haven or butlins for first cheap break with little kids

[oBoltFire]

Right this feels like a very mumsnet question but ive never done either so here goes. We’re thinking about doing a cheap uk break later in the year with the kids and I keep going round in circles between haven or butlins and cant tell if one is actually better or if theyre basically the same chaos with different branding. Kids are 4, nearly 3 and a baby so we’re not after shows or nightlife or anything fancy, just somewhere easy where there’s stuff to do and we dont have to get in the car constantly. Money is tight so it would be off peak and basic accommodation and I think that’s part of why I’m stressing because it feels like a lot of money for us if its awful. I keep reading reviews and half of them make it sound brilliant and half make it sound like hell on earth and I cant tell what’s realistic. Is one calmer than the other with little kids? Is butlins too full on and loud or is haven too boring? Or are they both fine if you go in with low expectations and accept it wont be instagram perfect. I think I’m just anxious about wasting money and ending up more exhausted than when we left but also really want to do something normal with the kids for once. If youve done either recently with small ones id really appreciate honest experiences and whether you’d go back or avoid next time.

Haven’t Been to butlins butt found haven didn’t have much for the age ranges you have stated. My 3 year old didn’t have as much to do as I would have liked. Maybe the site we chose had less than other site may have had to offer.

Depends where in the country you are looking but we have just booked a week at Searles in Hunstanton. I won’t be doing any of the entertainment but there’s a mix of onsite activities plus pools and plenty to do in walking distance.

I didn’t like the look of Butlins myself but it can be ok, I have only been once a long time ago.

I do like the Hoburne sites too but DD wanted the “seaside” this time and they are more spendy anyway.

We've been to Butlins loads, it's great. I first went on my own with my then just turned 2 year old - my tip, if your kids wake up early, go and explore the skyline pavilion with them before breakfast i.e. before 8:30 ish. They're not working then but your kids are hopefully at the age where they don't really know that arcades work by adding money so will love just exploring while there's little noise and no one about, clambering on all the arcades etc. It became our morning ritual while we waited for breakfast to open (I prefer staying at the hotel in Bognor with the dining plan as I'm lazy).

Also in summer, at Bognor there's a little land train that goes along the beach that starts from the day visitor entrance, costs c.£1 and my kids love it. Also there's a big (free) playground at the beach at Bognor we love, plus big sand pit. I can't drive so go by train and only venture out to the beach one day (we only walk as far as the playground along the beach so stop way before the expensive rides appear to tempt them). Apart from the beach trip we never leave Butlins.

I think we've been every year since and now go with my sister and her kids too :)

have done a few haven and Butlins breaks with the kids, from when they were 2 up till now when they are 11. Haven I find is generally nicer/cleaner but butlins is more value for money. Haven you pay for passes to access entertainment / butlins is included. Last time I did butlins you could swim as and when you wanted for as long as you wanted / haven (2025) you had to book a time slot and were limited. Depending which of the sites you are going to butlins skegness has a market just up the road (couple of minutes by car) where you can get all the flashy wands and spinny light up toys for a fraction of the price. I find with haven it’s a lot more structured and you have to make a lot of your own entertainment like most caravan holidays. Where as butlins has something to fill the time for the most part.

Oh and this may be flawed logic but I never did the tots weekend as I figured if everyone there had toddlers then the stuff aimed at then in particular i.e. fairground, toddler section of the pool/soft play etc would be much busier. In fact I even found that going Mon-Fri over term time was busier in the sense that there were loads of pushchairs etc around. I liked going when it wasn't tots weekend because at least half the people would be doing more grown up things/shows so felt more peaceful with a little one. But as I say that might have been overthinking it. But I def don't think you NEED to do a tots weekend to have a fab time at Butlins with little ones.

