I'm packing for Centre Parcs - speak now or forever hold you peace....

[ThomCat]

Just realised i've never been on holiday in the UK, as an adult with kids before.

Much easier to go abroad, at least you know you only have to pack swimsuits and vests. The girls have something to cover every weather eventuality, such a pita.

We're off to Eleveden Forest Centre Parcs tomorrow.

I know to pack
loo roll
a torch
swimming towels

and that the supermarket there is good and not overly expensive so don't need to take a load of food. I'm taking a handful of dishwasher tablets and things that I don't want to buy a whole box of

but any other top tips for things to take.

If you are like me just take everything for a Uk holiday, squeeze in the kitchen sink, your wellies, clothes for all seasons

actually ther supermarket is quite expensive and the restaurants too and not brilliant - escape if you can !

but the swimming pool is fab !

If you're planning on taking or hiring bikes, then don't forget helmets and bike locks.

washing up liquid and teatowels

We've found the supermarket to be very reasonable.

Have a great time!

just pulled the wellies out thnk you for that, would have forgotten them, it's so hot here today it's hard to think of packing stuff for rainy weather.

I really can't be bothered to take a load of food so for the sake of a week I'll use their supermarket I think, just take the staples and dishwasher tablets etc.

Extra pillows if you require more than just the one, towels, a travel iron if you feel you may need to iron anything, shampoo, soap & tea towels.

IME supermarket is like corner shop prices. More expensive, but I'm sure you'll survive the week. Preferable both to taking oodles of your own food and having to eat out every night.

Are you hiring towels for your lodge? If you've not booked them and haven't space, you can 'buy' packs in the supermarket.

I would take jeans and tshirts, a raincoat and one or two fleecy jumpers. I take salt, pepper, olive oil, mixed herbs, teabags, coffee, sugar, marmite and honey, box of cereal. Bag of pasta, jar of nice sauce, passatta, savoury rice packet (Specialilty of holidays!) teatowl, dishcloth, washing up liquid and dishwasher tabs.

This basically does us the first day and next morning (only need tbuy bread and milk) Then I do another night of pasta using the passata, veg or meat from the supermarket, 3rd night is savoury rice with chicken or whatever and we eat out one night. Brakfats is cereal/toast and lunch we end up by the pool or whatever.

I pretty much have this down pat as we take the same on camping hols and I have learnt by luggin stuff there and back what we actually eat

we hired towels,which was a good idea. I do think that Centerparcs are a bit of aq rip off though...sorry ! Would rather rent a nice cottage somewhere and not feel you were in stalagluft 97 or something...

Take some tupperware, cool bags and picnic plates/ cutlery

We went to Elveden a couple of months ago and I didn't think the supermarket was that good for fruit and vegetables, particularly if you want a variety of different fruit.

The farm shop next door at Elveden Estate - www.elveden.com/ - is really good. Lovely bread, meats, cheeses, biscuits, home-made cakes, home grown fruit and veg and lots of gourmet foods - not cheap but great for extras. You can get really good joints of meat - much better than those available in the supermarket. The cafe is also very good too - we sneaked off there for lunch one day whilst the dcs were busy with activities.

We found that many of the CP restaurants are closed at lunchtimes (why?) so be prepared for that and don't expect too much at the restaurants in general. We usually eat out a lot on holiday and were very disappointed with the restaurants, both in terms of food and service and the booking procedures are very rigid. Anyway, there's so much to do, it's not that important.

Hope you have a great time!

Wonderful ladies, thanks so much, massively helpful tips. Packing is no laugh and being pregnant i am extra scatty right now so lovely to have some help

(Thanks for the farm tip next door as well that's really great to know about, thank you )

My CP top tip, buy and bring your own disposable bbqs they are something ridiculous like £7.99 there. Have a good time.

Do not eat that restaurants unless you can avoid it and don't buy a single thing off the childrens menu, completely over priced, in fact thats the same for the adults food.

Went to Sherwood February. Loo roll was provided (and loads extra in cuboard) and so were dishwasher tablets. We were in executive accomidation and even had our dishwasher emptied.........pure luxury!

cereal bars for desperately hungry kids after spending the morning in the pool

Prob too late for Thomcat as she's prob already gone but for anyone else, lots of bird food/seeds/nuts etc scatter them on patio and get ready for the wildlife show!