I went to Center Parcs at Elveden the year it opened! That's showing me age :-). I had a small son, my mum came up for a few days.
It is a lovely part of the world. We just had an ordinary cabin but it was very good, well equipped and comfy.
Obviously I'm not up to date with Center Parcs, other people may be. I chose it because I wanted the unique swimming pool experience (at that time, it was unique! Not now), plus having many facilities on site.
The surroundings were beautiful, I love East Anglia anyway. Elvedon is well positioned to go out and see other places but of course, if you choose Center Parcs with kids, you want everything on doorstep.
What was funny was that there was a fire in the swimming pool :-). You couldn't make it up. I remember writing postcards and telling people about it, someone said that if I insisted on holidaying in a high tech greenhouse I had no-one to blame but myself. There was an announcement and everyone had to evacuate the pool. Of course we went back later.
My young son hired a bicycle, or we hired it for him, and he wobbled all over the village, enjoying himself.
The restaurants were very, very expensive. At that time, we didn't have much spare money. I remember on our first evening I took small son to a pancake restaurant which was lovely but cost an arm and a leg. So we had to be careful and did some basic cooking in our chalet.
Chalet had a jacuzzi which my boy liked, a room full of bubbles!
There were certainly plenty of facilities and fun things to do but they all cost extra.
When we left, though we thought it was a good place, we had no plans to go back because it was so expensive. However, CenterParcs have changed a lot since then and I would certainly go back again, of course I can afford more now but they've long got over their teething problems. I would treat my now grown up son, girlfriend etc, to a short break there.
Everything was of a very high standard. However, after that, we had holidays in Norfolk, renting a cottage, and enjoyed just as much in a different way.
EmmaStone, I love Longleat! One of the best places I've visited when holidaying in the UK. What a wonderful place! It's beautiful and so interesting. I adore all sorts of animals. Plus the fact is if you are staying in the area, it's really nice.
My plan is to go to Chester Zoo this year (having watched 'Secret Life of the Zoo' and admiring the Chester ethos), so will hopefully stay somewhere near there for a few days.
Givemestrength, I hope you will have a great time at Elvedon CenterParcs, it's a unique place in a simply gorgeous area. Let us know how you enjoy.