Why do so many people dislike Centre Parcs so much?

As someone who has been to CP yearly for the last 10 years, it took me less than 5 mins in a Butlins (we’d bought day tickets to try out the pool) to know that CP is nothing like Butlins, and we are most defo CP people.

I haven’t had any of the issues with lodges that some on here have had, and we’ve stayed at a few different ones, from standard to tree house.
the staff have always been great, and the food have always been good too. We only tend to eat out for dinner once whilst there though, and lunch is normally something from the sports bar which I don’t expect anything great from anyway.

saying all that though, I do think we have been priced out now - the costs are going up and up, and there’s nothing going on at the park to reflect that..the pool is getting colder and colder every year. Last time we went it was something like £200 more than the year before which isn’t make or break, but when the only free activity to do is a lower standard than ever it’s a bit of a piss take.

The issue is the cost, but whilst people are willing to pay they’ll continue to charge it.

Because it’s hugely expensive for what is it.

I went once as a 16 yo guest of my mates family. It was really really boring. Nothing to do but ride rickety bikes or go in the water flume thing which was rubbish. There was a disco one night with 70s music and the only food they seemed to sell was tuna baguettes and chips? And one fake Italian restaurant. My mate ended up with some debilitating gastric illness that required a week long hospital stay on return! But this was ages ago.

The people were pretty civilised. I used to work in a Butlins and it was a zoo comparatively - people vomiting at the kids disco and all sorts. I am 30 years out of date on Butlins though it may have improved.

I've heard bad things about other sites - and our last year at Skegness was too busy and shows were't as good and customer service was poorer - and kids bit older - that was a fair few years ago so could have imporved or gone downhill.

However I think it was great for the ages our kids were when we went. We had family telling us we'd hate it before first time going as tehy heard all the negativity but we had a great time.

Don't think we did the kids disco but rain or shine we found plenty to do there.

I think we'd have found it very hard if all the extra fun stuff was more money to pay out for - so bultins worked for us.

We go most years because the pool is great, the kids love it and it a really easy holiday. It's great for the teen, he can bring a friends, they go off and play tennis or swim and I don't have to worry about them.

I don't love it. I dont really feel like im in nature. It's not in any way an adventurous holiday. You feel a bit trapped. You can't go for long hikes or bike rides.

When you’ve been to a better holiday activity village, you realise how grotesquely overpriced it is at Center Parcs UK.

We went to a badly-rated, middle of nowhere Centerparcs in Europe and it was brilliant, less than half the price even taking into account the journey.

There are so many better places to go if that’s the kind of holiday you want.

It's over-priced and a bit shit. The cabins are dated, the amenities aren't that brilliant, and you're paying shitloads to cycle in some woods which you can do for free if you have a bike and live relatively near some woods.

I love Whinfell Centre Parcs but we go out of season now that we are able to. My daughter asked to go for her 18th and it was lovely spending time together as a family now that my children are older. One of the restaurants we went to were so lovely with her when they found out it was her birthday.

We love the lake district but would never go to Centre Parcs as a way to explore the area - we go camping in the summer months for that.

I will add that when my children were younger we did go abroad for a week because it was much.

I haven't been for about 10 years ... our kids are adults now. We enjoyed it at the time but school hol prices were ridiculous.

I've just had a look at their website for 3 nights over the August bank hols and it's a couple of grand!! We've booked a beautiful flat overlooking the sea in Dorset for half of that for six people!

Amused me to see 'wine cooler' listed as a key feature if you went for the smarter lodges 😁

Yes it's (generally) expensive - although out of school holidays I've had weeks there cheaper than hiring an airbnb.

Yes it's slightly sanitised compared to "real" holidays, whatever that means.

But the key thing about it, is that it's just an incredibly easy holiday for families.

You rock up, park the car and forget about driving for a week. It means you can get out with the bikes or for a walk or for a run without having to plan routes or worry about traffic.

The lodges are generally clean, tidy and well provisioned.

Within 5-10 minutes of that lodge will be a decent swimming pool, shops and loads of activities that usually would require a day trip out to attend. It basically frees people from the mental load of meal planning, working out things to do, working out travel plans and everything that goes with day to day life. You disappear into a bubble and just detach.

That's why it's fucking amazing.

It’s so expensive for what is quite a basic lodge, the activities are extortionate and the food is average at best however we go as we can all be together in one cabin plus bring the dogs, everything is under ‘one roof’ and the grown up dc ( and their partners) love it. We use it as family bonding time and I don’t particularly care where we are.

