Longleat Centerparc

[kando]

Myself, DH, and DDs (3.5 and 19mths) are off to Longleat at the end of September for a week. We've never had a Centerparcs holiday before - just wondering if anyone has been to Longleat, what did you think?

We are staying in a comfort villa, and I'm wondering about the state (of cleanliness!) of it after we've been there a couple of days - should I be packing cleaning stuff as well as clothes, or will someone come in (maybe once through the week) whilst we are there? Also, what's the supermarket like - we are veggies (but eat fish) and I'm wondering how well stocked up they will be?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! thanks. K

Hi Kando
I've been to the Longleat Centerparcs several times now with my daughter Lucy (aged 2). We have always gone with friends with children of various ages and is it absolutely great. The villas are very clean although to maintain the cleanliness throughout the week I would suggest taking cleaning products (you can arrange for maid service but that is extra). I must admit that I didn't do too much cleaning when I was there but I think an iron, hoover, broom etc is provided. We have always done long weekends only so it hasn't been too messy by the end. The supermarket is fairly well stocked although expensive (they have a captive market!). I would suggest going to a local supermarket (eg Safeway in Warminster) for your first big batch of groceries. The fridges they provide are not too big though and only have those small icebox type freezers. We had two fridges in our villa but that may be because it slept 6 adults. I am sure that you would find most of what you need in the Centerparcs supermarket though.
I would thoroughly recommend booking a babysitter for a couple of nights so you and dh can go out for a meal/drink etc. You can do this at the info desk at the Village Square. Our friends and I have done this several times (they use really trustworthy local women) and it was a godsend! £4/hour I think.
I hope you have a good time.

Great Roobie, thanks for that! Must be good if you went back! I was worried about the mess my dds would make at mealtimes, so I'm glad to hear that a broom/hoover is provided (sad, I know!) Seems ages away - can't wait to get the brochure 2 weeks before we go so I can get some time out at the spa booked whilst dds are off doing something exciting!

kando, make sure you book one of the 3 hour sessions in the spa where you get to try out all the sauna rooms etc

Ohhh good, a thread already started about this. My mum bought me and D vouchers for a centerparcs as a joint b.day pressie and we were wondering which one to go to. It was between Longleat and somewhere else... damn I've forgotten. Anyway, has anyone stayed in more than one location and can compare? Any more info for Kando, and me!

I've been to longleat many times and every time we go it changes...in that dds are growing and more things are open to them to do. Last time got them both on ponies/pedalos/roller skates etc. My advice is book up stuff as soon as you can either before you go or as soon as you arrive. Also when our dds were your age we hired a bike with a child seat and got a trailer bike too. That way if dh and I need to separate we could both have a bike and take a dd. Also the trailers are good for storing swimming gear in etc. It is hilly at longleat though so pushing a trailer bike +dds+stuff can be tough going. Supermarkets fine, has most things you need, be warned, shuts early on Sunday! We got caught out twice thinking we'll get food last and then it's shut. Anyway HTH, have fun!

Well we live very near Longleat, but we are actually going to the Elveden Forest Centerparcs at the end of September for a week, so maybe compare notes when get home.
It looks like there is plenty to do and they provide a cot and highchair for babies too.

I have been to Longleat twice once before I got married for a pampering/hen weekend in march 2003 and then last year with dh and stepsons aged 13 and 8 years and pregnant with ds. Cleanliness is adequate but suggest taking few cleaning things if you feel like it. We were down in the firs and quite alot of pine needles get dragged in so dont worry at all about mess.!! It is really advisable to book up the spa before you go or when you get there as on my girlie weekend everything was fully booked and that was in March. In september when i went with dh it was not so booked for spa but I arranged all activities for all of us before we got there. Stepsons had great time archery/swimming/climbing etc. The spa was great and we all had a hilarious game of tennis as none of us knew the rules!! The supermarket is a bit expensive so worth doing your shopping locally. Also booked babysitter as kids were a reasonable age to be left very professional lady and we had meal in la Saphinere (or similar spelling) on site. Hope you have lovely relaxing time.

