Don’t know what to make of centre parcs

[Murphs1]

I’m staying in Woburn forest. The facilities are fantastic, albeit hideously expensive, the accommodation is pleasant, but… is it just me, it all feels a bit stepford wives and slightly prescribed fun! I don’t know I can’t put my finger on it.
I think part of it is I’m in a fenced in ‘forest’ which I know is a security thing, and my car is a half hour walk away if I want to get out, but I understand the no car rule.
I can’t say I’m not enjoying it, but it all feels a bit contrived?

I don't understand anyone wanting to give centre parks their custom after the way they treat their guests with the Queen's funeral.

We used to love it, but honestly our last two trips were seriously underwhelming for the price we paid. The reality is that it’s extortionately expensive for very dated, sub par accommodation.

The service and food in the restaurants was genuinely dreadful - what used to be a really lovely Indian serving fresh, properly cooked food had turned into a glorified canteen serving microwaved slop with the most disinterested staff I’ve ever seen.

We won’t be going back.

Is there a roof on it as there was in the old adverts

We love it. But it is not our main holiday, it is a 3 or 4 night mini break. We'd never use it as a base, we always just stay and have fun.

Mornings, I sit and watch wildlife til the teens and Dh get up, then we'd go for breakfast (pastries at the parcmarket or Starbucks) and a swim. Then go do something... badminton, table tennis, crazy golf, boat on the lake, laser clay shoot or escape room. Followed by ice cream and or slushy. Then back to lodge for a snooze then go eat... Las Iguanas is the favourite, Bella Italia if we just want a pizza. Then go drink cocktails at the bowling bar... wander drunkly back up the traffic free path, sit on patio with a hot chocolate watching the bats, or, if cold, sit inside cosy, watching the fire.
I feel like I've had a holiday. It is all arranged in advance, I have no cooking or cleaning or sitting in a car in the rain to do. Just relaxing.

It reminds of that TV series The Prisoner, all you need is the big white balloon thing chasing people

We also loved a lot of the things people are complaining about - fenced in and no cars means it’s safe for children to run/cycle/scooter around. Not having to keep hold of their hand every second allows us to relax. Swimming facilities are excellent

When DC were preschoolers, it would cost less than £300 for 4 nights in a standard lodge. We would meal prep in advance and do a big shop en route so we didn’t need to eat at their awful restaurants. Load our bikes and have a relaxed 5 days with lots of cycling, swimming and eating outdoors. We did not do any extra activities (agree that running from one thing to the next for a specific time is not my idea of fun either). Kids would be exhausted by end of the day and we could relax in the lodge with a few drinks once they were asleep. Really cheap and easy break. We did not go Woburn as it is too small and not enough woodland

Now we would have to pay school holiday prices and have children asking to do all expensive activities, it’s better to just go abroad!

I used to love buying clothes at their shops - felt like a small curated selection of clothes exactly for me i.e. I was exactly their target market .

It is what it is - when my friend and I were going each year (we can't now, we both need way too much care) as unaccompanied wheelchair users, it was ace and easy to find out that it would be suitable, so many places claim to be accessible and actually aren't and it is nigh on impossible to find that out before going!

I would not have seen red squirrels (not one, billions, up close), fed nuthatches (usually incredibly shy!) from my table, seen bullfinches (we don't seem to have them where I live!) and various other birds, without CP and their feeding stations and quiet areas.

There undoubtedly are better holidays for others, there are cheaper, wilder, less 'fenced in and fleeced' places... if thats what you like, do that instead!

It’s great for a mini break, especially if your kids are a range of ages because there’s something for all of them.

Teens spent all day on water slides, younger ones would cycle or scooter around, go to the petting farm and climbing frames, then tire themselves out in the water in the afternoon.

Fresh pastries delivered for breakfast, sauna at the accommodation to relax in the evening. We’d bring our own food and board games and films so when the younger ones were sparked out we’d have time with the bigger kids.

I wouldn’t want it for more than 4 days, but it’s a very laid back break if you do it right.