Full disclosure I haven’t been as it’s too pricey for us - but one thing that really bugs me about CP is how it’s sold as a getting back to nature holiday - as far as I’m aware it’s awful pine plantations (not native woodland) which doesn’t scream nature to
me. Squirrels and deer don’t count (unless red squirrels in the Lakes one!) They also were facing opposition for a new proposed CP where they were planning to cut down lots of trees. They did pull out to be fair to them but again doesn’t scream great for wildlife - sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/campaign/center-parcs-and-oldhouse-warren

I've only been once and it's over 20 years ago so maybe things have changed but I thought it was ok but overpriced. The one we went to then wasn't shabby at that point and we all really enjoyed the pool. But it was a lot of money for what you got. The base price is not cheap and by the time you add even a couple of activities it adds up to a substantial amount of money for a short break.
My DC were very young when we went and they did enjoy it but I don't think it would have kept them entertained for long when they got older. We live in the country anyway so there was no novelty to having rabbits and squirrels outside the window and there are better and less expensive facilities for most of the offered activities near where we live. It is a sanitised version of nature I guess but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. It's a safe environment in which to get a taster of a variety of outdoor activities. Nobody who is seriously interested in any of those things would go there but that's not their target audience is it?
I can see that if you live in a big town or city and it's a very dfferent to your normal environment it could be fun, a bit like the first time I took my boys to London and things that are mundane for people who live there, such as going on the tube or a double decker bus, were really exciting for them.

I am starting with why I like it… I think for me it’s the memories, our babies had their first swim there, the cosy fire when tired little kids are in bed after a day of adventures, the fact we’ve taken family and friends there.
I love that you leave your car and it’s safe for kids to cycle and scoot or walk.
Looking at the stars from the outside pool.
I love it and also I’m glad it’s not for everyone, which is fine.

I do think it’s one of those places that is quite trendy to moan about.
The pool can be busy, like anywhere.
The restaurant chains kind of spoil it. I would think they could organise some pop up food events with local businesses - I think that would go down well.
It’s expensive, and lately really hiked up since Covid.
But if it was cheaper (and I do wish it was really) it would probably be more like Butlins, and that’s not my cup of tea. Which is also fine too.

It's shit and expensive.

We went many times when our DC were younger (about 10 years ago), including several Xmases. We loved it and a big part of the attraction was fairly compact and simple to book/do activities, safe to cycle round, kids loved the pool, everywhere was child friendly and we didn't need to use the car once we arrived. Xmas was especially good- not everyone's thing clearly but an easy way to have some really nice family time after a particularly busy time at work and we loved being able to spend Xmas day cycling round the woods/swimming etc. Down sides were the fact that in busy periods it was impossible to eat out without booking, food/drink/activities were fairly expensive for what they were.

We looked at going again a few years ago and couldn't believe the prices. It was always more expensive that other self catering holidays but as pp have said, now in he school holidays we found it was truly cheaper to go for a week AI somewhere warm than a mid week break at CP. It still seems to get booked up though, so can't imagine they will change.

We've been once a year for 12 years (since DD was born).

It was really cheap in term time (£250 midweek in September) and then about £900 for February half term. It was something to look forward to in January.

However, they keep building more lodges and inflating the prices and it now feels overcrowded and massively overpriced.

It definitely fulfilled a need for a simple safe hol with young dc, but we went to book for next February and decided to go to Stockholm instead for not much more really.

Happy memories, but I haven't really enjoyed the last few times and will go for European city breaks for half terms now the kids are older.

I think it depends why you go on holiday. I assume people who like CP for holiday want convenience, a contained area where there's lots to do for children, aren't price sensitive, are fairly outdoorsy or active, and want a predictable experience where they know what they're going to get. No shame in that.

But if you're the kind of person who likes a DIY holiday where you have the freedom to go wherever, do stuff like museums/tours/galleries, are more price sensitive, don't want/need the holiday camp feel, etc, then it's going to be your worst nightmare isn't it? I'm the latter - the idea of spending that much money to have limited food and activity options stresses me out. My sister absolutely loves it for the ease of it all. It's just different personalities and needs!

It’s great off season with preschool children. You can get a bargain!

My idea of hell .Other peoples kids.

It’s the only holiday I’ve left early. (Known as HMP Penrith in our house).

Dirtiest place I’ve ever stayed. Found popcorn and a used sanitary towel under the bed. Cleaner returned for a desultory tidy, but the cabin was shabby.

Plasters in the pool, which was basically human soup 24/7 because it was free, not enough changing rooms and when we finally got a space, we were swilling around in other peoples filth because the floor was constantly wet.

Not surprisingly DS got the shits but even leaving early and packing the car was an ordeal. I nearly wept with happiness when I saw Tebay services and finally got a decent coffee and meal.