‘Upmarket’ caravan holiday

[GentleSloth]

Looking to go in Feb 2026 - my son will be 1 on 22nd and my daughter 3 on 26th, so need plenty of activities etc, whilst also being a nice clean location. Any recommendations please?

I agree with this. DC those ages will have no concept of 'going away to celebrate their birthdays' and you're going to find it quite limiting/poor weather for any UK trips at that time of year so why do it?

TBH at that time of year I'd go to the Canaries to somewhere with a splash park and heated toddler pool but if you're not looking at that type of holiday, I'd either go to Center Parcs, Butlins, Bluestone or similar or go later in the year when the weather could be better - UK in February could be snowy/stormy. I don't think Center Parcs is that expensive in term time - £449 from Monday 23rd February.

Center Parcs.

With kids those ages you can avoid school holidays so it won’t cost much and there is plenty for little ones.

Trying to get away from people ‘popping in’ and ‘helping throw a birthday party’

Well exactly
If you want cheap then you won't get Upmarket.

Tell family you're going away and then... don't?

You would rather book a caravan holiday than say no to family?
I think you need to post an entirely different thread

I think you're missing the point of a caravan holiday. They're not supposed to be 'upmarket' We had some great caravan holidays when the DC were younger, mostly Haven or Parkdean but I think they're all closed in February.
We went to Centreparcs when they were around the same age as yours and that was perfect for them. Loads to do and the lodges are very nice. Good restaurants too and you're not relying on the weather to be nice. A Monday to Friday in February shouldn't be too expensive.

I wouldn't even class centre parcs as "upmarket" but if you want "upmarket" with activities you're not going to get it at a bargain basement price! A static caravan in February will be nothing short of miserable. Centre parcs is basically upmarket Butlins!!
Some caravan sites don't even open between October and March.....reason being is that it's cold and wet and miserable! I agree with PP about going to the canaries!

to be fair, i thought that too but that week is at least £1200 for a 2 bed chalet!!

Highly recommend ukcaravans4hire.com
Privately owned caravans. I've used the site a few times. The caravans are usually much nicer. I've always managed to get brand new ones with wraparound decking, private gardens etc for much less than the likes of haven. They're also usually very well equipped with games/toys/dvds and often set up for those with young children.

Surely if you stay at Haven you can just use the caravan as a base and do whatever you like?! We always stay at Haven Caister every year (son has autism and likes to go back to the same places). We stay in the top grade of caravan, it’s peaceful and there’s a beautiful quiet beach. We don’t actually do much on the site, we just use it as a base to go to Southwold, many of the nicer restaurants around the coast and pop into Norwich. It can be as posh or as traditional sea side as you like! (We do like Yarmouth too- nothing wrong with some cheap arcades and hot doughnuts by the sea!)

Our main holiday this year is to a Tui sensatori, 5 star hotel abroad but we absolutely love a Haven break too and think Mumsnet can be weirdly so judgey about them!

but do you go in February @Picklechicken ??

I missed the February bit to be fair (!) and it’s true we usually do go in warmer months, but we have been in March and the top grade vans at Haven have a fire and central heating. Norwich and the coast is nice at any time of year.

Not been for 10 years but it was very nice when we went like a post Caravan park