Centre Parcs is a very weird place.

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

Most peculiar.

I bloody loved the place,were all desperate to go again but with 7 of us going in any of the school holidays were looking at well over £2,000 for 4 days just for the accomodation.

We did lots of things whilst we were there that we wouldn't normally do on holiday,one of our DS found out he has a real natural talent for fencing,I did the wild bird flying experience which was really lovely,all of the restaurants the food was amazing and all of the staff were great with all of our DC and the pool was so unique,we ended up spending a few hours in there.

Burt I think you've been given some bad info re center parcs.
First you actually drive to lodge to drop off bags etc then take cars back to car parks. No lugging bags required.
£8000 for a few days!!!!! There's 3 of us, a two bed lodge can cost over £1500 for 7 days in summer hols. Clearly the more kids you have and the more bedrooms you need the cost will go up but £8k???
And we like to cycle a lot so we all cycle when there. But there's a lot of people who just walk around too. I'm not sure anyone feels forced to cycle just because everyone else is.
Don't eat out if you feel the restaurants aren't up to much.
We take easy to prepare or pre prepared food with us.

We've been to sherwood and whinfell and both are genuine forests that were there before the villages were built.
There is a dome (or at least a building made of glass in all of them.
It's not a cheap holiday, but people go because it's an active holiday. You can pay to do the extras or entertain yourselves in the pool (free) or out in the forest (also free).

If it's not for you then don't go. Everyone likes different things for their holidays. I personally wouldn't make it my main summer holiday but I do like a weekend break either Easter or October time.

I really like centre parcs for a variety of reasons....
I can go as a single parent and not feel like I am being pulled in twelve different directions. I know they are safe and they all love the pools.
It's quiet and I met lots of people who seemed happy to be doing nice things with their kids (unlike Butlins) and not pouring money in fruit machines.
And most importantly they sorted out a lovely break for me, with activities, through willow as I have two tumours. I was having treatment and they found me fans for my lodge (they even took them from the booking area) and I had a perfect calm break. I have only good things to say about them.

It's fantastic in term time with pre schoolers. No traffic. Wear them out in the pool. Two minutes back to the lodge for a nap. Feed ducks and wander around. Drink wine while they play in soft play. Cook or go out for dinner in child friendly restaurants where you know what will be on the menu. No driving to places or waiting for buses/taxis, everything close and handy. I probably wouldn't go with school aged children though.

Ooh that's interesting, we had a comparison discussion the other day (not on here) and people said Bluestone had more for under-5s.

I'll have to try and swing a free CP holiday for bumsex comparison.

We go for big group holidays occasionally which it is perfect for. A big shared chalet bought on sale is pretty cheap per head, and way less hassle than hiring a cottage and then trying to find things to do to entertain all the kids. Between the water bits and safe woods for them to rampage in, they are happy. The adults get to chill and catch up, and there's restaurants etc right there if we want to be lazy, no need to all pile into cars etc.

I also have a weakness for the aqua sana spa things - adult only, and perfect for sitting round chatting and relaxing in all the different steam room/waterbeds/sauna experiences (and I've never found another spa that offers similar, I don't like being prodded by strangers, so massages/'treatments' hold no appeal.)

(And whoever said you have to ditch the car and carry your luggage is just talking rubbish... we've always driven up to the chalet).

I've been once, a long time ago, I went for a hen weekend, a family gathering. I think it may have been with the one in Cumbria was still Oasis though. We didn't bike, we went to the spa and I can't remember much else.

We did think about going when the children were small but we never did, and now school holidays are too expensive. We can go away for 2 holidays for not much more than the cost of a 4 day break in the summer holidays, and that is without allowing for all the extras, as older children are unlikely to be happy with just what is on offer for free. I also don't want to just stay in one place. If I am going somewhere I like to look at the surrounding area and CP isn't the place to do that.

We have one regular holiday haunt that I feel relaxed as soon as we pull onto the drive, so I get the appeal of that. But I just get the bonus of being able to visit some stunning places around it.

LOVE centerparcs - my family went a lot when I was a child, and I've been a few times as an adult. Husband also loves it. The forest is certainly real! I could see some lack of appeal if you aren't into walks in nature, cycling or any kind of sports, but I think it's a great holiday that can be as relaxing or active as you like. Loads of variety of activities, swimming and spa, very friendly and safe. They do vary in quality and range of things to do - I prefer Sherwood Forest. Was less impressed with Woburn.

I'm a big fan of centre parcs, definitely agree with it being an easy holiday, especially with young children.
It can be a very expensive holiday but outside of school holidays it can be a really affordable, lovely relaxing break.

I'm mixed. I do like the spa, really and truly. It was also a godsend when DS was little and we went with another family, safe etc. And they only wanted to be in the pool or on the lake. It was also brilliant with my elderly DM, who had a whale of a time doing wheelies on her scooter.

On the downside it is expensive for what it is and I don't think the quality of chalets justifies the price.

And I don't like gloom, and I understand it but the perimeter fence makes me feel claustrophobic.

Forest my arse. There's one near us - they chopped down half the forest to make way for the damn thing.

I think you also need to take consideration when booking over what you want. We got "real forest" because we booked one of the furthest away cabins (on purpose) and enjoyed the cycles to the centres

OP, which one were you at? We've been to whinfell several times and love it. The forest is lovely and it's all quite tasteful. It certainly isn't plastic and I don't remember advertising anywhere. It's one of few places other than home where I feel relaxed. I don't see why one-way is a problem when the whole point is that it is car free. You only need to drive on access and leaving so how does it matter that its one way?! It is expensive though!

I love Center Parcs.

I always think it's like Butlins in Boden.

Hugely manufactured enjoyment but with people who don't swear as much.

I've done both, I know

We went and I loved it, but thinking back it is similar to some weird Truman show type thing, and so totally middle class, everyone walking around with their Starbucks, and joules jackets.

Went to CP in Belgium for the first timelast year and it was fantastic. Never been to a UK one - overpriced. £1400 family of four inc ferry. We checked UK price equivalent inc the extras - £2.5k. No plastic, signposts or advertising. Natural and peaceful. Beautiful lakes, comfy lodges. Try a European CP.

It is sinister weird. Very odd.
And other people's children splashing And some nutter with a feckin newborn in the jacuzzi.
No cars but bloody bikes all iver the place.
And do people acutually pay for children to build stick dens? Or ride a balanced bike? Beyond weird.

It reminded me of a motorway service station: chain restaurants and an overpriced supermarket. You could book yourselves into a decent country hotel, hire as many bikes as you like and eat out somewhere far nicer for half the cost.

yeah, well we do that too

but CP is just EASY when you are burnt out and need a break but don't wanna do any planning or thinking - no lookin up cycle hire places and opening times, sourcing maps etc etc. It's all done for you - sometimes you need that

Why on these threads to people assume that nobody has thought of doing any other sort of holiday just because they (also) sometimes go to centre parcs. We do lots of independant travelling, but if life has been hectic it can be nice to just not plan/think and just show up and wind down

Ooooh where's that thread about chavs shagging in the pool

Weird, depressing , and eye wateringly expensive

"Sourcing maps." FFS.

I don't think I saw the fence again after a drive through it, until we left

YABU
It's Center Parcs

I love Centerparc. We went every year when the children were young and now I go with DH and grown-up DD to enjoy the spa, cycling etc. I find it very relaxing and restoring. The only forest I don't like is the newest one, Woburn, because the trees are sparse and not established yet. Maybe that's what the OP meant by "fake forest" because it certainly is recently planted.