Center parks - a bit tacky?

[9uygjk]

Just back from our first trip to center parks. Went to the one in Woburn and honestly I just thought it was a bit tacky. Apparently it's middle class Butlins but is it? Maybe am being particularly picky but I still thought it was a bit like Butlins. Is it just me?

It's a big pool that kids can play in surrounded by miles of woodland paths they can cycle in.
The centre has some okayish chain-style restaurants.
The accommodation is plain but spacious.

What's tacky about it?

Overpriced? Yes. Tacky? No.

Been to the Lake District one a couple
of times - didn’t think it was tacky.

I've only been once and wasn't massively impressed. Although I wouldn't have described it as tacky.

The accomodation wasn't in great condition, particularly annoying given the extortionate cost to stay there. Not being able to park at the lodge was frustrating. The activities were good but cost extra. The pool was packed so, whilst it was quite big, we only had a small patch to play in. The slides etc were good fun though and the children were all well-mannered and took turns.

My children are quite young though and I've heard that it is better with older children.

I’ve never been able to stomach the cost! I could technically afford it but I won’t pay the price differential just to be with middle class kids in the pool!

I’d rather stay somewhere away from people!

When they were new they were lovely and seemed so far away from other holiday camps.

Now they are older and a bit dated and very expensive for what they are.

It's completely over priced but I dont agree that's it's "tacky". Can you explain why you think this?

I wouldn't say tacky - but yes, otherwise that's what they are. They're the Macdonalds of holiday villages. You go to one anywhere and you know what you're getting (with little changes).

My kids like them exactly because of that. They know they can go swimming every day, that if it's sunny there's an outdoor pool, that we can go to the buffet (although some don't have buffets now, which they don't approve of) for breakfast or lunch or whatever and they can use the ice-cream machine, that they can cycle/wander around and it's safe.

People will just moan about anything. It's a lovely cabin in the woods with beautiful grounds. Nothing tacky about it at all.

Maybe tacky is the wrong word but I just thought it was pretty rubbish. There is no where to get decent fresh bread or coffee. Large parts of it feel like a crappy leisure centre, whilst the pool is bigger than normal, it didn't feel clean. The food out is terrible. The sports cafe is tacky.
Strangely it feels like aspirational middle classes in the 90s, cafe rouge, starbucks etc. By now no one middle class would actually go to any of these places in their real life.

Completely unhelpful, but I cant help but chuckle at any Center Parcs thread and have to read posts with its alternative MN meeting 🤣🤣

Centre Parcs being an activity of the middle classes made me grin

I know what you’re saying 🍆🍑.

Those were the days!

Im so glad the first comment knew what i was saying haha

And im glad its not just me 🤣

The Woburn one is the smallest (I think?), definitely has the smallest pool and nowhere proper to swim.
Good with a toddler but a bit rubbish if you really want to walk or cycle. It’s size also meant it felt crowded during school holiday time.
Quite a few rough/lairy TOWIE types which wasn’t great.
Wouldn’t say it was ‘tacky’ though…

Strangely it feels like aspirational middle classes in the 90s, cafe rouge, starbucks etc. By now no one middle class would actually go to any of these places in their real life.

Why wouldn't someone middle class go to Starbucks?

Does the class thing actually matter?

Middle class people don’t go to Starbucks? Is Costa allowed?

Tacky probably isn’t the right word but I know what you are getting at. Anywhere with that many children very much feels like a giant leisure centre. We went once when ours were younger and it was fine, but I wouldn’t go again during the school holidays - the prices are outrageous. For what it costs, I’d much rather be in Italy, enjoying pizza and wine in a bit of culture, rather than stuck on a plastic bench eating a cold hot dog and being knocked about by hundreds of excitable kids… and actually my children would agree!!

The food is horrendous, yes. I think the comment re aspirational from the 90s is pretty spot on in that regard. I basically refuse to cook ‘on holiday’ though so we just accept it and try to order judiciously…wine helps. And some fancy snacks back at the lodge!

The costs are eye watering once you add in activities - I take the view you may as well though once you’re there.

Still, the kids bloody love it…I don’t know. There are fancier alternatives in terms of accommodation and food for sure but they are straying into the genuinely quite painful in terms of money and they don’t have the scope of activities, the massive pool.

I like Center Parcs. We've had some good holidays there and make the most of the activities, cycling etc as well as the pool when we go.

What were you expecting OP?

I've been to a few CP, went to Woburn last month. It's a great environment for young kids. Our 3 year old loved the pool. It's smaller than some of the others but quite a bit for smaller children.
What I like is the car free zone, so it might be annoying for some people to have to walk from the car park but it means children can run around and ride bikes etc without fear of motorists for a change. There's lots of activities for kids too (at a price).
If I wanted to be picky I'd say the restaurant choices are a bit fast food for me but others in our group were happy with them.
I wouldn't call it tacky. Not my ideal holiday for myself but as somewhere to take the grandkids or spend time with the family it's nice enough.

It used to be naice I reckon… but now it’s older and dingy and they let anyone with money in so those annoying nouveau riche tacky families are all over it.

Far more Nevaeh and Jaxxons than Persephone and Bartholomews nowadays.

Just to add, I went into a Butlins for the day a few years ago and CP is nothing like it in my opinion.

It's a middle class, Joules wearing prison.

I absolutely love CP and go a few times a year. The idea that’s it’s mainly middle class kids in the pool has actually made me laugh out loud.

If you decided one time to stomach the cost in order to be surrounded by middle class kids you would be deeply, deeply disappointed! 😂

I think french campsites might be more your style - decent bread anyway