Experience of Longleat Center Parcs anyone?

[MtnBikeChick]

Hi there
My friend and I are thinking of doing a Mon-Fri break at CP Longleat with our two 10 month olds. We are outdoorsy types and the babies are non-moving, massive daytime napping, 7am-7pm sleeping types. We want a trip away somewhere before going back to work - and like the idea of just pottering about on bikes with babies in trailers, going for runs and swims and alternating babysitting, taking the babies swimming, sitting reading books whilst the babies nap and drinking copious amounts of wine in our chalet in the evening. Has anyone taken littlies to CP Longleat? We won't be into the activities you have to pay for - apart from the spa. The only worry I have is the cheaper accomodation is out in the 'Pines' area - is that a long way from pool/supermarket/coffee shops etc? Surely you can cycle everywhere quite quickly?! Thanks for any advice!

No but I would like to see what people do have to say about it.
Am quite interested too.

We went a couple of weeks ago and had a brilliant time, I can't recommend it highly enough. It's very picturesque.

Just a warning though, although the village is not huge, it is very hilly. The village square and pool area are at the top of a hill, not far from Pines. The spa, watersports lake and sports centre are at the bottom. One of you will have to be quite strong to take the babies down and up in the trailer. But you can walk everywhere fairly quickly. Roughly 20 minute walk from pool to bottom of the hill. I have a baby (13 months) and I decided I needed her to be in the buggy so she could have her sleep when necessary, so I tended to walk while the rest of the family went by bike. There is also a regular bus service around the village, but you have to collapse buggies to get on.

You could quite happily go back to the villa for nap time though, so you might choose to just cycle everywhere the rest of the time.

If your little ones are ok with being left, the timeout club is great, worked out very well for us. You can do the spa / timeout combination, and they are located very close to each other, so that would work well.

Pines is quite close to the pool and the parc Market, maybe a 10 minute walk? so you would have plenty going on within walking distance of your villa. It's worth taking teabags, wine, various essentials, to save yourself having to buy everything.

It's really lovely and I think you'd have a great time. We've been going there since DD was a baby and we all still love it.

The Pines area isn't at all far from the main plaza where the shops and pool are. 5-10 min walk max.

Lucky you having such great sleepers!! You could therefore easily get a babysitter and go out for dinner at Strada or the Tapas place at the plaza. Or they also do deliveries so you could choose whatever you fancy and eat back at the villa.

Thanks everyone for your really helpful replies, I think we'll go for it! :)