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Original poster

Why do you like Centre Parcs?

127 replies

lalalove · 27/03/2025 16:15

I really struggle to see the appeal of Centre Parcs. If you love it, and go there frequently, what are your reasons?

Personally I can’t get over how expensive it is, when for the same price you could travel aboard and experience a different culture/climate.
Even for a staycation in the UK you can stay in much nice accommodation/locations for less. Does it not feel like just being at home? Having to cook and clean up after the family? And if you do eat out there are just a limited choice of dull chain restaurants.

Don’t hate me, but it just seems like a glorified butlins with an outrageous price tag (nothing wrong with butlins, at least it’s more affordable which I get!)

The majority of activities are chargeable as well aren’t they? So what are the benefits of going there!?

I think I’m in the minority so maybe the comments can change my mind!

OP posts:
Bear2014 · 27/03/2025 17:22

The kids absolutely love it, wouldn't be my first choice either but they beg to go there so we're going back this October after a couple of years off.

The water park/pool area is really fun and they can literally spend hours and hours in there. That is included within the price. It's warm all year round so gives the illusion that you're not in cold cloudy UK. This is the main draw really as they are obsessed with any water park anywhere. We're going to Eurocamp in the summer for the same reason.

They love the treetop / go ape type thing with zipwire over the lake. Also climbing, canoeing, generally cycling around.

We generally go bowling and to play pool one night after dinner and then an evening swim on another day.

We don't tend to use the restaurants that much, take nice packed lunch type stuff from M&S or a home made lasagne/Charlie Binghams for dinner. Basically bring a load of nice easy food with us. The takeaway options are quite good there too if you pre-order them.

JustSawJohnny · 27/03/2025 17:23

It's our happy place and it has something for everyone.

DS has been happy there from a toddler to teen, we enjoy it and whenever extended family have come with us (uncles/aunts/grand parents etc) they've enjoyed it too.

It's a very relaxed atmosphere with more than enough to do.

Of course there are nicer accommodations and areas in the UK, but eg The Lake District doesn't have facilities to keep kids busy all day every day. Of course, at peak times you could go abroad, but again that depends on what your family likes. We're not big sun or relaxing round a pool people. Horses for course and all that.

If you have the kind of kids who want lazer tag/bowling/pool slides/ sports and bikes all day, it's just the easiest option, and if you don't want to pay the high prices for UK school breaks, you can always go to a CP in Europe for cheaper.

It's not for everyone but it works for us.

latetothefisting · 27/03/2025 17:26

as radra said, the swimming is the main thing. There's nothing else like the CP rapids, not big swimming pools (I live near a national one) or Bluestone, Butlins, etc.

I wouldn't go full price, but off peak it's not really any more expensive than any other type of same-level accommodation, cheaper than a nice hotel.

while the activities are expensive you don't have to do many/any of them. same with cooking, you can do as much/little as you want. It's nice to not have to worry about cars driving along all the time.

Plus you don't have to stay there, you're allowed to leave for day trips - the longleat one is next to a safari park/manor house, for example.

ohyesido · 27/03/2025 17:26

It’s just relaxing

Almostwelsh · 27/03/2025 17:28

I'm a single parent and for me it's just ease. I don't want a self catering cottage in the UK, as I'm the only driver and I don't want to drive on my holidays or do all the organising of places to go that will please everyone, nag people to get up in the morning etc.

My kids are now teens and I certainly couldn't take them abroad for what center parcs costs, as I have to pay adult prices for all of them. Butlins also isn't significantly cheaper.

Center parcs has the best swimming complex of anywhere I've been on the UK. My teens still love it. They also like the chain restaurants and if someone sleeps in, it's no big deal we can go on with our day and they join us later. No hassle like it would be if we weren't on a resort complex.

JustSawJohnny · 27/03/2025 17:31

CuteOrangeElephant · 27/03/2025 16:52

  1. I am in the Netherlands and it is a lot cheaper over here
  2. The pools are second to none. We went for 2 nights recently and we went to the pool 4 times with DD7. She would have gone even more often if it was up to her.

We love De Kempervennen but I have to say, the accommodations and pool are way nicer at the UK CP's.

We'll still be grabbing cheap weeks in The Netherlands, though. There are a few extra activities DS loves that you can't get in the UK and the drive is so easy from Calais.

The staff and locals are so friendly. Love it there.

PurBal · 27/03/2025 17:33

It’s convenient (40 minute drive) and DS loves the pool. DH describes it as “sanitised countryside” because we live rurally and have more/closer neighbours at CP than at home. Never paid for extras, there’s enough to do for our pre-school age children. That said, major downside is the lack of laundry facilities when your child is potty training…

gerispringer · 27/03/2025 17:33

We have been there as an extended family ages from 75-3 with teens and adult in between. There’s really something for everyone. We do badminton, bowling , pickleball and a couple of kids things. The adults have an afternoon in the spa. We love it!

JustSawJohnny · 27/03/2025 17:34

lalalove · 27/03/2025 17:11

I don’t prefer all inclusive, nor do I think it’s ‘superior’ to dislike centre parcs.
i agree everyone likes different things, which is why I asked the question.
if I was holidaying in the UK I would pick an airbnb or holiday cottage in a coastal town, mix of self catering and options of locals cafes and restaurants + nature and scenery. Day trips, beach, pubs, national trusts etc.

Show quote history

We do those kinds of breaks as well as CP. They are so different that they can't really be compared.

I don't know how to explain it.

