Center parks - a bit tacky?

Sounds like you’ve had a fair few holidays this summer already. Let the CP experience wash over you and accept that for some families and non fussy kids, it is perfectly acceptable.

We fricking love CP! Given a choice, our kids (teens and pre teens), would always pick centerparcs. We once took them to Disney, a caravan holiday and CP in the same year and it was CP they enjoyed the most!
We love the one in Cumbria.
to compare it to a Butlins is mind boggling.

I think what this thread highlights is that we all want different things from out holidays - which is obviously ok and to be expected.
What has amused me is the idea that how/where you choose to holiday somehow depends on or reflects your class. Not sure where that puts me but we've done all kinds over the years - CP, camping, road trips, train trips, overland, exotic, cruises, posh hotels, cheap hotels, air bnb, hostels - whatever suited us at the time.
Not sure which of them are middle class or not - also don't care.

We do have a Booths in the North: it’s great!

Do they keep up with refurbishment and replacements, obviously anywhere that gets high 'traffic' will soon look tired unless management stays alert.
Have they enough kit for the activities. One comment last year was that bicycles were limited unless booked way ahead. Little chance for spontaneous choices.
This topic seems to be on a loop, 6 months repeat.

I have never found the pool at CenterParcs to be dirty.

Is Florida the epitome of a mc holiday destination? Never heard that before

@9uygjk As a fellow non-driving Londoner and at risk of derailing the thread, I would love to hear your tips on visiting Scotland, Cornwall and Broad (do you mean The Broads? I can't find it when I Google) without a car! Always looking for ideas.

Who goes to Florida for a weekend?

Center Parks is the holiday destination for those who can't afford anything better. Their business model thrives by tapping into the middle class frustration stemming from not being able to travel to Florida.

Yes and you have Booths too. From all I’ve heard I’m v jealous.

I thought that after our first (and only) trip.

I liked Bluestone when the kids were tiny but we wouldn't go with older kids, it'd be a complete waste.

Franco Manca and Wags are no better than Cafe Rouge and Zizzi. Just a bit more fashionable and full of people thinking they’re a bit cooler than the people in Pizza Express.

I haven't been for ages but the one in Longleat is nothing like Butlins. The cabins are in the woods and not close together. It's in a big forest. Not near the seaside.

The actual centre itself is tacky in that it's trying to cater to the widest demographic possible. So ends up very generic. Food is boring. Entertainment boring. The water park thing was alright I guess.

I would say it's not like Butlins though. It was overpriced for what you get and not much fun for 15/16 year olds.

I've been to both this year, and think the only things CPs and Butlins have in common is that they both have big pools and are full of families. Butlins is centred around entertainment and everything is free. CP seems to be about paying extra to do more sporty/physical things. Butlins is louder and seems to deliver fun that DC want (fair/shows), rather than things parents want them to think are fun (walks).
As for class, I confess I didn't go round asking the adults if they worked in professional roles in order to check if they were MC, so can't be certain. I can say that in both places I saw the usual mix of considerate, pleasant adults and DC with the odd instance of rude/bad behaviour that you might expect when you put large numbers of the public together in a gated complex for several days.

I wouldn’t describe centre parcs as tacky, though the first time we went my husband did describe it as feeling like a middle class internment camp.

From this thread it seems like what one person hates about centre parcs is exactly what another person really appreciates. I really like the fact people can’t park their cars outside the lodges, and that kids can run, cycle etc without the danger of cars.

Cornwall - depends where you go

I thought it was pretty chavvy to be honest - the clientele, the naff chain places - despite the fact it is so expensive. Bluestones is much nicer.

Love this!

I went when the first one opened, my opinion was I could have gone to the leisure centre and enjoyed it more.
I am not sure what defines middle class. Is it eating freshly baked bread and drinking expensive coffee?

Oh thanks for this. Was looking at bluestone but my kids are older. Will rethink..

I enjoy centre parcs as safe place for older kids to have some freedom, we go with extended family and suits all ages.

I dont know anyone who goes as they aspire to be middle class. I like nice bread but it doesn't make or break my holiday, same with having a starbucks rather than whatever your usual coffee is.

I do think it is overpriced but obviously not as they can fill it at that price.

I think talking about class is tacky.

I consider myself resolutely middle class and have never been to Butlins or Centre Parcs, but don't think going to either has any class definition, if you like it, you like it. I have a friend who is upper class, has a title and goes to Butlins every year!