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?

I have taken my two sons to Butlins (Bognor) about 4 times, between the ages of about 6ish and 10, October half term each time. We went with my BF and her two sons. By the last time we went we had probably the most expensive configuration you can have but it was fabulous - interconnecting hotel room with two bedrooms each, fridge, kettle etc, lovely bathroom, balcony - premium dining package, fast track pass to all shows - they loved the pool, all the entertainment, the football, we took their scooters so they could zoom around. It wasn't cheap though.

Have to say I've been to minehead/skeggy more times than I can count and have never seen people drunk at 2pm or kids fending for themselves. Def wouldn't have been back as many times if I had!

The worst child neglect I saw was at centre parks the parents had bikes and the kids had to run behind, one child was crying.

Mine are 9’and 11 and I think much of butlins might be a little young for them (the rides etc).

we went to haven this year and booked for next year and it’s perfect. Just what the doctor ordered.

also I’m sure there are some other fab holiday parks out there that are none of the above. For example kelling Heath in Norfolk is lovely x

Saw this plenty of times at Bognor.

One night, a little girl no older than 5 was roaming around outside and she'd had an arguement with her sister so was walking off but the parents were nowhere to be seen and she was scared on her own. 10 minutes go by of me chatting to her and finally a Dad appears (with cigarette in his hand) claiming the kid. I could have been anyone chatting to her.

Been to both, plus haven, parkdean, and park holidays caravan sites over the years. Center parcs is my favourite, although as mentioned by another poster some of the haven sites are great (love Wild Duck!). However for small children Butlins can't be beaten for the sheer amount of activities available. Witnessed some drunken rowdy behaviour in some caravan sites (worst was actually this summer), including drunk clearly underage teens and people tearing round the park on motorbikes, and big groups just generally being rowdy, but not at Butlins or CP.

I'd definitely go for Butlins if I was you op

We were CP snobs.

We booked a tots break at Butlins because it was £144 for the week in a hotel room and DC loved Mr Tumble.

We were blown away by it. We now only go to Butlins, and book the top room, which had three bedrooms, big hall, lounge, kitchen dining area and balcony about 20ft long. It was only £730, and 90% of things are included, unlike CP where 90% isn't.

Seriously, you won't regret it.

What do you want to know about Butlins skegness... You kids will love the new skypark and updated fairground.

I like butlins for nostalgia reasons and I feel like I’ve grown out of it but really I haven’t.

I would pick it over Center parcs everytime if only it had more physical activities and a better spa.

Please join the Butlins skegness Facebook pages. Full of information tips ...lots of pick of food ,shows etc.

I posted here September 2021 about how much centre parcs had gone downhill. We were at oasis whinfell and the bars/restaurants were filthy and food choices quite restricted. Took ages to get served anywhere. It’s really put me off going back. I’d defo give butlins a go!

Butlins is great fun if you enter with the right attitude and at least you don't have to have anal

Butlins Skeggy is amazing and adjoins the beach, it couldn't be better. We did one of the grown up Big Weekends and I would highly recommend it, cheap as chips and so much fun,

I love butlins! Been there once and stayed in the wave hotel. Take the kids

Thanks! Great tips and I reckon we will just do Butlins, other parks look nice but a lot aren’t open when we want to go as it’s still winter!

I won a week at Butlins in Bognor. It's fine for kids, but there's nothing for adults to do.

‘I won a week at Butlins in Bognor. It's fine for kids, but there's nothing for adults to do.’

this adult is planning on reading a lot of books!

I think a lot of people think it is safe to let their kids roam, because it is all self contained. Of course it isn’t, anyone can buy a day ticket.

I haven’t seen much daytime drunkenness but I have seen very young kids toddling off, presumably to the pool or playground, with primary-age older siblings, when I am sure their parents wouldn’t let them go off on their own normally.

I found Butlins dirty. We stayed in the hotel and it was nasty. Dried chocolate/ snot on the curtains and cushions. Quite obvious millions of kids had been there before us and destroyed it. Never went back.

I've been to all the butlins and love them. Always stay in gold accommodation. Love centre parcs in Europe but the ones in this country are ridiculously priced. We got a deal all inclusive abroad for cheaper than centre parcs in half term.
There also really isn't that much to do either that isn't an extra expense.

We go Skeggyvegas every year. My kids 8,6,2 absolutely love it. We usually do gold and premium dining but next gear decided to go self-catering as there is SO much to do, going for breakfast/tea meals can make it quite restrictive. I’d rather a quick bowl of cereal and off to swimming rather than faff trying to get my toddler to eat in a restaurant twice a day. Premium dining is fab though.

Animals and birds visiting back window of the chalet if you feed them and longleat down the road , only £50 per person pretty cool for the kids.Biking everywhere, just lack of evening entertainment let's it down.

I know a group of women in their fifties go every year to Butlins to relax with alcohol ,must be something to that.😊

My DF took us to Butlins when we were 10/12 years old and we had a great time. I went to CP with a friends family when I was 16 and couldn't see what the fuss was about. Everything is miles away from everything else and even at that age I noticed how expensive everything was. CP gets away with it purely by buying in to peoples snobbery and the need to tell all their friends "We're off to CP next week", but it's nothing special and an absolute rip off. Go to Butlins and have a wonderful time!

We have always been to either CP, Haven or Parkdean. All good in their own way, haven and Parkdean are cheap and cheerful, have quite a lot included in the price and some of the sites are really nice.

CP is just so nostalgic for me because we went loads as kids and we now go with my parents and siblings plus our kids. We always have an amazing time. But it is very very expensive and the activities are a rip off (but very well organised)

We've never been to Butlins but as a party of 6 it seems to end up very expensive when I look to book, not far off CP (if not the same sort of price) and I don't know if it'll be worth it now that 3 of the kids are over 10

Never been to Butlins - have had three eye-wateringly expensive holidays at CP. All of the comments people are making about Butlins apply to CP in my experience, so there’s nothing to justify the extra expense.