Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To choose Butlins over Centerparc??

127 replies

Butlinsorbust · 30/10/2023 20:23

Am I? I have fond childhood memories of Butlins ( had very young WC class parents, not much money but we had a few long weekends at local Butlins, the only time we stayed anywhere over night when we were kids ).
looking at a half term break at CP versus Butlins the prices are MAD at Centerparcs, plus so many activities seem to cost £!£ extra.
DP - bit of a holiday snob- is nixing Centerparcs in price but won’t go to Butlins!

I don’t think our kids will
care, pool? Check! Buffet food? Check! Room to run around, check!

Am I BU to go ahead and take the kids to Butlins on my own?

OP posts:
Penguinsmum · 30/10/2023 20:49

We absolutely love Butlins. Just booked to go again. So much fun for us. W have had people judge us for going to Butlins instead of CP! Don't care though. Have had so many great breaks at Butlins 🙂

1992H · 30/10/2023 20:51

Ps with regards to your husband. I was like him, the first time we went I was not happy, ds2’s passport hadn’t arrived in time to fly as planned so we booked it last minute a few days before.

we’ve been back twice a year since. The kids love it: I was proved wrong.

he may, begrudgingly concede defeat if he goes! I did

User2123 · 30/10/2023 20:53

I think Butlins in school holidays is overpriced for what it is. We went on a Just for Tots break during term time though and that was fantastic value!

Have you looked at CP in Europe though? We just came back from one in Belgium, paid about £800 for 7 nights during half term. Same week at CP UK was £2500!!! The activities are really good value too, only €5-€20 each, plus the excitement of going on channel tunnel/ferry.

jesshomeEd · 30/10/2023 20:57

Butlinsorbust · 30/10/2023 20:33

Kids are 10 and 12, get on well, sporty and outdoorsy so generally low
maintenance on hols. They love a pool and a fairground.
Plus they’re good at finding other kids to play with, so I’m hopeful of a bit of time to chill myself.

To be honest they are at the top end of Butlins age group I think. My 6 & 9 year olds still love it but my eldest didn't want to come last year aged 12.

Halloweensparkle · 30/10/2023 21:00

Went to butlins in April this year. It wasn't good. Rooms were dirty and stunk of smoke. My DS found a blue pill under his bed. Dust everywhere. Front door let so much cold air in. Entertainment was ok but had to queue hour before to get a decent seat. Restaurants were OK but over priced. Swimming pool was over capacity I'd say, it was chaos.

I took my DS when he was younger before and it was fine but it's gone down hill. I'd much prefer paying more and going to Centre Parcs. I love it there!

Original poster
Butlinsorbust · 30/10/2023 21:01

@Halloweensparkle which one??

OP posts:
jesshomeEd · 30/10/2023 21:04

I have never understood the people who willingly queue for an hour with small children just to get a seat at the front - we always just go straight in when the doors open, sit a few rows back and have never had a problem Grin

TBOM · 30/10/2023 21:04

10 & 12? I’d be very surprised if they liked Butlins. It’s for much younger children

Avariceagain · 30/10/2023 21:05

My kids prefer butlins to CP. They are younger than yours though. We live in the countryside so they are far more excited about a beach than a forest! We stay in the Bognor hotels which are fine. CP has a better pool, and I find it less exhausting as Butlins is very full on, but given the price difference, there's no point us doing CP 🤷

Bluesclues1 · 30/10/2023 21:06

I don’t understand where people are finding £3000 for a CP break, unless you’re choosing one of the treehouses? We go a couple of times a year and it’s never been that expensive. We’ve even been for New Year’s Eve and it was about £250 each for 3 nights.

We paid £1100 for Easter weekend (Fri- mon) this year for an 3 bed executive cabin and have paid £900 for the same in Feb half term next year?

I’d always choose CP over butlins - just prefer the the woodland setting and facilities.

bippityboppity87 · 30/10/2023 21:09

I've been to both centre parks when I was younger and Haven when I took my DC. I preferred Haven. Would love to go to butlins but live in Scotland and there isn't one near us

Drdoomish · 30/10/2023 21:10

Had an adult break at Butlins last weekend. I loved it.

I spent time wishing I hadn't been so snobby about taking the kids there when they were younger, as they would have loved it.