We went recently for the first time with family. I found it very odd being in the middle of a forest, while not being allowed to go for proper walks. Then I started noticing signs for the “Off Road Experience” and other similar things, and just thought screw this. A place where a simple thing like going for a walk has to be packaged and sold as an Experience isn’t really my thing. Pool was fun though!

It does have a very Truman show sort of feel about it... I remember going out for a run and reaching the perimeter fence, which was slightly unnerving 🤣

But it's a very pleasant, easy and reasonably-priced holiday with babies and toddlers (as pleasant and easy as holidaying with babies and toddlers can be!).

We went a few times before Covid, last time was when DC1 was nearly 3 and DC2 1. Always went in either Sep or early May so paid no more than £400 for four nights which I didn't think was too bad. Weather was nice, kids enjoyed the playgrounds, beach and the swimming. Did do one or two paid activities to mix it up a bit, but could just as easily not.

Kids both still napped, so remember we had a nice hour or two each day when we didn't have to do anything and just sat on the patio in the sun..

Brought food with us, but did have one meal out which wasn't too bad...

We live in a village neighbouring an area of outstanding beauty so have lots of lovely countryside on our doorstop and still enjoyed the deer, ducks and squirrels coming up to our lodge (they don't get that close here!).

However, I wouldn't pay school holiday prices...

I worked in the Elveden one years ago when my kids were tiny....no way would i ever holiday there.

Yes, this was our experience too!

I hated Woburn. It felt like a conference centre (people were doing some form of training it seemed, walking about with briefcases). This ruined it for me.
Lovely surroundings but not worth the price and the bathroom once smelled of shit the whole time (upon arrival not because of us). On our first trip there years ago we didn't realise we could leave the compound and asked security if we could leave to go to the shop. He looked puzzled.

As a side detail, I find the anal and CP threads very funny.

CP is odd.

You'll have a great time. We went a few times when our DC were babies and toddlers and it was a very pleasant and easy break.

I feel exactly the same about it! This is also why I don't think I could ever go on a cruise.

Could be worse OP. I went to a ‘log cabin lodge’ at Hoseasons’ Cheddar Woods.

We had a fantastic time BUT the ‘log cabin’ was made from plastic logs and the ‘woods’ had only just been planted and the trees were about the same height as me 🤣🤣 It was not the outdoorsy vibe I was expecting!

(Do recommend it though, fab lodge interior and fab pool / rock climbing for a fraction of Centerparcs’ cost. Plus Wooley Hotel theme park and Cheddar Gorge walks are close.)

Definitely agree with your first sentence. It’s been handy for us with four children each four years apart, but it’s so soulless. It’s definitely convenient for holidaying with small children due to the lack of cars etc. The restaurants are decidedly average and considerably overpriced, the cost of going during the summer holidays is obscene, and it’s just generally quite bland but inoffensive.

We’re going again this summer but it’ll be out last family trip there (DH and I will continue with our spa trips because we quite like those 🤣)

But are they just ordinary squirrels? Or are we meant to assume that

I know what you mean. You pay so much to be there you don't feel like you should leave, even if you can.

I went to the Longleat one years ago and never even ventured to the House and Safari Park next door because it wouldn't be using the facilities I've paid for.

Next time OP, look at Forest Holidays. Still expensive, but without all the mass facilities of CP so you do get the best of both worlds - the ability to explore a local area but staying in a lodge in the forest (with a hot tub!).

The conformity and knowing exactly what you're getting is part of the appeal.

That said, the whole thing is too expensive, expecially if you pay for extra activities.

We ( as adults) love Forest holidays, but I do have to say that DS from age zero- 12 preferred CP. It's the on site pool I think and Forest atmosphere combined with activities indoors if weather is poor.

Same here, went every year before kids started school.

Wont pay the school holiday prices as you can definitely get better elsewhere for the extortionate cost!

We love it. It's a easy holiday just over an hour's drive from home. There are a lot of activities on site and the pool is much better than anything around here. I know I can do some of the activities at home but it's very conveniently located all in one place. I also love being able to cycle on the road without cars.

we went to Sherwood in 2004 and paid £400 for a midweek stay. It costs a lot more than that now! Even at that price my husband thought it was a rip off as you had to pay for activities and use the park shop/restaurant etc