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Holidays

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

Original poster

Luxury equivalent of Centerparcs

86 replies

Monket · 20/08/2024 13:35

Is there such a thing in the UK? An upmarket CP, essentially? I am not aware of such a place, but DH is adamant it must exist! Grateful for tips.

OP posts:
Vickim03 · 20/08/2024 23:08

The mole resort, Devon. We've just stayed at its up market. 2 pools, lots to do on site. Posh resturant. Amazing views across the valley. Lots to visit nearby too. Games room.
We had a valley view lodge with bi folds, hot tub and a fully equipped kitchen. Big luxury bathrooms.

fashionqueen0123 · 20/08/2024 23:17

Monket · 20/08/2024 22:09

Lots of good points and ideas - thank you!

For context we had to cancel our planned resort break in Portugal (yes, as per PP, we would definitely prefer a 5* resort abroad 😂 Who wouldn’t, eh?) as the baby - not mentioned so far - was very ill. Hence UK only option and I booked a last min CP trip to treat the kids, but DH is deeply unimpressed and we got into a debate as to whether a higher end option exists (I said not) or whether it needs to be a cottage/hotel plus local activities (which takes organisational bandwidth I simply didn’t have).

I hope you haven’t gone to Woburn as the pool there is the worst one. Have you booked any activities?

Pawsfourbyfourbyfour · 20/08/2024 23:22

Ickworth hotel and park

Suffolk

Family friendly hotel in National Trust grounds

luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk/locations/the-ickworth/

00BonneMaman00 · 21/08/2024 02:53

longdistanceclaraclara · 20/08/2024 14:00

Bluestone in Wales, Rettalack Cornwall?

CP is tired, overpriced for what it is and not luxury!

I hated CP! Like staying in an Ikea show room and dining at a motorway services with a bowling alley and shit spa attached. And so overpriced. Horrendous.

Original poster
Monket · 21/08/2024 11:23

Yes, Woburn… booked a number of activities, which to be fair have so far been well-executed and the children have loved them. The main issue is the restaurants, I think… and the lack of downtime. Another disagreement with DH on that one because my view is that with 3 DC you don’t get downtime in daylight hours, ha!

OP posts:
crumblingschools · 21/08/2024 14:16

DC loved CP, holiday of choice for them. Went for many years, and it was lovely seeing DC so happy there (we did intersperse visits with other holidays) but it was definitely their happy place. Good place to meet up with grandparents too. However, the price kept going up and up (which also happens for activities as DC get older) the pools got more and more crowded as they built more lodges/apartments. Our last visit was I think 2019, certainly pre COVID, and not sure whether we would go again, unless we could get a cheap deal and go out of season

Bunnycat101 · 21/08/2024 14:25

If you’re still there can you get them into the creche so you can have some downtime? They do 3 hour sessions. Otherwise center parcs isn’t really a down-time sort of holiday. You need to try and enjoy it for what it is rather than being annoyed it’s not a luxury drop and flop holiday as it will never tick that box. We go to spend time doing different activities with the kids and not to relax. Same for when we went to Disney- it was knackering and crap food but the children loved it.

Silver777 · 21/08/2024 14:30

Babington house

lazzapazza · 21/08/2024 14:34

At the risk of stating the obvious stay in a more luxurious lodge or the treehouses. You are unlikely to find much more upmarket catering than the diners on site but that's not really what it's about.

crumblingschools · 21/08/2024 14:37

I used to enjoy watching the wild life pottering around the patio when we were there. There is also a spa (and crèche/children’s club)

FusionChefGeoff · 21/08/2024 14:51

Monket · 21/08/2024 11:23

Yes, Woburn… booked a number of activities, which to be fair have so far been well-executed and the children have loved them. The main issue is the restaurants, I think… and the lack of downtime. Another disagreement with DH on that one because my view is that with 3 DC you don’t get downtime in daylight hours, ha!

You can always leave and try Woburn for restaurants? Bit of a faff with the car etc but there's some lovely places

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