Original poster
Butlinsorbust · 30/10/2023 21:13

I priced 4 days for 3 of us at half term in CP and it was £2300! Then it seems if you fart there’s a charge! Other than swimming I couldn’t see much else activity wise that’s wasn’t more ££& and the kids the age they are, I think they would want to do archery or abseiling or whatever

OP posts:
MeinKraft · 30/10/2023 21:16

There was an old post here that called Center Parcs 'Butlins with trees' that always makes me laugh when I go to CP. I haven't been to Butlins so can't compare the two but we do love CP.

PuppyPerson · 30/10/2023 21:16

At 10 and 12 your kids are at the top end of the perfect Butlins age - so I say definitely go for it now! I found CP so boring and (Longleat) like a weird clinical pine forest and not lovely countryside at all, all we could afford was to go to the pool every day which was like a weird service station with a pool in it. Never got what all the fuss was about! So expensive too!
Butlins is brilliant fun. The pool is great, the fair, the shows, the arcades, there's a cinema, and it's all included. We also never bothered to queue for the shows, you can see fine from the seats at the back!
Go for it!

Slipslidinginthefray · 30/10/2023 21:17

Think your kids are a bit old for Butlins. It’s aimed much more at littlies and that’s why parents can deal with the fact it’s a bit grim as the little kids have such a good time.

Have a look at Manor House hotel. The rooms are basic as is the food but the activities are amazing.

bippityboppity87 · 30/10/2023 21:18

You can do archery and sailing at Haven, not sure about Butlins as I've never been

Original poster
Butlinsorbust · 30/10/2023 21:20

I’m not fussed about archery or sailing! To be honest my kids will be fine with a pool
And a football if that’s all that was on offer!
But CP seems to have all these pricey extras and I don’t like being fleeced!

OP posts:
PuppyPerson · 30/10/2023 21:21

There's loads for older kids to do at Butlins, when we went with toddlers we were back in the accommodation for bath and bed at 7pm every night, but in the evening there are still shows to watch and the arcades etc which I think 10&12 ages would enjoy. There's climbing, archery etc but it does cost - affordable though imo and I'm quite stingey.

HopAPot · 30/10/2023 21:25

I know one person who has been to Butlins and they cut their break short it was so awful.

Original poster
Butlinsorbust · 30/10/2023 21:26

‘I know one person who has been to Butlins and they cut their break short it was so awful.’

Sounds like
my DP!

OP posts:
MeinKraft · 30/10/2023 21:28

Butlinsorbust · 30/10/2023 21:20

I’m not fussed about archery or sailing! To be honest my kids will be fine with a pool
And a football if that’s all that was on offer!
But CP seems to have all these pricey extras and I don’t like being fleeced!

Nobody pushes you to do them. The swimming place is huge at CP and perfect for teens, between that and cycling around the place they'll be perfectly well entertained.

Createausername1970 · 30/10/2023 21:32

I was a bit snobby about Butlins before we went the first time. DS would have been about 5 the first time we went. Bloody loved it. Between 5 and 15 I think we went about 5 times. Always to Minehead.

As a younger child we didn't leave the site that much, but Minehead itself is lovely. As an older child/teen we did more off-site, but still made use of the facilities and watched the shows in the evening.

We stayed in the cheaper accommodation to start with, but the last few times we had balconies and house keeping.

We have also had some good holidays at various Havens, but the facilities are not as good as Butlins, in my opinion.

Bournetilly · 30/10/2023 21:33

CP is brilliant and if you think your DC will be fine at Butlins with just a pool then they would be fine at CP with just a pool. Not all the activities are expensive (can book minimal) and go on bike rides.

I wouldn’t take a 10 and 12 year old to Butlins.

Grapewrath · 30/10/2023 21:36

Centre parcs would be great if you were city based and wanted some fresh air and outdoors stuff. If you live near countryside it’s a but dull and the activities are expensive. I last took my kids as teens and they were bored tbh
Butlins is a massive headache but there’s loads if free stuff on the camp and the kids absolutely love it. The hotel accom is decent too.
We did both when our kids were little and they much preferred Butlins. I’d say they outgrow it at around 13 but even then they enjoyed the shows and made friends at them. The entertainment is much better imo