Centre Parcs - anyone been?

[bowielove]

We’ve just come back from a week in Southern Spain. We only flew by easyJet but the flights weren’t that cheap with all the added luggage charges etc and it all seemed to be a much more expensive holiday than we thought it’d be. Meals out area lot more expensive than they used to be in Spain too. With a 12 year old and a 2 year old it was also
v full on (because of the toddler) and it wasn’t really that much fun! We’re thinking of trying Centre Parcs in UK next year. I wondered if anyone had been and how much it might cost for a family of four (I know most activities you have to pay for). Or if you’ve been to Centre Parcs but prefer something else similar instead?

I went to the Longleat Centrepark Warminster ,with my sister & her family & her grandchildren for four days, they are regular visitors & I loved every moment of my time there. Lots of activity for all ages.

We've been to CP lots and really enjoy it.

In half term, 2 adults 2 children cost us £1600 for Fri-Mon. In term time (we keep DC off school for a day, go Fri after school and keep them off Monday!) it's £800. We always do executive lodges, we've been to Woburn and Elveden, Elveden is our fave.

We've been 6/7 times, always to Whinfell. The dc (11 and nearly 15) said last time that they didn't want to go anymore but recently have been asking to go again.

We used to go Fri - Mon at the start of a school holiday. We'd pick them up from school after afternoon registration so they'd still get their mark (school was fine with that). We paid around 750 at most. Very occasionally our holidays have been at different times so it's been reasonable to go during the holidays but that's impossible these days (three schools in the mix - mine and the dcs who go to different schools).

Tbh though any holiday with dc are hard work. At CP there are definitely lots of activities but you might find that the 12 yo is a little young for some and too old for others. The pool is free and we've spent hours in there.

I’ve been to a couple of the parks and am going to Elveden again this December. We’ve paid around £500 for a basic two bedroom lodge (one double, one twin) but we’re able to go outside of school holidays. It would be astronomical if we went in the school holidays.

Once you’re there, it’s as expensive or as cheap as you want it to be. The swimming is free and there’s enough in there to keep all ages occupied for a good portion of the day. You can eat out or buy food from the Parc Market, but prices aren’t cheap and food reviews are mixed. We normally stop off at the Sainsbury’s in Thetford, get our food for the week and take home whatever we haven’t used, so nothing gets wasted if we eat out. You can hire bikes or take your own (invest in good locks though) and activities can be really expensive but by the time you’ve been swimming, been for walks, fed the wildlife that will come to your door, ridden your bike, messed about in the play parks etc, you’ll be too knackered to fill the day with activities. We did one thing a day and that was enough, then evenings were spent relaxing in front of the open fire with board games.

If you’re on Facebook I’d suggest joining one of the groups. There’s a main, official CP one and then there are park specific ones which give tips etc. Elveden is my favourite I think. Longleat is good too, but it’s so hilly!

May be worth considering one of the centerparcs in Europe. Many if them are accessible via eurostar/tunnel which removes the baggage fees and they are so much cheaper than in the UK. For instance we booked dc onto a painting activity which is 5 euro each. Many of the sites have been upgraded during the pandemic so have some very piush accommodation options.

Forgot to say, even if it rains all week, it somehow doesn’t spoil anything. The Winter Wonderland would be amazing for your youngest.

I looked into the Nottingham one for a week next August. A basic lodge for three adults and three children and a dog was £3500! Then with all the food and activities on top I thought Fuck that shit!

Personally I think it's a fucking rip off. But then I can't even afford to go camping!

I go every year for DS's birthday and we both love it. Have only been to Longleat but the others are also great, apparently.

I’ve never been to CPs but for the school holiday price there must be cheaper options. You can get P and O cruises full board for £649 pp in the school holidays. I’d do that instead if you want organised fun.

I like a CO holiday. But it is stupid money, was just looking to book for next July (before school term ends) and it is 1.4k for the most basic 4 bed lodge fir 5 days. Apart from swimming, all the activities need to be bought extra and so it quickly adds up. Whilst I like the feel and woodland aspect of CP, I have to be honest and say my kids have always preferred Butlins. Much cheaper and much more kid friendly.

If you go on the centre parcs website you can pick a week next year and it will give you accommodation prices. 7 nights from Friday 28th July is from around £2000 for a 2 bedroom lodge. The only thing that's free is the swimming and all other activities, including bike hire if you need it, and food will be on top of that.

We love it but it is expensive, not only for the accommodation but for the activities. We went in July to Woburn but usually do Elveden. We have also done Sherwood and Whinfell. Yes the European ones are cheaper but I presume it relies on you being able to get a ferry from Dover or use the Eurotunnel.

To give an idea of activity costs (hidden unless you have booked) this is what we just did but my children are much older than yours. Some prices vary depending on the time slot, such as bowling which is cheaper much earlier in the morning, this is for one session

Bowling £24.50 - £38.50 for 4 people 45 mins
Badminton £9.25 - £12.75 45 mins
Football pool £12 for 30 mins
American pool £10 for 1 hour
Bike hire for 4 adult bikes £160 Mon-Fri

I think the expensive bowling might be for a Friday or Saturday night. We have used inset days or got their afternoon registration mark and taken them out. Never been in school holidays as ridiculously expensive. July this year was because both my children were finished early, uni and GCSEs.

