor, Cippenham Lane, Slough Berkshire SL1 2YE (01753 516222, www.millenniumhotels.com).

Access all areas: Wheelchair access to restaurants and bar, steps to pool. Six wheelchair- adapted rooms; one with “fully disabled” bathroom.

Room: 6 out of 10.

Food: 7 out of 10.

Service: 8 out of 10.

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