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Original poster

First time at Center Parcs... Help!

18 replies

LuckyStrike22 · 26/01/2023 11:00

Hi Wise Mums (&others),

My parents, myself, DH, and 2 DD (age 7 and 9yo) are going to Center Parcs Woburn this February half-term. I think I may already have left this too late, but in your opinion, what activities should I be looking to book in advance? My daughter is swim-obsessed so I'm sure we'll spend tons of time in the pool, but are there other things that I should try not to miss? My Dad has some difficulty walking, and my Mum generally likes nothing other than a shopping mall.... Please help! Could really use some advice with so many different activities listed.

Thanks!
Robin

OP posts:
XelaM · 26/01/2023 13:26

Bumping for you. Would love to go there this summer 😃

TheMildManneredMilitant · 26/01/2023 13:30

No huge recommendations on types of activities as it depends what you like but worth bearing in mind that some like mini golf have multiple slots available every day of the week while others may only run once or twice so if you're desperate to do one of those then worth booking in advance first.

That said if it's available at Woburn we liked the birds of prey experience and would be good for all the family. Also liked tree climbing stuff even though it's more expensive than other non-CP options for same thing.

TheMildManneredMilitant · 26/01/2023 13:31

But def book restaurants in advance if you want to use them.

DaVariance · 26/01/2023 13:31

When we went it rained the whole week so spent all day every day in the pool which we loved so it was ok

TenThousandSpoons · 26/01/2023 13:35

It depends what your children like. Mine liked the indoor climbing at that age (very similar to Clip n climb if you’ve done that) and one loved the outdoor climbing with big zip wire at the end (called Aerial Adventure and similar to Go Ape). Need to be quite fearless for that one though.

Quad bikes and laser tags were big hits with my kids but they would have been a bit older.

There’s lots of crafty activities but we’ve never done those as I find them overpriced for what they are.

We usually go bowling one evening but again that’s overpriced compared to bowling at home!

But just swimming every day, the playgrounds and cycling around the woodland paths can be enough to fill the day. We can spend HOURS in the river rapids! Enjoy your holiday 😊

twistyizzy · 26/01/2023 13:36

Book restaurants in advance otherwise you may end up with little choice of where you can eat. We mainly go to Whinfell but would presume the activity choices are pretty much the same. The go carts and quad bikes are great, crazy golf is free and you don't have to book in advance.
Would your mum like a spa treatment, they are good although pricey.

Original poster
LuckyStrike22 · 26/01/2023 14:05

Thanks, all! And sorry for my ineptitude naming myself on an online forum - doh! - at least it's a safe topic. I was thinking of the spa but thought the prices looked quite high. I've put us down for one meal out a day, reserved some bicycles and the indoor climbing thing. Where I struggle is that it essentially means sorting the whole itinerary in advance!

OP posts:
ladymacbeth · 26/01/2023 14:18

You don't have to plan if you don't want to, we never do. But we don't eat out much there.

We swim, do the easy to get activities like crazy golf or maybe paddle boats (not in feb!), take bikes and just go explore etc. we usually play a racket sport one time, or the kids do something more adventurous but we just book what's available at a less popular time (early morning).

twistyizzy · 26/01/2023 14:23

@LuckyStrike22 unfortunately that is what you have to tend to do at CP simply because most other peoope do so things get booked up quickly. Last year we booked the holiday in January for December, activity booking released October and within 48 hours everything we wanted to do had already been booked up 🙈

Peabody25 · 26/01/2023 15:42

I wouldn't plan too much, maybe just a couple of activities. The nice part is that you can do loads of walking, playgrounds, soft play, take bikes or scooters with you if you can and just chill.

If your kids are properly into swimming, all the swimming places have wave machines, rapids, chutes to go down and you can take picnics in with you so can easily spend a good few hours in there.

We normally get there as soon as it opens, 10:00, swim chill and read, have lunch in there, swim a bit more get out, stop for a drink at Starbucks and a playground, go back to the lodge and chill then go out for tea later on, maybe doing bowling, amusement arcade etc. you can make it as active or as leisurely as you like.

stockpilingallthecheese · 29/01/2023 16:37

I'd say don't over book stuff as it becomes a bit stressful trying to think where you're meant to be and when!

Things to book - absolutely your restaurants for dinner, and the Aqua Sana spa - maybe for you and your mum? Treatments are lovely but honestly not needed as the spa itself is so fabulous. We usually book bowling and a badminton court but that's it, the rest of the time just bike rides and the pool, and you can normally just play crazy golf when you want or book last minute so can just choose to do that when the weather is decent.

I love CP, you'll have a great time!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 29/01/2023 17:36

Depends what they like! My now 8 yo (then 7) loved the archery (different things for different ages), whatever the quad bike equivalent is for that age, and both my kids enjoyed the lake based activities such as kayaking. This was all at Elveden though so might be slightly different.

Dd (then 12) thought the high ropes were a bit tame compared to Go Ape etc but that was again Elveden.

Cycling about, swimming and having a bbq are the best bits!

cleowasmycat · 29/01/2023 17:37

Short tennis or badminton is one of the cheaper options but fun!

BowiesJumper · 29/01/2023 18:14

If your dad has difficulty walking, make sure you have a central cabin as Woburn is very hilly. It’s a steep walk up/down to some of them.

do you still need to book the swimming slots?

cleowasmycat · 29/01/2023 18:15

No need to book swimming slots.
Woburn is also smaller and everything is central.

BowiesJumper · 29/01/2023 18:18

whilst small as the crow flies, I wouldn’t say it was easy to walk up and down that massive hill with mobility problems l if your cabin is up there!(Which ours was year)

brogueish · 29/01/2023 21:15

We went to Woburn CP last year. The pool is great and definitely spend as much time as possible there. My top tip though is to leave the site one day and go to the v nearby Woburn safari park, that and the pool were by far the best bits of our week away. It'll feel like stepping into a gentler, simpler world, and it was so refreshing after CP! (One example was pedaloes at CP were 16 quid or something for 30 mins, pedaloes at woburn safari park free for as long as you like.) I mean, CP is great, but it was so lovely to step outside of the bubble for a bit.

SazCat · 29/01/2023 21:19

We went to Woburn a few years back during covid. We booked the electric boats and loved it, would def recommend.
The arcade and bowling was closed when we went but looked good.
We enjoyed the mini golf too.
Def pre book restaurants, we enjoyed Las Iguanas and the pancake place the best!

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