Thanks all so much for your feedback! It’s really helpful. I hadn’t really considered going Fri-Mon but it looks like a good option for the last day of school perhaps. Thanks your all the detail on prices! :)

We have been loads of times and love it. The first time we made the mistake of trying to do loads of things; since then we have only done occasional booked activities. Generally we try and go for a weekend out of season as it is cheaper. We live close enough that we can drop the children at school on the Monday and Friday, have a day there on our own, then collect the children and be back in the pool both days by 4. We like the play areas, the pool, the cycling and walking, the Pancake house, crazy golf, high ropes, zip wires, and the general chill of the place. Feeding the birds, the squirrels, the deer, and the badgers. And I love the spa. I generally cook in advance and take our main meals frozen. We have breakfast in the accommodation, some lunches there, depending on what we are doing, some picnics, and occasional meals out. We take bird food and fire-log things with us.

We've been 4 or 5 times and find it enjoyable and very relaxing. No travel hassle or logistics, just R&R close to home. I like the woodland environment and just pottering about on the bike. We do one or two paid activities but we find that bikes, pool and free activities and just relaxing in the cottage go a long way. Your 2 year old wouldn't need anything extra I don't think. Your 12 year old would probably appreciate some more structured activities.

Currently at CP Sherwood Forest, never been to one before. The woodland lodge is fine for us, clean and a nice size but no extra bed linens so would have to contact guest services for extra if needed I suppose. Would have been better with a king sized bed in our room but it's not a deal breaker for a few nights.
Some activities are overpriced but I suppose that's a matter of opinion and some may not agree. Kids loved the cupcake making and pony ride.

Had dinner at Sports Cafe yesterday they had to refund three of our four meals as the cheese was burnt to a crisp on them, pizza was rock solid, kids left hungry and disappointed. Brought enough of our own food for the trip so won't be trying to eat out again.
I would bring a few of my own pans and utensils if I came again.
Beach is nice enough as is the pool.

The back and forth of bringing your car to the ar park, then later on move it to to lodge then having to return it to the main car park was a bit of a faff but I guess its all part of the experience. My judgement on this may be clouded by the fact that I have a health issue with mobility which has decided that this would be he perfect week to play up worse than it has in years.
All the staff have been unfailingly polite and helpful.

We have been lots but only once since the pandemic. You cannot stay in the pool for hours any more during the day and need to pre book slots. You can go in the evening for as long as you want without booking though.

It’s clinical, expensive and the food is a bit of a rip off (and came very very quickly on our most recent visit which somewhat spoilt the eating out experience) but the accommodation is great, it’s an easy holiday for little ones and customer service is excellent. We feel immediately chilled out when we arrive at the lodge.

Check out Blueatone in Wales or Gwel an Mor in Cornwall - both similar options to Center Parcs but MUCH cheaper and close to the sea too 😊

@SergeiL swim slots are no longer a thing since 11th July so you can swim as much or as little as you want.

We go to Whinfell at least once a year, DH has been going yearly since he was a baby and he's 36 this month.

We've enjoyed trips as a child free couple (spent a lot of time in the spa and just chilling out), part of wider family including kids and so far once with a toddler and 4 week old.

We don't book loads, 1 or 2 activities over the weekend. Older kids love to go out on their bikes, younger kids love searching for squirrels and playing in the play areas.

We're probably 50/50 wrt eating out and eating in, as it suits us to have lunches in the lodges (either something bought from the parc market or with food we bring with us) and to have dinner at the restaurants mostly. And in the 6 years I've been going, I've only ever had 1 bad meal. We've never had any bad service, staff are always excellent and happy to help

Oh that’s good to hear then. We were obviously very unlucky then as we went just before the rule change.

We didn’t really enjoy it, we actually prefer a good Haven site next to a beach and having lots of days out / time swimming / on the site playing in the arcades etc. We have a dc aged 10 and one aged 19 (!) and we go every year. We have been to quite a few different sites but Caister is our favourite, it’s very close to us, about an hour away and gives us a break without being stressful. We always get a platinum or prestige (now called gold) caravan with 3 beds as it gives us loads of space and it works out much cheaper than centre parcs!

On a side note…. We don’t live far from Thetford and it’s well known for being quite rough and not very nice and we joke about people paying £2000k plus to essentially stay in Thetford for a week (Elveden is CP Thetford). I mean the site itself is nice but 10 mins drive and you’re next to Abbey Gardens estate again which is rough as anything!

We like it - tend to go once every 18 months normally Mon - Fri in half term . Book a couple of activities and eat out a couple of times . You know what your getting although it’s pricey . Take some food with you as the on-site supermarkets are expensive

Yes. We're off to Elveden in a half term next year. £1200 2 bed executive Lodge. Family of 4. Monday- Friday.
Activities are probably an extra £300 or so. Swimming is unlimited.
I found it all stress free last time we went. Only ate out once for breakfast.