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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

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Original poster

Cenerparcs help please

25 replies

wheresthevalium · 29/08/2007 13:24

Going for the first time with DP, 2 DDs and DSD (5,4 and 3) next week

I would really appreciate any advice on which activities are worth doing and if we should pre-book for all of them?

TIA

OP posts:

jellybellie · 29/08/2007 13:27

definitely prebook as much as you can

WaynettaSlob · 29/08/2007 13:36

Don't know which one you're going to, but tips on Longleat here Am sure there is more in the archives.

UnquietDad · 29/08/2007 13:40

Pre-book a few things, but you certainly don't need to pre-book everything. Book the Time Out sessions if you plan to use them, but a lot can be booked when you get there.

We first went (Sherwood) when DD and DS were 5 and 2, and there was very little for toddlers apart from soft play.

Went this year and DD (now 7) loved the climbing wall and the bikes. You need to be 6 for climbing wall though. If you are a Water Person you could probably quite happily spend all day in the Sub-Tropical paradise (tm) - some people do!

fedupwasherwoman · 29/08/2007 13:52

wheresthevalium (loving that name)

which one are you going to ?

tiredemma · 29/08/2007 13:55

I LOVE CP.

Its one of our fave holidays

Original poster

wheresthevalium · 29/08/2007 17:49

Off to Longleat (less than an hours drive for us). Are the accompanied nature walks any good or are we just as well to go wandering by ourselves?

Thanks for all the replies so far

OP posts:

roisin · 29/08/2007 18:19

We first went when dss were 5 and 7. They didn't like the timeout clubs = boring; and they would much rather have been out exploring with us. Mostly they enjoyed walking, swimming of course, playgrounds, indoor softplay, watching the activities and exploring the ranger's lodge etc.

The junior fencing thing is great fun (I can't remember how old they have to be for that.)

When they are older it gets more expensive as there are more activities they are keen to do.

The best thing we did was to book a babysitter for the evening and for dh and I to go to the Spa together.

Subsequently we went with groups of friends/family so got free babysitting whilst we went to the Spa.

mummydoit · 29/08/2007 18:23

Definitely pre-book. DH missed out on the crossbows that he wanted to do because we left it till two weeks before to pre-book. We did an accompanied ramble which was interesting but our DCs (3 and 4) got a bit restless towards the end. My top tip is to hire bikes (with attached trailers if you've got toddlers) as it can be quite a walk from the centre to the villas. Do it on day one. We left it till day 2 and were lucky to get the last trailer so they do run out.

Sam100 · 29/08/2007 18:28

Book yourself into the Aqua Sana for a bit of you time - sometimes the 3 hr sessions get booked up.

The teddy bears picnic (if they are still doing it) was good fun - we went with a 2, 3 and 4 year old.

The creches sometimes have some art clubs and things like that on - but we just booked those when we were there.

The pizza restaurant at Sherwood let the kids make their own pizzas - ours enjoyed that.

Original poster

wheresthevalium · 29/08/2007 18:30

So am I reading this right, you can't pre-book the bikes???

Oh heck I hope it will be alright

I did like the look of the teddy bears picnic when I saw it.

Anymore for anymore, we are booking all the activities tonight?

OP posts:

drosophila · 29/08/2007 18:31

Is centre parcs worth going to in Jan? Longleat I was thinking of. It's alot cheaper and it is DD's birthday and we haven't been away all summer so want something to look forward to.

UnquietDad · 29/08/2007 21:08

Yes, Aqua Sana is a good idea - DW and friends did that and loved it. Men had an afternoon of "man time" playing snooker and drinking beer later in the week!

You can't pre-book bikes - do it first thing when you get there. They don't run out, but they do have a limited number of the trailers.

Original poster

wheresthevalium · 30/08/2007 09:56

OK, teddy bears picnic, down on the farm and a time out club session booked for the girls, aqua sana booked for us

The only thing we have to do now is pray for reasonable weather and go shopping at the weekend for groceries and swimming costumes phew!

OP posts:

Nemo2007 · 30/08/2007 10:06

ds 3 nearly 4 quite enjoyed tots tennis,
we did magical makeovers this time too and DS loved it but dd1 hated it. We also did the messy play with dd1 and dd2 which was nice as they did clay handprints, hand and foot print posters etc

Whizzz · 30/08/2007 10:08

DS enjoyed the pony trek when we went to Elvedon - I can't remember the minimum age though (you lead the ponies)

Whizzz · 30/08/2007 10:12

thinking about it - he was 5 when we went

Original poster

wheresthevalium · 30/08/2007 10:15

Whizzz, all the girls were mad to go horseriding, but the minimum age is 6

OP posts:

WaynettaSlob · 30/08/2007 12:02

May I just say that the temperature in Longleat for some reason is about 5 degrees below normal!!! (or maybe I'm a big softie???!!!) Make sure you have enough warm stuff!!!

Whizzz · 30/08/2007 15:07

Hmm - I've just looked online & they seemed to have changed the horsey bit, because one of the options was a family ride but that was for 7+

Original poster

wheresthevalium · 30/08/2007 16:19

ooh, do we need to take towels for the pool?

OP posts:

heifer · 30/08/2007 16:27

depends on whether you are German or not...

Original poster

wheresthevalium · 30/08/2007 16:28

Snort, nope, just a randon mixture of English, Scottish and Welsh

OP posts:

lailasmum · 30/08/2007 16:34

I went with a 2 year old and to be honest there is very little for small kids to do other than cycle with you or play in playgrounds/sand.

grumpyfrumpy · 30/08/2007 20:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

UnquietDad · 31/08/2007 12:15

You can pre-book bikes? I bow to your greater knowledge - that must have changed since I was last there.

I gather CP are replacing their entire fleet of bikes. Should have shiny new ones this year!

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