CENTER PARCS - WHAT MUST I NOT FORGET TO TAKE?

[Cadbury]

We are off to the Sherwood forest one at the weekend. It has been years since I went the first time and it seems that lots has changed (including a huge inflation of prices!

We are "economising" so plan to take food with us and limit ourselves to free and cheap activities.

Can anyone who has been to one recently give me an idea of things that we ought not to forget.

Already on the list is bottle opener.

Only been to Elvedon but they have a sports bar where if you buy a drink kids can play in the soft area for free (drink it slowly for hours of fun)

If taking bikes they also do a treasure hunt which is only a couple of quid - never done it myself but seen others doing it and they look to be having fun.

take any cycle helmets and locks for the bikes - I have a feeling they charge for these on top of the bike hire charges!

Tea towels and soap for toilets. And toilet roll. Tomato ketchup and other condiments.

Do not take any posh clothes, jewellery, heels etc etc. You will not wear them and will look silly if you do . Lots of layers and rucksacks so you can bike with a bag to the pool and get the shopping etc.
We went in November and used the big dryers every day (£1 a go but all the family fit in and worth it in the winter going out into the cold) plus £1 for the lockers too.
Have fun!

thankyou! I heard about the big dryers. Sounds like fun.

we came back from Sherwood a week ago. It was our first time and it was brilliant! (mind you the weather helped as well!!!) The big playground by the lake would be good for your dc's as its got lots to do and a beach as well. There's a softplay area in the jardin des sports which was great for our 4 yr old dd (quite small area but good enough for half an hour if you want to have drink and/or snack etc). I found teh parcmarket not too bad price wise - restaurants were quite expensive but then we don't eat out a lot anyway (and if going out for an evening meal book it during the day as people were getting turned away when we went). Enjoy - you'll have a aball.

thanks knat - that's really helpful to know where to find these places. The website doen't give you much information - and definitely no prices!

Fridges quite small. Take a box of wine, not bottles. Bring your own bikes. They have shops at the pool selling inflatable balls etc so bring your own if you have any, save a few quid anyway.

We went to the Longleat one in oct half term last year and I wished we had taken pillows because the pillows were awful. My other advice would be to book up activities annd restaurants before you go as we didnt do this as it was our first tiime we found that we could get to do the good stuff plus we ended up eating rubbish onn the night we decided to done out.

good idea about the pillows pepsi - I barely sleep if my pillows aren't right.

I always book the last night's meal out before we go - impossible to get a table otherwise. The French bistro was really nice and the children liked the pasta place too.

I also take own pillows although the beds were much better than I've ever experienced before. A little notebook to keep a boden tally is fun too.

We went to Sherwood at Easter - it just seemed so excruciatingly busy and compact in comparison to Longleat where you really are spoiled for space but it was perfect for the children. They loved it which is all that matters really. The outdoor survival half day was really lame according to my 9yo but the archery was fun. We swam, went to warhammer world in Nottingham, swam, fed the amazing variety of animals queueing at the patio doors every morning and swam.

Have a lovely time. I'm going with some girlfriends and kiddos to Longleat in December and really looking forward to it.

thanks Judge

We are going to Whinfel Forrest on 23rd June. I have a 10 y.o and a 7 y.o. Does anyone know what the free activities are? I know the swimming is free but what else? is there a adventure playground ect. I've read that Whinfel has an entertainment team that put on shows in a place called the Green room. Are these free? anyone been?

We thought we may do a carraige ride, go bowling and possibly put both boys into archery. Can anyone recomend other activities?

Found the other tips (above) useful. Hope someone has been to Whinfel.

haven't been there figleaf I'm afraid but I'll bump this up for the evening crowd.

Your own mugs if you are tea drinkers. I cannot survive a week on their poxy little glass mugs!

A rucksack because you'll probably end up buying milk etc and if you're on bikes it's a bugger to carry shopping bags back.

Can't think of anything else that hasn't been mentioned.

Haven't been to Whinfell Figleaf, but there are plenty of adventure playgrounds at all the others so it should be pretty much the same.

dishcloth or washing up brush thingie