Winter sun, beautiful interiors and room to run wild.

Sculptural pendant lights and warm Moroccan interiors in the newly redesigned bar at Oasis Lodges Marrakech

All the colour, culture and chaos of Marrakech, with somewhere to escape it all afterwards. And enough space for the children to burn off their energy without taking the furniture with them.

Marrakech has always been an appealing antidote to the British winter. While we're contemplating another four months of grey skies, Morocco is enjoying blue ones and the sort of daytime temperatures that make an outdoor lunch entirely reasonable. But as intoxicating as Marrakech can be, its bustling souks, weaving mopeds and seemingly endless activity aren't necessarily everyone's idea of relaxation, particularly with children in tow. Perhaps the answer isn't to avoid the city, but to give yourself a little distance from it.

Minimalist lounge with woven wooden chairs, sheer curtains and natural textures at Oasis Lodges Marrakech

Just 15 minutes from Jemaa El Fna, Oasis Lodges is set within five hectares of lush gardens, where Marrakech's wonderfully chaotic streets feel a world away. Forget navigating buggies through narrow hotel corridors or worrying about little feet disturbing the guests downstairs. Here, there are separate bedrooms, proper living areas, private gardens and, in selected accommodation, a handy kitchenette for those inevitable requests for food approximately 20 minutes after breakfast. More holiday home than hotel room, only with rather better housekeeping. And following a recent expansion, the newly designed lodges bring an architectural appeal of their own, with striking contemporary interiors that might just be as much of a draw as the winter sunshine.

Behind the new look is Pillot Studio, a family-run interior architecture and design practice founded by Emmanuel, Séverine, Charlotte and Zelda Pillot, with roots in both Marrakech and the French Riviera. Rather than leaning into the heavily embellished riad aesthetic, the design takes its cues from the surrounding landscape. Warm terracotta, mineral textures, sculptural shapes, natural wood and woven details create spaces that feel contemporary without losing their Moroccan identity. It's the sort of interior that makes you want to photograph every corner, but thankfully doesn't feel so precious that you'd spend the entire holiday telling the children not to touch anything.

Of course, the real luxury of travelling as a family isn't always what comes with five stars. Sometimes it's having an actual living room, not having to sit in darkness from 8pm because someone has fallen asleep, or enjoying a morning coffee outside while the children are already investigating the garden. With accommodation for up to six guests and even options with private pools, the lodges offer a little independence without sacrificing the pleasures of staying in a hotel. Because as lovely as family time is, spending seven consecutive days within two metres of one another can test even the most harmonious household.

Beyond your own front door, the extensive gardens offer considerably more freedom than the average city hotel. There's a heated swimming pool for winter dips, a kids' club, archery, table tennis and Moroccan cooking workshops. The neighbouring Oasiria water park is an added bonus for autumn visitors before its seasonal closure in late October. Meanwhile, parents can escape for a spa treatment, yoga or a game of padel, although doing absolutely nothing with a book in the sunshine sounds equally appealing. Particularly when the alternative back home involves locating everyone's missing school shoes in the rain.

Marrakech, Without The Medina?

Curved cream sofa surrounding lush indoor planting in the contemporary lounge at Oasis Lodges Marrakech

One of the pleasures of staying outside the centre is discovering that there's rather more to Marrakech than its admittedly fabulous souks. And while an afternoon wandering the medina should absolutely be on the agenda, there are plenty of alternatives for days when nobody fancies another lesson in the art of haggling.

The Agafay Desert makes a wonderful day out, with its vast, rocky landscape, camel rides and sunset dinners beneath the stars. It isn't quite the towering sand dunes of the Sahara, but its lunar-like scenery has an appeal all of its own, and it's considerably more manageable with children than embarking on a lengthy desert expedition.

For something a little more design-led, ANIMA, artist André Heller's extraordinary botanical and sculpture garden along the Ourika road, is well worth a visit. Contemporary artwork appears almost unexpectedly among exotic planting, with the Atlas Mountains providing a rather spectacular backdrop. Part garden, part open-air gallery, and infinitely more interesting than dragging reluctant children around another museum.

Those travelling with energetic older children might prefer Terres d'Amanar, an outdoor adventure park in the Atlas foothills with treetop courses and zip-lining. Alternatively, head towards the Ourika Valley for mountain scenery, traditional Berber villages and lunch beside the river. The sort of outing where the drive is almost as lovely as the destination, provided nobody asks how much longer it is every five minutes.

And naturally, Marrakech itself is still there whenever the mood takes you. An afternoon exploring the souks, stopping for mint tea or getting thoroughly distracted by the ceramics becomes considerably more enjoyable when you know there's a peaceful garden and a swimming pool waiting at the other end.

Perhaps that's the real appeal of Marrakech as a winter escape. You can swap the grey British skies for sunshine, indulge your love of good design, introduce the children to somewhere culturally different and still return home feeling as though you've actually had a holiday. Which, as any parent knows, isn't always a given.

Our tip? Book one of the newly designed Pillot Studio lodges for the full architectural experience. After all, good design is half the reason we're here. oasislodges.net