Center parks - a bit tacky?

The food is horrendous, yes. I think the comment re aspirational from the 90s is pretty spot on in that regard. I basically refuse to cook ‘on holiday’ though so we just accept it and try to order judiciously…wine helps. And some fancy snacks back at the lodge!

The costs are eye watering once you add in activities - I take the view you may as well though once you’re there.

Still, the kids bloody love it…I don’t know. There are fancier alternatives in terms of accommodation and food for sure but they are straying into the genuinely quite painful in terms of money and they don’t have the scope of activities, the massive pool.

Tacky probably isn’t the right word but I know what you are getting at. Anywhere with that many children very much feels like a giant leisure centre. We went once when ours were younger and it was fine, but I wouldn’t go again during the school holidays - the prices are outrageous. For what it costs, I’d much rather be in Italy, enjoying pizza and wine in a bit of culture, rather than stuck on a plastic bench eating a cold hot dog and being knocked about by hundreds of excitable kids… and actually my children would agree!!

Middle class people don’t go to Starbucks? Is Costa allowed?

Strangely it feels like aspirational middle classes in the 90s, cafe rouge, starbucks etc. By now no one middle class would actually go to any of these places in their real life.

Why wouldn't someone middle class go to Starbucks?

Does the class thing actually matter?

The Woburn one is the smallest (I think?), definitely has the smallest pool and nowhere proper to swim.
Good with a toddler but a bit rubbish if you really want to walk or cycle. It’s size also meant it felt crowded during school holiday time.
Quite a few rough/lairy TOWIE types which wasn’t great.
Wouldn’t say it was ‘tacky’ though…

Im so glad the first comment knew what i was saying haha

And im glad its not just me 🤣

I know what you’re saying 🍆🍑.

Those were the days!

Completely unhelpful, but I cant help but chuckle at any Center Parcs thread and have to read posts with its alternative MN meeting 🤣🤣

Centre Parcs being an activity of the middle classes made me grin

People will just moan about anything. It's a lovely cabin in the woods with beautiful grounds. Nothing tacky about it at all.

I wouldn't say tacky - but yes, otherwise that's what they are. They're the Macdonalds of holiday villages. You go to one anywhere and you know what you're getting (with little changes).

My kids like them exactly because of that. They know they can go swimming every day, that if it's sunny there's an outdoor pool, that we can go to the buffet (although some don't have buffets now, which they don't approve of) for breakfast or lunch or whatever and they can use the ice-cream machine, that they can cycle/wander around and it's safe.

It's completely over priced but I dont agree that's it's "tacky". Can you explain why you think this?

When they were new they were lovely and seemed so far away from other holiday camps.

Now they are older and a bit dated and very expensive for what they are.

I’ve never been able to stomach the cost! I could technically afford it but I won’t pay the price differential just to be with middle class kids in the pool!

I’d rather stay somewhere away from people!

I've only been once and wasn't massively impressed. Although I wouldn't have described it as tacky.

The accomodation wasn't in great condition, particularly annoying given the extortionate cost to stay there. Not being able to park at the lodge was frustrating. The activities were good but cost extra. The pool was packed so, whilst it was quite big, we only had a small patch to play in. The slides etc were good fun though and the children were all well-mannered and took turns.

My children are quite young though and I've heard that it is better with older children.

Been to the Lake District one a couple
of times - didn’t think it was tacky.

Overpriced? Yes. Tacky? No.

It's a big pool that kids can play in surrounded by miles of woodland paths they can cycle in.
The centre has some okayish chain-style restaurants.
The accommodation is plain but spacious.

What's tacky about it?