I’d always go to Center Paris personally, done Butlins and Haven and wouldn’t go back except girls weekends at adult Butlins weekends

It really depends what your children like and what reflects your lifestyle. I remember a trip to Butlins many years ago when my DC, who were used to crafts, walks, games etc were so very overstimulated by the Butlins constant noise, sights, shows and sparkle that we just had to leave. None of us slept for 2 nights. I became a Harpy. Worst holiday ever. All of them begged and cried throughout the packing up process but were fast asleep before we’d made it out of the car park. If they’d been more resilient to bustle, background noise and passive entertainment it would have been fine. We had friends whose DC loved Butlins but found camping or Center Parcs dull.
In short: different vibes for different families.

Butlin’s 100%

Haven has many more parks which a range of atmospheres, butlins are full on. Self cater as the food at both is dire

I’d always recommend Butlins. Minehead is great.
We went every year with our kids for many, many years.
One thing I’d suggest is looking at booking a private caravan on site rather than booking through Butlins. Usually the same price with everything still included but you get better and quieter accommodation and can park right next to the caravan. The only downside is it’s further away from the main entertainment.
Once we discovered the caravans we never looked back.

Butlin's. All my kids have loved it. We've tried a couple of Havens but they're not the same as Butlin's in that they don't have the same standard of pool and general facilities. You can remain onsite for your whole holiday which I wouldn't agree was the same at the Havens I've been to.

Having done both myself I would chose Butlin’s hands down

there’s far more choice and flexibility

We recently went to Butlins with a 3 year old and a baby, and I was a little disappointed to find that it seemed to be aimed more at slightly older children. I imagine my boys would need to be at least 5 to really get the most out of it.

The pool was excellent and we went every day, and it was lovely being so close to the beach. The accommodation was fine — we stayed in one of the apartments, which was clean and had everything we needed.

At first glance the soft play looked good, but it was very vertical and DS didn’t enjoy it. The playground at Bognor Regis was small, and most of the fairground rides were too big for a 3 year old. Nothing in the Play Experience area felt particularly suitable for toddlers. The Skyline Pavilion was loud and hectic, and I’m also not keen on introducing my son to arcades at such a young age. We’re not really into shows, so we didn’t see any and I can’t comment on how suitable they might be for younger children.

We still had a good time overall, but I don’t think we’d return until my youngest is at least 5.

I haven’t been to Haven, so I can’t comment on that.

Isn't there a Little Fairground at Bognor? They have one inside at Minehead for under 5s, with little carousels, aeroplanes etc.

Yes, there are a few rides aimed at toddlers in the Skyline Pavillon, DS enjoyed them a lot. But the main fairground outside seemed aimed at slightly older kids.

It looked like great fun, just not very suitable for a 3 year old.

We've done both.... a lot 😆. Butlins definitely has more to do that's included and great for that age group, Haven is more relaxed but also good fun - we tend to do a day trip or two if going to a Haven, whereas butlins we stay on site the whole time. Both are very much what you make of it though - neither are 5* holiday resorts so if that's what you're expecting you'll be disappointed, if you go in expecting cheap and cheerful you'll be fine.

I think it depends on your 3yo - mine loved both the indoor and outdoor fairground at bognor, though there were a couple of rides she couldn't go on.

Butlins hands down ... they have so much more to do with a free fun fair on site. My kids LOVED it (teenagers now but still talk about their holidays there) we did Bogna Regis twice and Mibehead once ...

The great thing about Butlin’s is you don’t have to spend anything once you get there. We get the food package so that’s taken care of and bring snacks from home for lunch. Obviously my kids want money for the slots but that’s really the only thing we buy. We go every year. Kids love it.

There are no tots breaks anymore
Just showtime breaks.

There are no tots breaks anymore just showtime breaks. Download the Butlins app and have a look. Loads of information. Term time breaks are really cheap. We are here at Skegness ATM and paid £38 for a room for 4 people. Amazing value.

Mr Tumble aka Justin Fletcher is taking some time off.

neither! Have you looked at this place?

https://www.bluestonewales.com/

its so lovely and so much for kids to round the area like Folly Farm. Pick a nice area to stay in and explore

Butlins is great for children but don’t go for lower priced accommodation. Go self catering mid price upwards

Bluestone is amazing, but it's not cheap. I think of it as the Welsh Centre Parcs.