Centre Parcs is a very weird place.

[MOIST]

Fake forest. Plastic stuff. Signposts and advertising everywhere. Like Ikea in a fake forest with one-way system and bad feng.

Most peculiar.

We went to the Appleby once when DS was 4. He loved it & kept running into the hut chalet announcing he'd seen "a fox - a cub fox" - it was a red squirrel

He then kept counting these "cub foxes" & reached thirty-something - it was the same squirrel one coming back & forth

• the one near Appleby I meant

Not weird at all.

Love it there

Bluestone is nicer IMO

Lots and lots of middle class people on bicycles.

Er, the one near us is just a load of chalets and a swimming pool in a very real pre-existing forest. Oh, and bikes to get everywhere and every kind of indoor and outdoor activity imaginable.

And did someone mention a dome? I don't think there really is a Centre Parcs anywhere under a great big glass done where it's always warm and never rains... or is there?? Not that anyone said there was, but that's definitely what I thought when I was a child!

The forest at sherwood is great. I love doing the nature walks with the wardens, they're very knowledgable.

It would have been everything I hated a few years ago (pre kids!) but the kids love it so much that I can't help but love it there

" You have to park far way then lug your luggage. " no you dont
"There are so many extras to pay for. "
If you choose to, we don't.
"All the families ride round on bikes, because every one else does."
People riding bikes HORROR
I've been to cp once, am going back. It's good, I go for the company, enjoyable bur I'm not its greatest fan. But he snobbery on his thread is laughable.

Had a much better time on a Haven holiday where we left the resort and explored the area instead

Completely agree. Stay in a caravan for third of the price (the lodges aren't much bigger!) and actually get out and explore.
There's only so much of the day can be spent riding around the forest on bikes and having a swim in the overpopulated pool - then it gets boring and you are forced to pay for the extra activities (if you have kids anyway) which are very expensive. Last time we went we spent about £1200 for a midweek stay and spent almost that again just on activities.

We had a great thread on here years ago where loads of people said as kids they thought the whole of CP was under a dome and they'd been disappointed to realise its just the pool.

I thought the same. I'm sure adverts in the eighties alluded to this.

And surely it's not hard to imagine a forest with people in it. That sounds a bit odd.

It just doesn't interest me in the slightest. It seems like so much money for so little to do? We're a Butlins family though so we're probably a little too downmarket for CP.

Glad to see someone upthread has said Bluestone is good, we're off there on Monday (for free ). I've seen it described as Center Parcs with more to do?

I definitely thought CP was all under a dome

Also, bumsex.

The 2 I've been to were definitly real forests . And while it's lovely I think it's over priced for what it is. I'd never pay to go there.

And yes I thought it was all under a dome too.

DH calls it telly tubby land because of the manicured lawns covered in rabbits.

We went on one of the nature walks with a guide who said the wildlife was natural and drawn to the area because of all the people feeding them (we asked if the rabbits, ducks etc. were shipped in by the caseload) but that the company kept building more houses - but not increasing the space - so the wildlife would probably be squeezed out.

We wouldn't have been caught dead there before we had kids, but it is easy, and safe for them to wander round, and they love feeding the ducks in the morning

Not everyone wants loads to do

I have loads to do in every day life, it's nice (for me) to just sit and look out at the forest and then maybe take a bimble on the bikes down to the pool.

I think I'ld leave Butlins exhausted not refreshed/rested, but the kids would probably have a blast. I just wouldn't want all the business - I have business and noise all around me every day

Centre parks = anal sex

(See mumsnet classics, sorry I don't know how to link)

I've been once and swore never again. The DC wanted to do activities and making sure they were at the right place at the right time meant that relaxing and chilling was the last thing we could do...

The margaritas made with Rose's Lime cordial are also something I've tried in vain to forget

I would say there's more to do at CP than Bluestone. I much prefer CP.

The trees are real, the car parks are on the outskirts so you don't have to dodge cars driving around, they let cars into the park when you check in and out. It's the easiest holiday I've ever been on with 2 small children, everywhere is in walking distance, activities are there if there if you want them, swimming is an all day event.

I don't understand the snobbery on this thread, it's quite clear what it is when you look on the website. I'm sure the first one was under a dome, but I could be wrong.

I prefer Bluestone but definitely more to do at center parcs.

The first one is sherwood. It's only the pool that's under the dome.

I came on to say bum sex happens a lot at cp. Glad there are other mucky minded buggers on here too

I've been few times with big gangs of friends and always had a good time. It's not that expensive if you go in term time and are splitting the cost with friends. I wouldn't want it to be my main holiday of the year though.