Centre parcs question

[Childcare18]

Hello all , anyone been to centre parcs Longleat before ? We have a holiday booked in July. My question is , I've had a look online a bit and some people say it's too hilly for bikes? Anyone know if that's correct? we dont own bikes , we would have to rent them out , just don't want to fork out the money and find out we are pushing them , not riding them the whole time.☺️

Hmmm, it does depend where you are staying? If you are in Fir then it is a big hill up and down to get to the main plaza bit. If you are nearer the plaza or sports centre then it is less hilly. We go every year and don't tend to bother with bikes, we just use the land train which is excellent, although a bit busy at times. From where we stay we tend to get the land train up the hill and then walk down.
Hope this helps

Going to CP was the biggest waste of money ever. I’ve never been so utterly bored (and broke) in my entire life.

It is hilly yes, we don't bother with bikes and either walk or take the land train- it's like the ones you see at the seaside and runs every 20 minutes ish.
It does depend how far you're going to be walking and how small your little ones are though really as some places like the sports cafe are down in a valley - very pretty walking past the tall trees and small waterfalls though 🙂

We had bikes at Longleat and used them all the time, would have taken far longer to get around without them and hang about waiting for the train. Our DS was a teenager though so may be harder with small children.

Some bits are hilly but plenty of bits flat enough. Or downhill! I love having bikes there, it’s part of the experience!

It’s very very hilly and if you have a lodge at the bottom don’t even bother trying to ride a bike! The land train was always full and we ended up having to walk up and down hills with little kids to get to the restaurants/pool etc. I don’t get the centre parcs hype - over priced, nothing to do, no kids entertainment apart from expensive extras and all in all a rip off . Been once, won’t be going again .

I’m surprised by previous comments. We don’t stay there but go to the spa often. Everyone seems to be on bikes. It’s hilly but not that hilly. Can you hire when you get there after seeing where your lodge is?

It is hilly. We’ve had bikes in the past & it’s still all cycleable but we just book a central lodge now and walk - nowhere is that far.

It does absolutely depend whereabouts your villa is. We went to Longleat many times when the kids were little and loved it.

100% take bikes - Longleat is great on a bike - I can’t imagine not having them there. It is hilly but all the bike pathways are geared to getting unfit people up the and down them.

It's very hilly. We have only been to LL once-we hired bikes but I had to push mine up some hills! Loads of people rude bikes as it is quicker than walking. Love Center Parcs- enjoy!

I think Longleat is my favourite CP. Definitely take bikes. It’s a bit hilly, but it’s nice to have the option to cycle from one activity to another.

That's so helpful. Great advice for someone who has a trip booked there!

OP, my family and I love going (that's 10 people and kids) to Elveden and Woburn CPs. Some people love it, some don't. As with anything in life.

Hope you enjoy your holiday!

Basically the boating lake and sports plaza are in a kind of valley. To get and up and down on bikes you need to use these wide zig zagging boardwalks they have in place. I first went when I was 5 and my Dad was always behind me yelling “keep pedalling” and teaching me to steer and use the gears. Usually by the end of the first day I’d cracked it, even now at 32, I find the first day a bit tricky on the bike and need to get used to it- you definitely get fitter over the weekend.

If you are in one of the villas round the back you don’t need to go down to the lake and back up again to get anywhere else though, there is another boardwalk that loops round the side; it’s a gentle uphill but avoids the big down and up.