Best Centre Parcs for Toddlers

[Gray67]

Which is the best Centre Parcs sites for toddlers? I am thinking mainly about the best pool and soft play facilities.

Only been to Longleat CP, but have taken grandchildren as babies and toddlers and its absolutely fine. Easy to get around on land train and lots of activities and swimming for young children.

I’ve been to Longleat, but 20 years ago and not with children. I remember it being very big and very hilly and that would put me off quite a bit.

We go to Elveden. The pool is nice and they’ve just refurbished the toddlers area (it looks exactly the same though). There are soft plays in the restaurant and a larger one in the children’s disco area, upstairs where the bowling is. It’s also very flat and nowhere is that much of a trek to the centre, so fine for little legs.

Definitely Elveden

My toddler has been to Longleat three times and she’s not even 2 yet. Shes obsessed with the toddler pool and slides. They’re a relatively ‘new’ addition (as in they weren’t there when used to go as a child in the 90’s). Land train makes it easier to get about but we walk everywhere and we stay the far side. My daughter can’t get enough of all the squirrels and deer on the patio of the lodges.

Longleat doesn’t have a kids disco, which I believe the other sites do. You might see that as a pro or a con!

Elveden. The hill at Longleat is tricky. You always seem to be dodgy kids on bikes or racing up the hill to get somewhere.

Eleveden. Have been twice with my granddaughter. Pay the extra to be near the village centre - it’s worth it. We always have a great time and my. Grandaughter loves it.

Thank you for taking the time to respond everyone. For those suggesting Elveden, have you been to Woburn (or any others)? If so, how do they compare

Longleat is hilly, and the sports plaza is away from the pool and the rest of the “village” stuff. We found both those things annoying with a pushchair, and then with a baby, and a toddler who had different things booked. And annoying with a 4 yr old who wanted to cycle around.

No, but DH is a member of an Elveden FB site where people regularly compare Elveden to the others and it always comes off pretty favourably. We always choose a lodge in Pine, backing onto the little lake there, so we get ducks and geese turning up for their breakfast each day and there’s a heron that comes and goes as well as all the deer and squirrels. I know it’s on the outskirts but it really is only a 5-10 minute meander into the centre from Pine and it’s quiet, so you do feel very rural.

Also, you can hear the planes taking off from the airbase nearby. The first day, you wonder what on earth it is because you can’t see them unless you go to a particular area, but from day two, you barely notice it and the animals take no notice at all.

Haven’t been to Woburn for seven/eight years but it didn’t have as many trees or nature as Elveden. It didn’t feel properly rural as Elveden does. The lodges were newer given that it was (back then) recently built but you can hire newly refurbished lodges at Elveden now.

We currently opt for Woburn as have a now 5 and 1 yr old. The site is smaller and everything is closer together so getting the kids about is easier. Good parks and swimming area for baby/toddlers and another bit for younger children. I personally always recommended Woburn to my friends and family with little ones.

Woburn is better than Elveden for small children, imo. Yes its less foresty but more compact and walkable for little legs. The ducks and the little beach are nice. The toddler and baby pools are in the main area, not tucked out of the way.

We’ve done Elveden, Longleat, and Woburn.

Elveden is 100% the best for younger kids, we’ve been 3 times. Longleat is great, but more suitable for older children.

Woburn was felt like it was lacking on activities and the pool was a bit of a let down compared to Longleat and Elveden. So we probably wouldn’t return there.

I would also suggest Elveden. It's a good size for younger kids.

I love Longleat but it is very big and very hilly - land train does help with this though.

Woburn is our closest so we have been a few times and it is more compact which is good for little ones, but I would say it had the smallest pool area with not as much on offer as some of the others (not much of an outdoor pool, no whirlpools, no lovely warm lagoon - but guess they may not be as important with a toddler).

I think Elveden gives the perfect balance.

Has anyone been to Sherwood forest or Whinfell?

I’ve been to both, wouldn’t return to either, especially Whinfell. Longleat every time for me.