Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Centre parcs sherwood

14 replies

minimalist99 · 10/07/2017 13:34

Hello I am taking my 2.5DS and 10 month old DD to centre parcs this Friday for a week. We are going to sherwood and I have never been to centre parcs so if you ladies or gentlemen have any tips on what to pack and what activities I should book in advance please let me know as I am a centre parcs novice.

OP posts:
Luckystar1 · 10/07/2017 13:40

I've just returned from Woburn CP, with very similarly aged children. There aren't a huge amount of activities you will be able to do with them, but if they enjoy the swimming pool and parks they waste plenty of time.

We did baby sensory, mucky pups, a balance bike session and the Barn Owl experience (which was absolutely brilliant and I would highly recommend!), as well as swimming and parks and walks etc.

As to packing, it entirely depends on whether you intend to cater or not. We opted not to, beyond breakfasts so just took bread, eggs, milk and lots of snacks. Clothes wise, I just packed normal clothes, a pair of shorts and rain wear.

Have a great time.

minimalist99 · 11/07/2017 09:18

Thanks luck star. I don't intend on cooking lord knows I need this break so i will probably stick up on the little bits you mentioned.

OP posts:
BiddyPop · 11/07/2017 09:56

Parc Market has child-sized trollies, which most small DCs love to be in charge of! So do plan on going for a couple of things at some stage.

There's not a lot of clothes drying space for wet towels etc - but there is a launderette near the entrance reception/office block which is handy. But with smallies, bring plenty of towels for swimming and if you have more than 1 set of togs, bring more than 1 - there are heated towel rails in bathrooms in the chalets, but having a spare dry pair can be handy. Bring a bag for swim gear too - there are lockers to put them in but it might be a bit of a walk from the chalet to the pool. There are plenty of buoyancy aids for non-swimming small DCs, and the kids pool area there is nice - a great slide from a pirate boat, fountains and nicely warm too for babies.

We tended to bring free printable colouring sheets and crayons, pack of cards and a board game when DD was that small - now it's DVDs and her ipad. There is a chalk board and chalk in the kitchen, which is fun for drawing on (maybe bring some spare chalk if you have it at home).

The nature centre is nice for a quiet walk away from the bustle of the pool area, and there are various talks and wardens to give advice and chat there a lot of the time. There are poles with various animal shapes to do rubbings of on the walk which your older DC might like to do.

There's also a good few play areas dotted around. There's a big one near the beach of the lake, but there are others scattered around the site. If I remember rightly, there is a small indoor one in the Foresters restaurant near the nature centre, and probably a few other restaurants - but that is nice as it looks out on the golf course and is away from the main centre.

They will give you a few dishwasher tablets - but if you have one at home, bring a handful to be able to run it as often as you want.

I'd tend to bring one easy meal from home that you know the DCs will eat (the makings of 1 dinner) and a few snacks (tinned spaghetti, beans, tuna, etc) for lunches. And some nice nibbles for yourselves once DCs go to bed (nice chocolate, cheese and crackers, decent crisps etc) and maybe something nice to drink (really good hot choc, nice bottle of wine, or a few beers). There are plenty of choices in the parc market but it is a bit limited and pricey so if you have particular favourites, it's handy to have them with you. Also, we like to bring proper ground coffee with us for nice breakfasts, and get fresh croissants at the market.

Bring sunscreen and rain gear. DD absolutely loved stomping on molehills in the pouring rain when she was young!! Lots of people don't venture out as much in the rain but it is lovely once you are dressed for it.

Enjoy!

minimalist99 · 11/07/2017 14:34

Thanks biddy is there any activities you would recommend ?

OP posts:
BiddyPop · 11/07/2017 14:46

They're all so different now to when DD was small (she's now 11 and did the tree trekking adventure last summer - so that's NOT what you want to hear from me! Grin )

If I remember rightly, we did lots of swimming and walking and cycling, and lots in the nature end of the site, as well as sending her into the childcare place in the sports centre for 1 session of some arty thing.

And it was also a chance for her to do some stuff in the kitchen with me (out at work all day so it happened but rarely) and lots of drawing on the blackboard!

Oh, and long splashy baths!

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 11/07/2017 14:50

There's a lovely little nature trail with a hide at the end of it - I really recommend going to that because you really do see a lot in there.

Userwithoutaname · 11/07/2017 14:52

I haven't been for a long time but they used to do a bedtime story with a drink and a biscuit I think. Dd also liked the session where they decorated biscuits with icing.

Usually there's someone braiding hair which dd used to like.

Userwithoutaname · 11/07/2017 14:54

Sorry forgot to say you have to book all those things, the sooner the better because they fill up quickly. Apologies if they're no longer offered

We used to take advantage of the special deal with discounted spa time whilst they were in the children's centre.

Oliack1417 · 11/07/2017 15:00

There's a good soft play place next to the sports bar. We used to take 3 year old DS sometimes while baby napped in pram - and we could have lunch and a drink while he played next to us.
We also hired bikes and one of the little trailers so cart the kids from One end of the park to the other - Ds loved that.
The spa is very good at sherwood if you manage to escape for an hour or two!

minimalist99 · 14/07/2017 10:38

Is there a beach there ?

OP posts:
BiddyPop · 14/07/2017 15:55

Little beach beside the lake. Ice cream available at boathouse, and there's a restaurant there too (is that the Pancake House? I forget sorry) - but lovely to sit on the deck with a glass of wine and see your DD sailing around the lake FINALLY giving you and DH a half hour of peace and quiet.....no, not everyone? Just my DD then??!! Grin

LePetitPont · 17/07/2017 11:05

We've just come back from a weekend at sherwood with our 2 yr 9 month boy and 4 month old.

Activities to book that went down well with older one:

  • mini trek (go ape for toddlers with a puzzle to solve)
  • soccer tots
  • baby owls

Playground at the beach is nice and the beach itself is big. Bring buckets and spades!

Playground opposite the beach is also good for little ones.

Swimming pool mid afternoon tends to be a bit quieter than mornings. Nice pirate ship area for little ones and you can all bob about in the outdoor pool. Just don't stray into the rapids!

There's also a soft play in the sports cafe and a little arcade my toddler liked.

Enjoy!

LePetitPont · 17/07/2017 11:10

Another thought - there's a gruffalo trail at the sherwood pines forest centre next door. WEve done the same thing at Dalby forest and was great fun for everyone! Plus added advantage of wearing out the toddler Wink

daisychainagain · 17/07/2017 11:18

We went last year and are going again in a few weeks. One thing I'll say is swerve the Chinese. We spent nearly £60 on it and it was awful!!
Apart from that everything is fab. The swimming pool is great.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.