Sherwood Forrest Centre Parcs

[ZeldaSmelda]

We’ve just booked a last minute trip to the Sherwood Forrest centre parc, I’ve never been before. We’re in an executive lodge (the cheapest one!!), does anyone know if they’re all updated or if some of them
Are due renovating. We want to
Hire bikes (just me and DP going), do you recommend we do this before? Going book the pool for one day as well. I am SO excited to have a holiday, I’m counting down the seconds. Does anyone have any other tips? We’ll be doing a big shop on the way there

Oh and we’ll probably book go for tea one night as well

Bumping!

Don’t hurry off to bring your car up to your lodge at 3pm if you don’t have to. Let the rush die down a bit and then go, and you’ll beat the crowds and get a bit more time in the pool.
Bring the bulk of your booze with you, so that you can empty it into your lodge now – while the car is parked outside – rather than having to lug it all home from the ParcMarket, which is the on-site supermarket. You can stock up there when you’re running low.
When you drive your car back to the car park – where it’ll stay until you go home – text yourself the location, or write it down if you’ve got no signal. That way you won’t have any delays when it’s time to check-out at the end of your holiday.
You can leave the site at any time to explore the local area or to do a top up shop. Just let the staff know so you can get a badge for the car to let you back in.
Take a packet of toilet rolls – you’ll only get one roll provided in each of your toilets.
Take beach towels for the pool. There are plenty of towels at your lodge, but you’re going to want them for baths and showers.
Take washing up liquid. There’s a little sachet on the sink to get you started, but that’s it. As with most things, you can pick up a bottle in the ParcMarket. But if you’re trying to save money it’ll be cheaper to bring it from home. Likewise, bring some extra dishwasher tablets.There’ll be a handful in the lodge, but they won’t get you through your break. On that note, take a couple of extra tea towels, too, as there’s only one supplied.
The rubbish bin is tiny – they’repretty hot on recycling – so plastic shopping bags are a better size than bin bags. Save them up in the weeks before your break and bring a decent stash.
There are brick-built BBQ stands at all the lodges and you can buy a disposable tray to go in it from the ParcMarket. There are a couple of basic tools provided in the lodge, too (tongs and a fish slice).
Take a backpack/rucksack. If you plan to hire a bike these are essential.
Take your own bird/squirrel/nature feed or you can buy it in the supermarket there.
We stayed in a 3 bed new style executive villa. We ate at the villa on most nights to save money but there are some lovely places to eat at Center Parcs.
We visited the Magical Carvery in the Pancake House on the Sunday night. As you are sitting at your table you are greeted by a magician doing table magic, up close to you! We left it as a surprise for the kids.
We visited in the evening which was lovely and well worth a visit. They light up the swimming pool with lights under water and in the palm trees.
We did go exploring one day to the nature trail behind the tree houses up at country club. That was nice, but it was a short trail and there are fences all around Center Parcs so you can only go so far. This is the most natural area at Center Parcs where it is more stripped back and wild compared to the rest of the park.

Good advice from PP.

Remember to pre book your pool sessions, you can book two if you are on a short break, or 4 if you are booked for a week. You need to book your whole party into a 2hr session. Never usually like this as CP, but due to Covid etc.

Restaurants are expensive but nice for a treat.

Have fun OP.

Recommend fables in Edwinstowe and Rose cottage restaurant near by.. Both taking part in the eat out to help out scheme.

We've been to CP loads and always have a blast doing the archery lessons! So I'd recommend those :) If you like spa stuff then they usually do a couples spa session for 2-3 hours, you get unlimited access to all the 5-6 different steam room 'experiences' with all the rainforest showers and ice showers! Plus there's an indoor and outdoor pool and unlimited water/juices. They usually have fab foot spas too, and water beds. Not sure on the Sherwood one but the Woburn one also has a steam room where you cover yourself in this really rich moisturiser beforehand, then sit on a wooden log in a steam room under a shower. After 15 mins cold water pours over you to rinse you off and it's amaaaazing.

We're going to the Whinfell one in September again so I feel your excitement, we can't wait!

I've personally found the food in the restaurants very average chain fare, though if it gives you a night off cooking, it's worth it.

We've picked up a Tesco click and collect on the way. Also taken things with us, like a bolognese sauce made in advance, M&S curry ready meal. For us we personally like being out during the day and relaxing with our young son at night. May be different for you if you don't have children, I didn't see you mention any.

Have a lovely time, we have a short break booked in a couple of weeks and I can't wait either!

Thank you so much, so many helpful tips. I had no idea you didn’t park your car right outside the lodge . We’ve booked our swimming and I’m just about to book the bikes.

I’m going to start making a list of all the food/dishwasher tablets etc that we need to take so thanks for tips on that. I’m so excited for a break. The spa is closed :( you can book a massage but I’m hoping the actual spa might open because they’re reopening elsewhere in England.

I do have a DS but he’s going on holiday with his dad that week and that’s the only full week of annual leave I can have so that’s why we’re going just us, it’s really last minute as the leave only got approved yesterday but we’re looking forward to just relaxing. Does anyone know if the tv’s have USB ports, we were going to take the fire stick?

I think food wise we’ll go to the pancake place and maybe get a Bella Italia delivered.

Thanks again!