Help. Need to find something in europe/uk which will suit a group of 11 with kids ranging 4-17 for summer 2026

[Geneticsbunny]

I have no idea what I am doing and have been roped into finding a week's holiday for us and my sil's family. Kids are 4,6,8,12,15 and 17 and we will need either a large place with 8 bedrooms or two places with 4 each or 3 and 5.

I am thinking something like a centre parcs or some holiday cottages in cornwall might work but would love to hear any more interesting suggestions. I am slightly worried about the older teens being bored if we go somewhere which suits the little ones and vice versa.

Think we will need to avoid the med as it will be probably too hot in July?

There is a caravan park in the Netherlands my friend and her sister and their kids go to and they cycle into the nearby town for sightseeing / fun. No idea which one but there are plenty.

Eindhoven centerparcs is ace. Has a ski centre too.

Duinrell in Holland would be great for this age range !

Thanks. Will check out duinrell and eindhoven. More suggestions welcome. I am wondering if a big French gite might work?

The center parcs near Eindhoven is called De Kempervennen. We went last year and absolutely loved it. Way cheaper than the U.K. parks and lots of stuff to do, including (as mentioned) an indoor ski slope. We wouldn’t hesitate to go back.

Eurocamp?

Thanks @Badslipperluck but we can't do camping.
@Twoweeksandcounting that looks amazing.

Eurocamp isn’t camping, there’s load of great ones.

we’ve been to La Croix du Vieux Pont (France), and a couple in the Netherlands.

there’s also Beekse Bergen which is great, and Pairi Daiza looks good but I’ve not been there.

I also recommend centerparcs Kempervennen

Domaine Des Ormes in Brittany. Stay in a round ‘Hansel and gretel’ house or a tree house or a river house or a safari tent or a static chalet cabin. Amazing zip lining through the trees, big indoor pool with lots of slides, hire bikes and cycle through the forest. Pizzeria on site

@Geneticsbunny Eurocamp is largely static caravans with a timber decking seating area. Kitted out like a small holiday apartment. Not tents.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads and @OperationalSupport i hadn't realised. Thanks. Will add that to the list of places to check.

Any number of campsites with well equipped cabins to rent, one for each family, along rivers in France. We stayed in one called Rives d’Arc last year, it gave us access to lots of historic places, and all the adventure sports in the area (kayaking, climbing, canyoning, caving, etc.) We’ve also stayed in the Pont de Gard area and the Dordogne, again in cabins, and again lots of historic sites and activities for all ages. Plus - wine and cheese, what’s not to like? A cabin per family gives a bit of personal space too. And all these sites have swimming pools, a bar and restaurant, river or lake access.

Efteling in the Netherlands is fantastic. In the Bosrijk accomodation village there are gorgeous large cottages. We were 20 in one house last time, kids from 9-15. Probably 3 nights is enough but people often combine it with Beekse Bergen, Duinrell or Centerparcs.

Have just remembered that my fil likes to sit in the sun. I suspect Netherlands might not be warm enough ? Long shot but does anyone know of something like duinrell or effting but a bit further south (but not on the med as I think that will be too hot in July). Am thinking a French centeparcs, yelloh or eurocamp might work?

St Avit Loisirs in the Dordogne is great. Also Le Banquet - small gite complex with 3 houses and a pool. Near to Les Eyzies. Loads to do in the Dordogne for all ages - kayaking, castles, dinosaur parks, caves etc.

https://lebanquet.com/en/

Yellohvillage is your friend.

@MissAmbrosia now that is my idea of heaven but unfortunately my sil wants a crazy chaos filled busy holiday. Will see if I can convince her though as it would be brilliant.

There is loads to do in the area though - would be easy to be busy.

I would agree. I’ve been on 4 family holidays (with up to 4 families and 3 generations at a time taking part) not far from here, and there is loads to do.

• kayaking on the Vezere (calm river) and the Dordogne (more rapids.)
• medieval castles - loads of them! Ones which have been film sets for Hollywood movies (Beynac,) have the French museum of Medieval Warcraft with daily trebuchet firing demonstrations and interactive displays (Chateaunaud,) ones which are just downright weird (Marzac.)
• prehistoric caves at Lascaux, complete with nature parks with bison, wolves and wild ponies. My son’s face when they switched on all the lights in the painted cave (the replica, the original is closed to the public.)
• climbing - tree climbing parks (like Go Ape, these are big in France) and via ferratas for the older sportier kids.
• the gardens at Marquessac, cannot even begin to explain this place. Many happy hours in the gardens here - labyrinths and hidden groves, shepherds huts on cliff tops, playgrounds for little kids and big ones suspended from the trees, music events, a chateau, peacocks - it’s fab!
• beautiful towns - clifftop villages (La Drome,) medieval market towns (Sarlat,) towns hugging cliffs (Roque Gageac,) loads more.
• trogolydyte dwellings at Roque St Chrisoph.
• beaches on the banks of the river and a hot-but-not-too-hot climate.

You can make it as crazy busy as you want. But it would be nice to have peace to retreat to. I thoroughly enjoyed all our holidays in that part of France.

Yelloh les Grandes Pins might work.

A campsite on Lake Annecy in France: usually very warm in the summer and lots of sports for older children and teens and beach with warm shallow water for the little ones. Gorgeous towns surrounding the lake for sightseeing/ going out for ice creams and you can cycle everywhere safely, so easy to get about.