Has anyone been to Centreparcs? What was it like?

[TheSweetLittleBunny]

I am thinking of trying Sherwood Forest as it is our nearest.

But I would welcome comments about any Centreparcs in UK please.

[tiredemma]

We love CP- we go every year just before christmas.

Sherwood is our fave!

[Flier]

been 3 times, once to sherwood. loved it, both with children and without.

[Marina]

Well, how old are your children? What do you like doing as a family?
We loved Centreparcs after doing our first visit in June. If you all like swimming/nature/active pursuits, it's a dream holiday IMO

[savoycabbage]

I have been to Sherwood Forest a couple of times. I think it's good in a lot of ways. No cars, plenty of wholesome activities like swimming, feeding the ducks, and cycling. Everything is easy, there is a cot and a highchair and things like that. There are places to eat and a normal priced supermarket. I go to sainsburys on the way though.

On the minus side it can be a bit surreal. Everybody is the same age. In their thirties with young children or grandparents. All the children are wearing Boden and are all called Ruby. I always feel that nobody speaks to anybody else. Maybe that's because I am from Newcastle where everyone talks to everyone else.

I do like it though. I have only been in term time.

[Sidge]

We went to Sherwood about 5 years ago.

Expensive.

'Tropical' pool was anything but - it was bloody cold!

Needed to book activities so far in advance that they are all full up.

Absolutely heaving there, even on an October weekend (not half term).

But the villa was ok, lovely and peaceful and ducks came up to our patio door for feeding.

[Collision]

we love it!

[LotosEater]

hatrick IME CP is better when your children are a bit older than yours are at the moment.

[eenybeeny]

we went to sherwood a couple of years ago and loved it!!! I found it very relaxing. Though the pool wasnt the most relaxing place and not as warm as I had hoped, other than that I thought it was lovely!!! And the Pancake House was deeeeeeeeeeeeeevine.

[sis]

We've just got back from a week at Elevden with our 9 year old son and had a lovely time. Ds loved the pool with the slides and stuff and it was good to be able to cycle without cars everywhere. Any walks are best taken on the paths around the 'lakes' to avoid the bikes but that would be tricky if you have very young children in a buggy.

We tend to self cater as the food in the restaurants tends to be expensive and not really to our taste.

[eenybeeny]

well my DS was 14 months when we went and he loved it, all the nature and there were some lovely activities we did for toddlers. Granted a lot is for older children but he did the disco, the handprint thing, swimming, and LOADS of manic running around outside (and play areas outside) he really did love it!! He even cried when we left

(the smiley isnt because he cried!)

I will happily go back again but for us we really need to share with another family to be able to afford it.

[Bundle]

tis fairly hideous but each to their own

[mumto2andnomore]

Its fab, but like any holiday its what you make of it. My kids love swimming and the outdoors and we always have a great time.If you go just to a cottage you have to get in the car and go out to places each day (and spend money !) whereas at center parcs you can just walk out of your front door and there is loads to do.

[MaryAnnSingleton]

overpriced,imo - we had fun but I'd rather rent a cottage somewhere - escaping to the outside world felt very naughty too

[giddykipper]

Happy kids = relaxed parents

Which is why we're going back to Centerparcs this summer.

We always go abroad though to make it feel a bit more exotic! And it's significantly cheaper - we have a 3 bedroomed deluxe villa in August for 1,000 Euros this year. We just have to pay for the ferry and petrol but it's still going to be considerably cheaper than the UK in August.

[mumto2andnomore]

The only extra money we spend is for bike hire for the adults, the childrens bikes we take with us. If you are stuck in a cottage in the rain then you do have to pay to go to places. Seems like its you either love it or hate it-I love it !

[TheSweetLittleBunny]

DS is 4.5. We have just come back from a Haven Holiday and I hated it. While we were in Norfolk we visited two forest parks - BeWilderwood and Dinosaur Adventure (both miles away from where we were staying) and we all eally enjoyed being in that environment.

Haven has put me off a bit - but I know Centreparcs is on on the other end of the spectrum (or is it - perhaps it is the same thing but more expensive?).

I just wondered whether it was more worthwhile renting a cottage independantly and finding our own entertainment. I am concerned about spending loads of money to do the same things we do here in our home town at local country parks, forests, etc.

[Marina]

Elveden was lovely - not a bit like a Haven Holiday. Landscaping is carefully done so that you don't see much, if anything of your neighbours, the site is real woodland with ducks and rabbits everywhere, plentiful wildlife, and the Tropical Swimming Paradise is fantastic.
We didn't eat out or go in much for organised activities either.
Maybe you would prefer Forestry Commission (Forest Enterprise now) cabins? They do the same sort of layout without the array of entertainment and restaurant facilities.
But I promise you can be five minutes from the main locus of Fun at CP and still have utter peace outside your own front door.
We are absolute converts

[UnquietDad]

We have been a few times and enjoy it (Sherwood). You need to just relax and accept that the activities cost money, otherwise you are tutting about it all week (as I was the first time). I'd mistakenly had the assumption thaty it worked on the "theme park" mode, i.e. you pay at the door and everything is included.

The only thing included is the "tropical" (yes, lukewarm) swim-dome, so it's always crowded - if you aren't a water-baby you need to a) arrange other activities or b) be one of those people who bags a lounger and sits in one of the poolside areas (and there are one or two quite a way from the poolside itself) reading a book or paper. There are usually big queues for the slides, especially the "Grand Cascade" (four-person dinghy thing which you ride down a massive slide).

If you have bikes, take them - plenty of bike rides to do. You can hire them there too. I gather it is pretty good for birdwatchers.

The restaurants were just OK the first time we went, but recently they have had a bit of a refurb and are better quality, but also more expensive.

[newgirl]

i dont love it - i think for the money its nicer to go to a self-catering place, say in the new forest, or even a week overseas.

i think they can be busy places - lots of acom everywhere so nowhere to really get away from it. Pool was heaving even on a good weather day. Activities are overpriced.

[gillybean2]

Have been several times, but always out of school hols. I think it's pretty good value if you wait for one of their late deals and then work it out per person. I wouldn't pay full wack!

Yes the activities there can seem expensive, but you don't have to do any of them and compared to similar activities elsewhere I don't think they are that much more expensive. I have found that you also get a very good quality of service and excellent staff at all activities.

The restaurants are expensive imo, but then we never eat out so probably they are fair if you are used to eating out. For me we cut costs by staying self catering.

Have never found the pool to be heaving, but we tend to go at off peak times and spend most time in the pool in the evenings from 6 till 9.30ish when most of the children have probably gone to bed.

It's like anything, if it's what you want it to be and what you enjoy in a holiday then it will be great.

Gilly