Is Centre Parcs worth it

Tried CP and didn't suit us, the only good thing was the pool.
We've been to Butlins at least once a year for last 10 years and love it. The pool is good but not as good as CP but the entertainment and lots of other free or cheap activities are kids favorites.
Plus food is a lot cheaper so not tied to cooking when on a break. Also like that you can walk into the local town and beach.
Going next week and can't wait 😁

We love it. For me it’s the experience of the accommodation within the forest and feeling more nature all around. It’s a slower pace compared to haven/butlins. We love longest as we also do a trip the safari next door. It’s not the cheapest but we feel it’s worth it. We have a son aged 9 and a 19 year old. Eldest grown out of it.

We've been to Centre Parcs every year for 17 year's & we always enjoy it, we share accommodation with close friends & we always go in the winter when it's a bit cheaper. We love long walks, the outdoor play areas, badminton, swimming & having a fire in the evening & cooking a nice tea. It's not cheap but it doesn't have to be ridiculously expensive either. We like stopping for a coffee & deer hunting & over the years have paid for additional activities e.g the owl experience. I like that it's car free & kids can run wild outdoors. We go on lot's of different holidays but my 18 year old son will always talk about Centre Parcs.

I think it depends to a certain extent on where you live and what's "normal" for you. We've only been once as we wanted an easy holiday fairly close to home when I was heavily pregnant with DC3. It was ok, but as we live in a rural area where the DC were used to seeing wildlife in the garden and could ride their bikes on woodland trails any time they wanted a lot of what appeals to many people about Center Parks was lost on them really. They loved the pool though. Other than that they did a few of the activities, but again they were mainly things we could do near home for less money and to be honest to a higher standard so I didn't feel we really got value for money. But if you don't have similar activities easily accessible at home you might feel differently. My DC usedto get wildly excited about going on buses when they were littleas it was a novel experience for them. I think particularly for young children it's the sense of excitement that comes with doing something different that makes a good holiday.

I love it. We get the cheapest lodge and cook most nights, but spend the difference on activities.

I find it so relaxing. In a world where people judge you for existing with children on planes/public transport/carparks/supermarkets, it is a place that is literally design for parents and children. I discovered it at a low point on maternity leave, and it will forever feel like a sanctuary to me. More clear headed people might see downsides.

It’s better than Haven, but there are a couple
of things you need to take into account.

First, you have to pay for a lot of the activities, so it’s worth checking what you want to do and how much it’s going to cost you on top of accommodation.

Second, the supermarket is a colossal rip off, so take as much food as you can (bear in mind the fridge is tiny).

Third, avoid the restaurants for most meals - also a total rip off, and nothing special, just big standard chains with premium prices. So, again, take as much food as you can.

It’s basically “middle class” (I use the term loosely) Butlins.

I prefer Butlin’s as more is included, it’s loads cheaper, the food is better, and the staff are nicer. I wouldn’t pay £700 for a weekend self catering in the uk even if the pool was filled with Evian.

No, we found it weird (loads of contained people mooching around like the sims) and the accomodation smelled of trainers

No! If you have active kids they want to do everything and all the activities are extortionate. You can have run out of money by 12 noon and have nothing else to do. They are hideously overcrowded and over priced.

Haven primrose valley for their bog standard caravan with no decking but including entertainment/pool pass is £525 for next August, 4 nights mid week. Its not that much cheaper.

For younger children Bluestone is good. But we went last year with a 10 and 12 year
old and they got bored pretty quickly. They much prefer the pool at CP. Pool at Bluestone is looking a bit tired these days tbh. The whole place is a bit - disjointed? Not as well thought out or as slick as CP. Had a great lodge though, and the highlight was the golf buggies. Wish they had those at CP. We did CP Sherwood Forest the year before and the pool is much much better.

Bluestone is much better.

We used to go to CP once a year as its very wheelchair friendly, but lodges aren’t clean, kitchens are very poorly cleaned and kitchen equipment is only clean if the last resident washed up properly. The pool is good, but the changing rooms are grim. Additional activities are very expensive. The spa however is fantastic.

That is really cheap for CP during the holidays!

Definitely not worth it. Lots of places much better.

Exactly this.

I used to love CO but the last times we’ve gone we’ve been shocked at the drop in standards.

we go to Whinfel and the lodge pub place - very limited choice and basically everything was deep fried crap. Go to the bars and you’ve really got to clear/clean the table yourself.

Had the worse massage of my life but didn’t feel I could complain as the girl doing it opened with “I’m a single parent and trying to go to college to do my nursing”.

The pool (at whinfel) is good but some of the slides looking shabby.

did Haven Marton Mere a few years back - caravan was fab but entertainment areas were extremely chav-tastic. Pool really basic but you could go into Blackpool etc. but a third of the cost of CP.

So all in all - if DC are young and easily fobbed off with included/free activities, I’d probs still go CP. With older DC wanting loads of add-ons - budget would be deciding factor.

yes, I’ve been 3 times and loved it.
as soon as I have grandchildren I hope to go back with them all

No

CP is great if you go with friends, boring otherwise, you have to pay for everything.

I'd pick Haven or Butlins, and DH and I are (on paper), middle class. I say this as some people look down their nose at them and the people that go... I've seen some awful things said on here, assuming we're all 'rough' and 'on benefits'... we earn over £200k and love it. I only mention that to say we're certainly not on benefits or rough!

Ah to add though, as it’s last minute I’d really advise calling CP before you book and ask what activities are still available. This late you could easily find you book and then aren’t actually able to do anything as it’s all full.

I don't think there is a better pool complex in the UK than the ones at Center Parcs. The rest of the holiday can be replicated elsewhere at other holiday parks. So it depends if you think you'll make the most of the pool

I absolutely love CP. We already went twice this year. It’s very peaceful and I love the nature. I felt very relaxed after the holiday. I would recommend it.