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Original poster

Centre parcs for 1yo and 4yo?

29 replies

70sShmeventies · 31/12/2022 19:56

Would you recommend for these ages and if so which one?

I’ve heard lots of good things about the Netherlands parks too if anyone has visited them.

OP posts:
SellFridges · 31/12/2022 19:58

Perfect age in my opinion. We have been to a couple in France which were excellent, and cheaper than the UK in school holidays.

Whowhatwherewhenwhynow · 31/12/2022 20:05

I went with mine at that age and yea enjoyed it. Nice to have regular access to the pool and baby area of the pool.

Nagado · 31/12/2022 20:13

We’ve just come back from Elveden with an 11 month old. Lots for both of your ages to do, but you might find there’s not a huge amount for them to do together. Either your one year old will be too young or your four year old will be too old. But the swimming is fantastic, there are some really good play parks, the lake is good for boating (electric boats are easiest with young DC), pottery painting, feeding the wildlife etc. We go for the Winter Wonderland which is brilliant.

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herbygarden · 31/12/2022 20:31

Lovely age for it, we did it with two very similar ages and they loved it. Longleat was fab. Make the most of the termtime prices while you can!!

Original poster
70sShmeventies · 01/01/2023 12:21

Thanks all, I think just the regular swimming would be great. I hear Longleat is quite hilly and big? I’ll check out Elveden.

OP posts:
Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 01/01/2023 12:41

We love Elveden. It’s flat and therefore great for bikes. Book stuff in advance!

CeriB82 · 01/01/2023 13:18

Hilly?! Center Parcs are not hilly. Don’t know what planet you live on to think they are hilly. Its not a mountain range

Haribo16 · 01/01/2023 13:24

SellFridges · 31/12/2022 19:58

Perfect age in my opinion. We have been to a couple in France which were excellent, and cheaper than the UK in school holidays.

Sellfridges would you be able to give more info on the France ones? Sounds good!

SellFridges · 01/01/2023 13:44

Long leaf is hilly, I agree. From memory it has a kind of valley you traverse across the park.

We have been to Les Bois aux Dames (I think that’s what it’s called) near Poitier a couple of times when ours were between 2-8. Lots of things to do I’m hiding a little farm and a tree to walk. The activities were much cheaper (I think it was about €20 for DD and I to do the big high ropes). Pool was good, as busy as you would expect but the rapids were tamer and they also have a lazy river. It took about 5 hours to drive from Calais I think, although we also did it from Cherbourg which was similar I think.

We have also been to the one at Disneyland which is smaller (definitely no point having bikes) but pleasant and well appointed for Disney. We were slightly disappointed with the pool there but there was a large area outside that was too cold to use (even though it was very hot).

AppleKatie · 01/01/2023 13:46

@CeriB82 are you ok?

OP fwiw I’ve looked at centre parks a lot for young DC and always managed to find a cheaper/better value alternative, some people swear by it though.

NuffSaidSam · 01/01/2023 13:49

CeriB82 · 01/01/2023 13:18

Hilly?! Center Parcs are not hilly. Don’t know what planet you live on to think they are hilly. Its not a mountain range

Tbf a mountain range isn't 'hilly' is it? It's mountainous. Hills and hilly.

Original poster
70sShmeventies · 01/01/2023 14:10

@CeriB82 alright alright, sore head this morning?!

I have indeed heard Longleat is hilly. Not mountainous.

I’m thinking Elevden.

@AppleKatie we usually go to coastal towns like Swanage etc and have a good time but I am intrigued by Center Parcs because as you say people rave about it! I also can’t convince my husband to fly anywhere so it’s the next best thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
70sShmeventies · 01/01/2023 14:11

Elveden?

OP posts:
SnowAndFrostOutside · 01/01/2023 14:19

CeriB82 · 01/01/2023 13:18

Hilly?! Center Parcs are not hilly. Don’t know what planet you live on to think they are hilly. Its not a mountain range

Try the hill from the lake up to the pancake house. It’s brutal unless you are very fit. I find it so hard going and I am quite fit already. 11 year old can’t do it and my 8 yo needed DH to cycle up with a bike on one hand. Plenty of parents need (mostly dads) to cycle up the hill with children bikes.

Haribo16 · 01/01/2023 14:21

@AppleKatie which cheaper alternatives have you found? We did 4 days beginning of December at centerparcs which was great for the kids but very expensive!

Floralnomad · 01/01/2023 14:21

Out of school holidays Centerparcs is very competitively priced . We’ve been to the Longleat one and it’s fab for children , we used it as a touring base and just used the pool a couple of times and the restaurants .

SnowAndFrostOutside · 01/01/2023 14:25

Of course it’s not mountainous and if you are fit, it’s not hard at all. But we are talking about very young children cycling. The 1 and 4yo either have to both go into a bike trailer and one of the parents will need to be very very fit. Or the 4yo takes its own bike and one parent take a small child bike seat and the other cycle with the child’s bike on the handle bar or one hand. I confess I can do neither up the hills. DH is the better cyclist who can cycle up hill carrying a child’s bike.

royalrecording · 01/01/2023 14:30

Sherwood is pretty flat. The Cumbria one I remember having a few steep hills as well.

AppleKatie · 01/01/2023 14:31

There’s plenty of places you can stay in a similar lodge for much less- check out the hoseasons website. You won’t get the amazing pool/so many onsite activities but it’s possible to find quiet ones that are in nice/scenic parts of the country with plenty of stuff to do in the vicinity.

CeriB82 · 01/01/2023 15:40

You lot crack me up. Hills. You must live in places which are totally flat if you struggle in CP

Cherryblossoms85 · 01/01/2023 15:46

I've gone off centerparcs really. Maybe I've been too many times but it's kind of lost the magic, decor looking tired, not much investment, still get charged an outrageous fortune for very tame activities. The clientele are not exactly classy either.

royalrecording · 01/01/2023 16:36

CeriB82 · 01/01/2023 15:40

You lot crack me up. Hills. You must live in places which are totally flat if you struggle in CP

RTFT people are talking about it in context of young children and ability to get round on cycles/scooters. The terrain is quite important to me as I go with my sister who is a wheelchair user. No-one actually thinks CP is the equivalent of a hill walking holiday. Are you always so patronising?

FP1000 · 01/01/2023 16:40

CeriB82 · 01/01/2023 13:18

Hilly?! Center Parcs are not hilly. Don’t know what planet you live on to think they are hilly. Its not a mountain range

Calm down

toomuchlaundry · 01/01/2023 16:49

I live in a hilly area and still find Longleat hilly (there is a route around it that avoids some of the hills). There is also a land train. We took DS from about 2yo and it became his favourite holiday destination, but the cost has increased horrendously from when we first went, although DS would spend all day in the pool (included in price) if he could. Activity prices increase as age of child goes up.

Mammyloveswine · 01/01/2023 16:50

We went with a newborn and 2 year old and it was perfect!!

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