We've been too. In fact have been to all 3 now.. Nobody has mentioned the land train!! It gets really busy at peak times so if you're using buggies you may well want to think about when you're using it - or hire bikes of course, although from what I can remember this is the hilliest of all the Centre Parcs.
The Villas are all pretty clean, nobody comes in half way through the week unfortunately but I seem to remember that in the store room as you go in they leave a hoover (?) or at least a brush if you feel desperate to clean up after you!! Kitchens are fairly well stocked, onsite supermarket is well stocked but expensive - we go to the local Sainsbury's or whatever we can find usually. Cots and step stools are provided for the kids, but you may well want to think about a safety bath mat as in my experience Centrew Parcs baths are the slipperiest ones in existence! Watch out for the squirrels and rabbits that feed near the patio windows (you can buy feed for them in the shop and well recommended is the fuel log thing that you can also get in the shop for those romantic evenings!! We didn't use the babysitters I'm afraid so had to make do with a bottle of wine and a bar of choccie!! Have a lovely time all of you! Make sure you treat yourself in the spa - book as soon as you get there or the appointments fill up REALLY quickly!!

Longleat is lovely. It is huge, with little play areas every so often. We loved the land train.

Personally, I think the villas are basic and that the whole experience is expensive. HOWEVER, I would go again. I have been to the Sherwood Forest one too, and prefer Longleat by a MILE.

One week to go and counting ... Have pre-booked lots of stuff for dds to do, as well as booking myself and dh in for a "spa experience", and a facial for myself. Am sooo looking forward to it!

im so jealous !

Well, returned home on Monday afternoon after a fabulous week-long holiday at Longleat. Can't say enough to rave about it - it truly was brilliant! We hired bikes and a little trailer for the two dds (on the back of DH's bike, of course !) Was a bit worried about dd1 going to the Timeout Club, but she had an absolute ball there - and kept asking when she was going back! DD2 thoroughly enjoyed her club too - and dh and I had a lovely time in the Spa. Also had an Elemis facial - now my mission is to find out where I can have one locally, it was absolute bliss! The accommodation wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it was more than adequate for us. DDs were chuffed to see the squirrels, rabbits and robins outside the villa gobbling up their "offerings". Would whole-heartedly recomend a visit. The only thing that went wrong was a mucked-up order at one of the restaurants, and IMO, if that's the only "down" side of the holiday, it's a darned good holiday!!!

We are going to Longleat for 5 days in November so this is great.Did you book all the activities before you went?

Sorry what are the restaurants like?
Is the spa expensive?
Thanks this is a real help!

Sorry what are the restaurants like?
Is the spa expensive?
Thanks this is a real help!

just back from Elveden here, but Longleat is the next for a long weekend break. And its close to us too.
More hilly I understand.
I would think the spa prices are the same as all the villages. I had a back massage for 25 quid and a lime and ginger salt glow treatment for 32 quid. Lovely it was too. They also do pamper days, so you don't necessarily have to stay there to get the treatments for that day.
I liked the indian restaurant, they have one at longleat. Also believe they have a pancake house?
Centerparcs has a website for more info though.
If you book an exclusive villa you can book most of the activities in advance. This was helpful especially for the spa treatments as they do get booked up very quickly. Well worth it though and relaxing holiday.

Definitely recommend booking spa treatments asap, either before arrival or as soon as you arrive.

Thought the pancake house foul, thick wedges of yuk, not the thin delicious things I know as pancakes.

Noddy5, we got a booklet and registration forms etc before we left so you can have a leaf through and decide what you want to do. We did pre-book our activities. I've never been to a Spa before or had massages etc, but the prices didn't seem extortionate to me. I had a "taster" facial (30 mins) and it cost £23 - was fabulous! The Spa session we had costs £23.50 each for 3 hours (or if you book Timeout Clubs you get a special rate - £18 for 2 hours).

I didn't find the restaurants too expensive, but we did eat at the posh one (La Sapiniere) one night which was lovely but a bit over-priced IMHO. We had a couple of lovely meals at the Grand Cafe which cost us about £40 for 2 adults & 2 kids. The Sports Cafe is a great place to go too - we had a meal there when grandparents came for a day visit - £40 for 4 adult meals, 2 kiddies meals and booze too. Portion sizes great too. The "fast food" restaurants are pretty good value for money too - look out for the deals where kids can eat for £2.50. You should get a pre-booking brochure before you go though. Give me a shout if I can help with anything else!

Bluesky - glad we didn't go to the Pancake House then! It looks like a lovely restaurant, but it just didn't appeal to either DH or myself!