Which centre parc would you recommend for a 7 and 4 year old?

[LadyBirr13]

Hi there!

As the title says really!

Looking for a centre parc to go to in the UK for a few days in the summer? never been, which one would you recommend?

Only ever been to whinfell, its lovely, the pool will keep them happy even if the weather is bad.

Whichever is closest to your house, unless one is cheaper enough compared to the others to offset the extra travel costs. I've been to a few, they're all nice :)

I'm closest to Woburn but prefer Elveden (next closest) as it is bigger and has more established wildlife.

The pool at Sherwood is far better than Whinfell for kids that age. In fact, it’s better for everything.

I've been to Whinfell , Sherwood and Woburn.

My favourite of the 3 is Sherwood. It's the biggest and most established of those.

Whinfell wasn't built as a Center Parcs, it was built by a different company and Center Parcs bought it over. They have done great work to it and it's a lovely place, but it's my least favourite of the 3.

Woburn is new. It is smaller than the other 2. I went there when DC were 4 and 1 and it was perfect for them. Nothing to far for eldest to get to on her scooter.

In all honesty, I love them all and I'm a huge fan of Center Parcs. So much fun to be had there. I hope you enjoy it, whichever one you choose to go to.

I’m interested to know what it is about CP that people rave about... we are at the Whinfell Forest one just now and it’s okay. Accommodation is pretty basic, a bit run down in a lot of ways... the pool is good but no more so than many public leisure centre pools etc. It’s less exciting that the camping holidays in Europe I went on as a kid in the 80s... just don’t see the appeal sadly.

isadora in my opinion, the pool at Whinfell is the least good of the Center Parcs I've been to. The set up of the park itself is also less good. But as I said, it wasn't built as a Center Parcs and to me, this shows.

What I love about Center Parcs are the fantastic swimming pools that the kids will happily spend hours in. The woodland walks, the wildlife, the beautiful spa, lovely restaurants, fantastic selection of activities to suit kids of all ages, the cycling, the smiles on the kids faces that seem to last from the moment we arrive until the moment we leave. That has been my experience of Center Parcs.

Isadora What public pools do you have and where do you live? Cos I want to live there! I think i like being in the woods, car free environment mostly.

But yes the pools are amazing, I want to know where there are comparable public ones!

Great input thank you everyone! Will have a look into the recommended.

Has anyone been to butlins and centre parcs and can compare?

Depends where you live really. Think they are all pretty similar. We have been to longleat many times and love the pool and lake.

I’ve been to all bar Woburn and Sherwood is my favourite. Longleat incredibly hilly and the others are just smaller. If you live much closer to one though I wouldn’t travel hours longer to get to a different one.

@Pootles34 the pool in Dundee is pretty similar with a large wave/leisure pool plus rapids section. Large selection of flumes some with music and disco lights. Huge toddler splash park area. Plus actual swimming pool with lanes. Local to me is a large pool with waves and flumes and small play area in the shallow area for toddlers.

Maybe if I was a city dweller the woods would be more impressive... I dont know what I was expecting but sadly I don’t think this is meeting any expectations. There are no laundry facilities and disappointing that you need your own swim towels etc as nowhere to dry them each day etc. And having to bring own dishwashing stuff and cloths etc is also pretty poor show. It seems the lodges are designed for people who will eat out all the time and not spend time indoors.

OP - I have never been to butlins but I've been told there's no comparison and that Center Parcs is far superior. I'm sure Center Parcs will also be more expensive but they do say you get what you pay for.

Elveden has the best pool by far. This is our favourite centre parcs. Woburn is the most expensive and has the smallest pool.

We’ve only been to Whinfell, with two 2 year olds and a 5 year old.

It was excellent.

Personally, I’d just go to whichever one is closest.

Have been to Elveden and Woburn. Woburn is very hilly. Prefer Elveden. Accommodation has always been very nice. Pleasant enough to bring own food and cook there.

Have been to Butlins. Its not really a comparable experience but I'd say that the kids prefer Butlins (arcades. water. more arcades)

Accomodation (gold apartment - at Skeggy) not great. General air of dated grubbiness, even though they have been updated and are in fact quite clean. The all inclusive buffet was fantastic. Just as well as I didn't want to eat in the apartment. The whole site looks dire from the outside. I mean, really, really depressing. But it was fine once in there.
We also stayed in a hotel at Butlins bognor (8 years ago) and it was very nice. I think there was a massive soft play inside, which I found quite stressfull trying to keep track of the (then) toddler.