Is Center Parcs worth the price?

[Vergus]

I am considering taking the family to Longleat Center Parc over the May half-term. I don't really want the hassle of flying abroad this year but the price for a 7 night stay over the half-term week is making my eyes water slightly. I could get an all inclusive package in Majorca for the same fee. I see also they almost double the prices for that week alone, which is standard practice I suppose for the holiday provider market as they know they have you over the barrel. But the cost for essentially a cabin in the woods is somewhat breathtaking.

I have heard very good things about Center Parcs however so am keeping an open mind. I understand the Subtropical pool is included in the price tag and is a real hit. I also like the look of the location - Longleat looks great for cycling and getting out in the forest. Kids are aged 6 and 10. It's also only a two hr drive from us so that's always good.

If anyone is happy to share their experiences/thoughts - both pros and cons I can weigh things up. The price is coming in at £2958 - activities I see are extra as well. And - of course - it's self-catering.

Thanks in advance!

I haven't been for 20 years but found it ridiculously priced then.
Give me a week in Mallorca any day! At least you'll have sunshine!

I dont think itvis worth that much personally. We tend to go in one of their cheaper weeks and pay £550 for a three bed lodge Monday- Friday and I think that's great value.

IMO, no it's not. I don't get what all the fuss is about with CP, it's hideously expensive, the accommodation is nothing special and if you fill your week with activities you'll need to remortgage your house to pay for it! I find the whole "forest environment" really fake too.

Haven is very good and much cheaper and lots have been completely refurbished with splash parks to rival centre parcs (seashore site to name one). You can hire bikes at most of them. I wouldn’t pay that much for CP, I’d rather go to Haven and have another mini break somewhere else for that price.

We did a weekend. Years ago. A week is way too long!

I’ve booked to go out of school holidays for £750 (plus activities) I absolutely do not think it’s worth £3k to go in half term. The activities will be at least another £500 on top plus food.

I do like Centerparcs but I wouldn't pay that, no. I'd either stay somewhere nearby and get a day pass for one day to use the swimming bit, or just sack it off and book a cabin/lodge/glamping pod etc somewhere else.

Granted I’m not its target market, but I went to the Bedfordshire one with my friend and goddaughter and it was awful value considering how expensive it was. Everywhere was packed busy, a lot of things were just randomly closed, restaurant food was pretty poor. But I guess it’s aimed at the more basic tastes of families with fussy kids rather than haute cuisine, so I’ll let that one slide.

I’d rather book a self catered cottage somewhere rural and just do the lake swimming / cycling / horse riding / forest adventures shebang from there.

It is expensive. That's just a fact. As to whether it's worth it, this is ENTIRELY dependent on the family involved.

We have enjoyed our trips to Centre Parks because:

We like the self catering houses combined with optionality to eat out.
The Dc love the pool.
The DC loved the bit of extra independence they had when they were younger - eg DS being able to cycle all over by himself aged 10.
It is convenient to jump in the car and just go.
We like that it's all sort of laid on and easy.

But all of those things could be gained elsewhere, or might not be valued by you. We have enjoyed it, but also, it's not somewhere we've rushed to go every year whereas I know families who go every year without fail.

Not to me, I have never really liked it. Too busy and child focussed.
I would rather have a cottage near the sea for a week with my dog
Having said that I was persuaded to go last year and I did enjoy The Spa

THREE GRAND
for barely five days in a hut where your food and activities are extra
jeeze that is insane

At nearly £3000, no I don't think its worth it and we are big centre parc fans. We tend to go for a long weekend that coincides with training days so its cheaper.

It depends what you want tho - there are other companies that offer similar things for a cheaper price (Landal Holiday Parks or Bluestone Park). or Airbnb's with pool access.

It's expensive but I really like it and go every year. It's just easy

I think you should compare it to Butlins, Haven or Park Dean holidays for the same dates.

Or get an Airbnb nearby and get a day pass to centre parcs.

The restaurants are pretty crap though so bring your own food

I love CP and absolutely think it's worth it... But only outside of school holidays.

You can only get a day pass if current guests staying there invite you. You can't just buy them without knowing someone currently staying there.

Nope, I'd choose Majorca or similar in the sun every time.
May half term could be crap weather here and you'll be paying even more to entertain them with all the extra activities.
£3K is mugging you off big time.

Honestly, I love Center Parcs, but there's no way its worth the price. We probably went about 5 times over the space of the 6 years prior to COVID. We only ever went though because it was my Mum paying the bill, and it was an easy way for her to have a holiday with all her family around her when she was ill.

I love Center Parcs and we’re actually going again in 2 weeks BUT I do think £3k is too much, and a week is too long.

Unless you have kids that are happy to play board games/bike ride/swim to fill their days, you could easily spend another £400+ just on activities for them to do while they are there, then you have food on top of that, it could comfortably ending up costing you £4-5k all in for a week.

The swimming as well, especially with it being a very popular week, can be hit & miss on getting in when you want to. We went in school hols last year and multiple times we went down and were turned away as it was too busy and told to come back later, two days we didn’t end up going in at all because it was just always full. Not an issue for adults really but if you had 2 young kids and swimming was your main plan for the day you’re then stumped and end up paying for other things.

It’s not worth the price. The cost only covers your lodge and the pool. Everything else is extra. Eating out very expensive and personally when I go on holiday I want a break from cooking. Like you say, you can go abroad all inclusive for less than a week at center parcs. I like CP and we went a few times when my son was preschool age and paid less than £500 for a week. I would not pay school holiday prices, it’s not worth it.

As a couple we went several times, many years ago in ‘quiet’ times and it was well worth the money then. Since having a child and being restricted to school holidays, we’ve been only twice. And that was with Granny who contributed to the cost.
if your family love swimming and generally being in the water, its full on entertainment all week with no added cost. Same if you take bikes and enjoy cycling around.

Self catering never a problem for us as we’d take loads of food and drink with us and the chalets were warm and cosy. We’d take lots of dvds (it was many years ago!) and books.
Nowadays we find log cabins in woods with a hot tub and it’s a third of the CP cost. But then, you do need to find entertainment in the daytime which can be more difficult with younger children.
At CP, you’re paying for an enclosed holiday park with facilities laid on as much as you want them. It feels safe with very limited vehicles on the roads (you can only use your car on arrival and departure days).
And of course, you have no airport/travel worries. You’re there within a couple of hours and can relax straightaway.

My dc love cycling around and I like the lack
of cars. Plus we all can spend hours playing badminton 😆

I do think 7 nights is a bit long though

Agree with this, wouldn’t do longer than 4 nights and we’ve been loads of times. It’s exhausting as you’re on the go almost of the time to make the most of it. It is expensive but some of our best family holidays have been there.