Centre parcs - is it worth it?

[grimmeeper]

Looking for the February half term with a five year old
Would be the Cumbria one
Is it really worth the money ?
Sorry I'm sure this has no doubt been asked before

@MeganM3 it will be 2 adults and 1 5yo

We've just returned from center parcs. It was nice to feel a bit of a buzz in the miserable month that is January but is it worth the price? Absolutely not!

I was taken as a child twice and had fond memories that I wanted to share with my children. The pool lived up to my expectations and was brilliant. The lodge was also beautiful.

However, it was ABSOLUTELY HEAVING! It wasn't very relaxing due to the hoards of people and it left me thinking that center parcs as an organization are very greedy. If there was half the number of guests, it would've been lovely. It's also a bit tacky/plebby (sorry!), but with that it is perfect for children... Maybe not those that can't swim though.

Went once, thought it was ok but boring in the evenings. No fun things for the kids like there is at places like Butlins. Never went back.
I’ve never really understood why it’s so expensive. A rip off imo.

We've been a few times and it's nice enough, but my DC prefer Butlins hands down!

It's slightly brash and lively, but they love the free playground, pool, lots of shows and tons of stuff to keep them entertained. For the half the cost of Centre Parcs we can get reasonable Comfort Plus accommodation and premium half-board dining.

Yes, the holiday is more for the kids, but I get time off cooking and cleaning so it's quite relaxing for me too!

My son much preferred Butlins too - provided you paid for best accommodation

Haven would suit your dc better

For us its worth it.
Preferred bluestone for that age though

I’d say it’s worth it for that. The pool is great and he there is a nice kids area with little slides he will be able to go on, as well as the rapids with an adult. A lot of the activities are expensive but there are plenty of cheaper activities. My kids enjoyed the interactive squash wall, tennis and football pool, which were all about 10 pound. Bowling was also reasonable. Just make sure you book in advance for the activities as they get booked quickly. The accommodation is well planned out and we just find it a really easy experience. I’d recommend doing a shop at the sainsburys in Penrith before you go in as it’s cheaper than the on-site store.

That being said I wouldn’t pay school holiday prices!

Not worth it. Used to be good, as did butlins but both now grotty and every single person we know who has gone in the last 18 months at least one of each group has got d and v. Same with butlins as well.

In my opinion it is worth it even at school holiday prices. We love it and go two or three times per year.

That price for 4 nights is similar to what you’d pay for an air b&b so sounds okay. I’ve never been to a UK CP but have been to the European ones which are much better value especially in the summer holidays. I paid less for a week at CP in The Netherlands including travel than a week in the UK would have cost. My DD loved the pools and cycling and we did some activities that were pretty well priced compared to the UK and they don’t get booked up weeks in advance.

I wrote to the ceo of centre parks explaining the jump in one week's difference due to overlap into school holidays and at least honest but basically said people will pay it, we are a business. Pure greed.
I have never been since.
I do go to Potters. It's a family run all-inclusive holiday centre which the food and drinks and entertainment is fully included. Very clean and of high standards. There is literally nothing to spend your money on. Apart from if you want to pay bingo or buy anything from the shop.
It's adukt onky except in school holidays and my grandchildren love it.
Consider giving it a whirl. Sounds expensive but when you break it down it isn't.
Just a thought.

I hate it! I think it’s a really fake version of “nature”.
overpriced and poor quality accommodation (even the top of the range chalets are quite cramped and poorly equipped for self catering). The only thing that’s included in the price is swimming and anything else requires a logistics degree to pre book before you go and the activities aren’t cheap. It’s also full of chavs who think they’re posh because they can afford to go to centre parcs.
also, February in the Lake District could be really cold and hours of daylight will be pretty short which limits your options for outdoor activities.

https://www.centerparcs.co.uk/breaks-we-offer/search.html/2/SF/20-01-2025/4/-/-/2/2/2/0/0/0/N

£379 for four nights, in January

Doesn't seem too bad to me. Make sure you take all your food and make the most of the pool and free activities

Pretty much going to say the same as this. It's definitely better value for money outside of school hols, but we went at Oct half term last year after pricing up holidays cottages and finding they weren't that much cheaper (for a nice one with a hot tub). Our kids absolutely love center parcs. They will spend hours in the pool every day, and they know additional activities are expensive so are happy that they only get a couple of those each - a cheaper one and a more expensive one.

£780 for 4 nights - yes definitely. We do CP ( different sites) once a year. We always opt for the training day weekend at the end of easter as normally its alpt cheaper then straight school holidays.

We have a limit on what paid for activity the kids can do and mainly do cycling (our own bikes) and swimming.

If that's all you'd be doing, not likely. I'd need a very discerning 5 year old to spend that on basically holidaying at a swimming area when they can't even swim. You could probably stay close to an indoor water park somewhere else for cheaper.

With an older child, a better swimmer and more intention to use the other facilities, maybe. Or if you just really liked it there.

No. Agree with PP that it's fake nature and too busy. I'd look for a small group of cottages in a nice location, with a pool.

780 is a good price for it. You get a decent amount of space in your lodge and fundamentally you are paying for the convenience of having all the activities on your doorstep. The pool is good for kids- there are life vest things that the kids wear so they don’t have to be able to swim. A five year old would love it.

You can have 4 nights in Malaga in a 4 star hotel, triple room, by the beach for
£825 departing 20th Feb.
www.jet2holidays.com/city-breaks/spain/malaga-city/malaga/hotel-catalonia-malaga?duration=4&airport=63&date=20-01-2025&occupancy=r2c5&board=6&oflight=1142436&iflight=1142439&rooms=47492&gtmsearchtype=Smart%20Search&smartsearchid=46e722b8-e18f-469e-8d42-d8957d8a3cb4

I hated it. Wondered why I didn't spend the money on a lodge with a hot tub in the middle of nowhere for half the price.

We go every year and book most meals at restaurants, plus 1-2 activities on top of swimming, per day. Costs about 4k for the week and we love it. Everything on your doorstep, clean and efficient and driving with a baby is so much easier. All comes down to what you can spend. I wouldn't take kids and then only go swimming personally.

Personally yes I do think it’s worth it - we’ve been to Sherwood Forest several times now and the sense of relaxing when you get there is fab. It’s so safe and the girls get on their bikes and set off and I’m not constantly worried about cars

also the swimming area, they have a fabulous toddler area with pirate ship, small slides for the younger kids.

all you can do is try it and see what you think

No it's not worth the money during school holidays

We went to Centre parcs last February and Florida in September. 13 year old DS talks about wanting to go back to Centre Parcs 🤷‍♀️