Maybe you're just a CP family or you're not?

doodahdayy · 27/03/2025 17:35

I looked over Easter and it was £1,600 for a few days. Ridiculous. Much cheaper outside of school holidays I’m sure. Went once pre kids and it was nice but not worth the money. We’ve booked a chalet type thing in Norfolk for under £300 instead

theresnolimits · 27/03/2025 17:35

We went recently with three generations to celebrate a big birthday and it worked brilliantly. We also noticed there were lots of multi generational groups celebrating and it works well for that.

Whatever age the children are they can find stuff to do and it’s just so relaxed walking everywhere and not having to worry about traffic. The lodges are large enough for us oldies to slope off for a nap and we can bring our dog. Deer came up to the patio doors and you do get a sense of being immersed in the forest.

We self catered one night, ate out one night and did a deliver in on another. Prices comparable to doing that anywhere.

We’re not a ‘kids club’ live entertainment family - much prefer charades and the ilk - and we loved seeing so many parents doing sports with their kids.

Would I do it instead of a long holiday abroad - no. But was it perfect for this moment - yes.

Terribletwoss · 27/03/2025 17:36

I’ve gone since I was a child and have many many happy memories there. I now take my own twin 2 year olds who absolutely love it.

As others have said, it’s the convenience of not travelling with babies and also having everything within reach and the roads are quiet and safe. My two are obsessed with the pool.

On another slightly niche note, my twins are disabled and it’s a very accessible holiday for them.

supersonicginandtonic · 27/03/2025 17:37

Centre parks in Europe I love, centre parks in Britain is overpriced and rubbish.

Milly16 · 27/03/2025 17:38

I wouldn't go for more than 3 or 4 days but it's lovely for that long. Kids now older and we've been regularly since they were young and tbey love it. It's great reconnection as you can do activities together, zoom down the rapids together etc. Super safe so you can let them go off on their own. Lovely cycling around etc.

I8toys · 27/03/2025 17:38

I don't like the UK ones - boring. The ones in France, Belgium and Holland are far superior - skiing, water skiing, each has a speciality and play area - like jungle domes. They have better activities and we used them as a base to explore the area.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 27/03/2025 17:41

FanofLeaves · 27/03/2025 17:16

Shock horror I also don’t mind a caravan holiday- the reason being- my little boy loves it and it’s on tap entertainment. Fine by me, he won’t be small forever, and it doesn’t cost me too much.

Can’t be doing with the snobbery. At this stage in my like holidays aren’t all about me!

We go to Haven sites several times a year.Ds 11 loves it and tbh so do we.

scotstars · 27/03/2025 17:45

We went to one of the European ones DS loved the pool and there was a decent soft play. He did a couple of paid activities like climbing and baking then we just went walks to the beach, parks, saw the animals etc. We also went to Bruges one day so it was best of both really relaxation and a bit of sightseeing I would say it's the holiday we enjoyed most my son is ND and doesn't really enjoy busy hotels, caravan parks with entertainment etc so we will likely book this Centre Parcs again

Mynewnameis · 27/03/2025 17:46

We love the dome, the wildlife (and stray cats), the pool, the shops, the activities- all of it.
Kids would take all of their holidays there :)

hazelnutlatte · 27/03/2025 17:52

For my kids, it's all about the swimming pool. Other parks have timed 1 hour slots for pools but center parcs lets you stay all day. If there is anywhere else in the UK with a pool as good as the center parcs one then please tell me where it is!
I'd prefer it if the restaurants were better and the rest of the activities weren't so expensive though.

mismomary · 27/03/2025 17:53

It's just so easy. We go for one weekend a year, take DCs and a couple of friends, eat out, swim, bowl, just have silly fun. And less than an hour away.

Aliceglass · 27/03/2025 17:54

It’s a tradition in my dhs family. We get all the family together off peak and the winter wonderland is fantastic for the kids. It feels convenient for activities and facilities which you don’t get hiring a cottage somewhere. The spa is amazing. The swimming pool with all the slides are free. You can make it as cheap or as expensive when you’re there. Wildlife is fantastic to interact with. It’s getting more dog friendly. I’ve never been to butlins so can’t comment on their facilities but center parcs ticks more boxes that other holiday villages don’t.

stanleypops66 · 27/03/2025 17:57

We go just after Xmas for new year and love it. It’s just a lovely relaxing way to get over Xmas. We go with friends and whilst it is expensive, the £800 it costs me is a lot cheaper than a family room in a nice hotel with a pool for 4 nights. Kids are now old enough to go to the pool on their own so we get some peace. We do bowling and pottery painting but no other activities.

mushroomshroom · 27/03/2025 17:58

@stanleypops66 DH was saying that's a perfect time to go.

Sortumn · 27/03/2025 18:03

We went recently £550 for a 4 bed, 2 bathroom for 4 nights with six teenagers.

I'm not sure where else we could take six teens and know they'll be happy going off and doing their own thing and we'll be comfortable letting them.

It's somewhere they're used to do it links them back in to the good times of their childhood.

I'm not sure we ever have stayed in nicer accommodation. Everything was shiny and clean. The kitchen was well stocked. We've stayed in some nice barn conversation type accommodation before but it still hasn't been on par. That was when the children were younger and we could squeeze into a 3 bed.

EcoCustard · 27/03/2025 18:04

We’ve been a few times, always Jan or March & in term time, quite good value for 6-7 of us. We all love the pool, slides & rapids & for a few nights it’s convenient, low faff with our kids. It’s not quite the forest retreat they sell it as but we always have a great family break. We swim, playground, cycle & go ten pin bowling, eat & board games in the evening.