Center Parcs recommendations please

[MozzchopsThirty]

We can realistically get to longleat, sherwood & Woburn (in that order)

What would your preference be and why?
Which is the best for 11 & 16 year old?
Is it worth getting an executive lodge?

It'll only be fri-mon that's all I can afford there

TIA

Bump

I haven’t been to Longleat, so can’t help there.
If you’re a cycling family, I think Sherwood has more options for cyclists than Woburn. Woburn seemed more for people to have a walk and enjoy the facilities. Unlike the other parks there is not much outside space to explore - in fact within a short walk you reach the perimeter with no where else to go.
In terms of which resort has the best spa, I would say it’s a tie between Woburn and Sherwood. The Woburn spa is the newest and biggest with the best facilities, however, the Sherwood spa was incredibly friendly and there’s a great treetop sauna.
The main swim area at Woburn (where the wave machine is) seems better than the other complexes - the rides and general layout are good, there were plenty of chairs and everywhere was clean.
Woburn tends to be the most expensive probably because it’s nearer to London.

Woburn is smaller in area for cycling than Longleat, the pool area is also smaller. I've not been to Sherwood.

Personally, I think Woburn is better for younger families. Both Woburn and Longleat are quite hilly.

Fabulous thank you

I think the DS' will probably want to be in the pool and on slides mostly
With a few cycle rides thrown in

What about eating out & stuff??

Sherwood is definitely easier to get to than Woburn for me

I've been to all those plus Elvedon.

I'd avoid Sherwood - the pool and rapids are absolutely rubbish and it's freezing and dirty.

Woburn is the nicest as it's newest and the pool, slides and rapids are good for older kids (mine are 13 and 15 - we last went before lockdown).

Haven't been to Longleat since they were very little so can't really comment on the pool for older kids but it was a bit tired (may have been upgraded since).

Eating out is all much of a muchness as the pretty much have the same restaurants.

Oh and not worth getting an executive lodge unless you want a hot tub or sauna.

Is it for this year? Only iirc swimming pool is limited to two hour slots and you can't go every day. Longleat itself is good (and if you are a tesco shopper you can use club card. Although tbh I think it's overpriced for your children's age.

CP is not Longleat.

It is overpriced for kids my age but what choices are there this year??

We don't normally holiday in UK

Last year we did theme park & hotel and a park dean caravan park holiday which I would quite frankly rather remove my eyes with a rusty spoon than do again

Longleat forest is on the CP website

Hi OP - I've been to them all as well as Elveden (which is my fave.)

Woburn - I've been to several times. Was most expensive when it first opened but think it's now fairly on par with others. It's the newest and very nice but smallest I would say so probably less cycling and walking options. Great for me with younger kids but one of the others may be better for your ages. The actual main swimming pool is the smallest I would say out of all of the CP and I miss the outdoor pool that most of the others have leading onto the rapids which is lovely after dark. Also doesn't have jacuzzis in the pool area there which is a shame. I read something a bit cynical once that said the pool was designed like this so you couldn't spend too much time there and would therefore partake in more paid activities as the pool is one of the only free things.

Sherwood - only been once and I remember least about this one. I think I liked the spa quite a lot here and quite liked the layout of it as a whole.

Longleat - I would say it's the biggest and I remember it being very hilly! Has a land train to get around on as it is so large. Remember thinking it would be well suited to slightly older children because of this - lots more space to explore. I think it probably has one of my favourite pool areas out of all of them. I would personally go for this one with children your age.

Have a lovely trip wherever you do go!

We went to Woburn and then Thetford. Have to say, the accommodation at Woburn was much less tired (or grubby) than it was at Thetford. I didn't enjoy the second visit much as it was all a bit dirty and manky.

Does it have to be Centerparcs? Could you consider finding a self catering cottage within easy reach of a public swimming pool and other activities nearby?

We have been to the longleat one but not the others. The pool is absolutely brilliant! We really did have a great time. My husband wanted to go and had to convince me, I really had a much better time than I thought I would.

The trouble is at the moment (for this year I guess) you will be limited to 2 pool sessions of 2 hours each.
In CP usually can you just use the pool as and when you want? Is it really worth is for 2 x 2 hour pool sessions? It’s one of the only included activities and now severely limited

I'd choose Longleat over Woburn. Woburn is better for small children as easy to walk around with a pram and overall smaller pools. Found it strange they didn't have a pool big enough for swimming a length!

Longleat had bigger pools, restaurants etc.

Sherwood's pool has been totally redone over the past two years - new rides/slides, changing rooms etc.

We've been to Sherwood and Woburn and I think that with older kids Sherwood might be better - there's just so much more space and the pool is about 50% bigger than the Woburn one. With smaller kids Woburn is great as it's so much more compact.

I just got back from Woburn and had a great time. I went with my young adult DC. The pool wasn’t open but when I went four years ago I remember it’s smaller than the other Center Parcs pools.
I’m going to try Elveden next as haven’t been there for years.

It was a while since we've been but Sherwood was very tired on our last visit. Longleat was nicer. You also have the safari not far away.

If you're looking for a U.K. holiday, an alternative to centre parcs would be something like the landmark trust. They have quirky properties all over the country so you could rent one near to an area your teens would be interested in.

I agree with PP, we prefer Elveden too. Longleat is hilly and spread out. Elveden is more central, not been to Woburn, but heard it’s small & pool is too. It’s a brilliant holiday with young kids.

We’ve been to Elvedon and Longleat. Longleat is our favourite.

We prefer the pool at Longleat - huge outside part compared to Elvedon. Tiny lazy river though.
Longleat is hilly. But brilliant walk down to the lake, with a restaurant/bar down there. You can also walk/cycle round the lake. Elvedon has lakes dotted round but with lodges around them, so you can’t really walk right around them with a view. Elvedon is very compact, it feels like everyone is in the same place. You really notice that if it rains.

Have fun with whatever you choose.

Longleat is very hilly as PP have said but it is a nice site and there's a lot fairly locally that you can do if you want to go out for a change, Longleat itself is a full day easily.

Sherwood much flatter so easier for cycling and I remember really liking the spa.

Other than that I think they're much of a muchness, I haven't been to Woburn though.

@MozzchopsThirty

Longleat forest is on the CP website

I think she meant that Longleat Safari Park/House etc is not the same as CP. They are just next door.

We love Longleat CP, we are going in June and I can't wait.

We usually go to Elveden but have been to Longleat once. I remember it being very hilly as mentioned by other posters.

If you haven’t already done so I would say it’s probably worth checking that the dates you want are available before you spend lots of time deciding where you want to go and which type of villa. For example, I looked a couple of days ago at midweek breaks at Elveden and there were only 1 bed apartments available in the school summer holidays - all the lodges are sold out.

Although rubbish value right now as you only get to go in the pool twice during a 4 day stay. Within a day of the bookings for activities opening nearly was booked up. ☹️