To choose Butlins over Centerparc??

[Butlinsorbust]

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?

Butlins is my children's favourite holiday from childhood - I also left my DH at home as it was 'not his thing'.

So much to do and Knickerbocker Glories as well.

@Bournetilly have you ever been to Butlins?

My kids love butlins, they're lucky enough to have been all over the world and it's butlins they still talk about. I'd only stay in the hotel though.

Deffo interested in experiences of those who’ve actually been to Butlins or Butlins/ CP because I can get enough of snobbery at work or from DP!

European centreparcs are cheaper and apparently better

At Centre Parcs you will have a great pool and some nice woodland walks/bike rides.

At Butlins you will have a great pool, fairground, playground, football and there's usually things like science shows or slime workshops, circus skills, silent cinema. Plus evening shows.

At Butlins you can also pay for some activities like climbing wall or ten pin bowling, pool if you want.

If you can stretch to the premium dining or hotel dining option for breakfast and dinner I definitely would. Makes it more of a holiday if you're not cooking and washing up!

@Birch101 Inhave heard that but not up for going abroad. Just want something not expensive for 3/4 days that we can drive to in a few hours and that the kids will like.
low key. Easy.

We did centre parcs twice last year off peak as my kids are younger than yours so it was cheaper We liked it but honestly, we could not justify spending that sort of money during peak season this year now my eldest is at school. We sceptically booked Butlins and went in August. It was absolutely brilliant 😁 the kids LOVED it. So much to do, in fact TOO much to do. Pool was excellent (bognor) and endless, endless shows to see. We booked to go again next year before the end of our holiday as we were so sold. The kids were buzzing. Don't regret it, just embrace it.

And take wine. I was bloody knackered 😂😂😂

We do CP couple of times a year (only because our dcs aren’t in school yet) and the only reason I’d say I prefer it is because the accommodation is much cleaner and cosier.

We booked the poshest accommodation type at Butlins last year and it was still so grubby. But the entertainment and activities at Butlins were brilliant!

Oh and we did the shoreline hotel with hotel premium dining 👍

Yep, can't understand why people are saying 10 & 12 year olds are too old?!
Maybe it feels like that if you've only been on the just for tots breaks. At half term it's definitely geared towards older kids.
Mine loved cycling round on the 4 seater bikes, crazy golf, the pool, fair, laser tag...loads to do

I have seen some negative comments on here recently about Butlins re dirty rooms
Etc - but - we went around 8 times between 2007 - 2012 and always had a great time, no complaints about accommodation at all (silver or gold apartment). I think we went to Bognor once, all other times to Minehead . DC 6 - 12.

I wouldn't pay the prices I've seen for CP - would expect somewhere sunny for that price .

I found CP boring, we loved butlins! DH is a snob and we’re very outdoorsy people but the kids absolutely adored Butlins!

"like a weird service station with a pool"

🤣 love it. So true

I've booked to go next year on an adults
Break with my friend !

We do both, just back from skegvegas. Def pay for the upgraded accommodation, restaurants.

Pack the swimming stuff separately and chuck them straight in the pool when you arrive, it's packed the other days. Always loads of stuff to do and if chargeable, the prices are t too bad. The funfair is free but if they are bigger the. Might not be enough white knuckle rides but there's always fantasy island just down the road.

Love CP too but the extras are so expensive now. DS prefers the pool at Butlins to CP.

A warning though - never go to Pontins!

We've done both and DD prefers Butlins. CP was boring.
The shows at Butlins are good fun and there's always something to do. The extras are pretty reasonable too.
Saying that the drive from here is pretty nasty Friday tea time so we're doing a local Haven/Parkdean next time. There's one about 45 minute away with a lot to offer similar to Butlins

Agree with haven, if you're a bit choosy about the site. Butlins Minehead had mushrooms growing on the carpet under the bed, so we left and demanded a refund. CP has always been good if we can get organised to book ahead and save some cash, plus I love that they do some parent-free sessions that the kids love and mean that DH and I can go to the spa

I've done the adult weekenders with my parents and it was amazing, 60's one and a 80's one. Accommodation was basic, think travel lodge (not refurbed rooms) rather than premier inn, food was plentiful if basic

Just dropping in to give the same advice I always seem to on a Butlins thread 😄

If you’re planning on self catering, it can be cheaper to book a private caravan. There’s one site that don’t have them - can’t remember which - but Minehead definitely do.
You get bigger and better quality accommodation, a bit of outdoor space and parking right next to the caravan. All access to the site is included. Look at ukcaravans4hire.

Family friends have taken their DD to Butlins for years. Only stopped when they are now 18 and 14. They were also into very cultural type breaks but loved Skegness Butlins for all the activities and the pool.

We go every year to centre Parks because all the family love it , three in there 20's plus grand kid.We love especially the swimming pool with the wild rapids and high slides and tunnels, my grand kid could spend all day there .Loads of stuff to do and the Spa is great for a break from the kids ,very relaxing.
Butlins haven't been there for 30 years so shouldn't comment but it wasn't good back then.

My kids are younger than yours but we MUCH prefer Butlins to centre parcs. CP is probably good if there are a bunch of families going together, but otherwise it's really quite boring. Butlins has free shows, activities and they are all near a beach so a much more fun location. We usually do the hotels at Butlins rather than their slightly grotty apartments, although stayed in a gold apartment last time which was ok. Not great, but ok.

I didn't think I was a Butlins person but we went one year and the kids loved it so have been 4 times in total. We have stayed in the seaside apartments and the hotels. All lovely.

My kids' favourite things are the funfair (free rides as many times as they like), softplay and swimming pool.

We don't really do the shows as they're not interested and we're always knackered!

I would say that the last time we went wasn't so great as the site needed a bit of TLC (Bognor) and the food was overpriced and not very nice. Also, my 11yo is now too big for the softplay and she was devastated. We were also too late to book things like the climbing wall.

Would suggest you try it!