Which Center Parcs to go to?

[Whatinthe]

We're looking to go to Center Parcs later in the year - most likely Woburn or Longleat.

It's our first time - are they all the same or do activities differ? For context our kids are 7&5. Would love to hear from anyone who's been - what you liked/disliked about either place or if you know how they differ. Also is one easier to get around (I.e. flat for scooters and bikes). The main pull is the swimming area - I presume they must be both good? TIA!

The closest one to home. Although longleat is hilly, iirc.

They are v v v different IMO.

Woburn is flat, brand new and everything is super close together. Far fewer play areas though. was great with a 3YO as no real journey back to the villa after an activity. Spa was AMAZING!

The pools are fairly similar- both have wave pool, lazy river, big flumes, rapids though Woburn has no outdoor swimming space and Longleat has a few more traditional flumes/slides.

Longleat is an enormous site, yes hilly but not the end of the world- I was being cycled around when I was 5. Those ages we loved the endless playplarks in the woods-myself and my brother would use them for hours and save my parents on paid activities.

also distance is a factor- we can be at Longleat in 1 hour, Woburn takes 3- we do Woburn when meeting up with the in laws as it suits them too, Longleat we go to with my family (have been going most years since age 5, am now 30…)

@KarrotKake thanks, would you say that they're much of a muchness then? Ideally dont want anywhere too hilly so that might sway it if otherwise they are the same.

@user1471548941 sorry I posted before seeing your post. That's so helpful, Thank you! I like to know all the details so that's perfect. If the play areas are good at Woburn then I think it would be okay for there to be fewer. Was it hilly to get to the facilities in Longleat or just in the surrounding area?

If you go to Woburn it really doesn't matter where the lodge is as it is alll close enough so no need to pay extra to choose where it is.

I prefer longleat but with a whiney dc who doesn't like riding/scooting on hills, we chose Elvedon because the hills and spaciousness of longleat are significant. But it was definitely less like being truly in the countryside.

Now she is bigger and fitter we will go to longleat next time because as a pp said, it has more playing areas and is generally more lovely.

We generally do Longleat but that’s because we like a trip to the safari park and go into Bath as well .

Longleat is pretty flat around the plaza and the village square but very hilly elsewhere especially down to the lake. Also distances can be long to walk. There's a land train but it only goes every 15-20 mins around the complex and I found was usually packed. If you go there I'd recommend making sure your accommodation is near to where you think you'll spend the most time (swimming pool probably).

I really hate it when people say Woburn is flat. It bloody well isn't. It would depend where your villa is and has one 14% gradient hill and another 15% gradient hill. There are signs telling cyclists to dismount as it is too steep. If you look on the map at the road from the car park (D6 on the map) it says no bikes probably due to the steepness one would imagine, the yellow pedestrian path immediately below it is the 15% gradient I believe. The other yellow path from the car park (F6) show the number of steps you need to navigate it is that hilly.

www.centerparcs.co.uk/content/dam/centerparcs/maps/download-map/Woburn-Forest-Village-Map.pdf

The centre part is down in the bottom of what seems to be a valley with everything sloping upwards and outwards. I was there a couple of weeks ago and we cancelled our bikes on the first day due to where our villa was (low 900s so not even at the top of the map) and having heard about how hilly it was. It honestly does depend on where your villa is so unless you choose to pay for a central area or a specific villa you could end up anywhere and up a steep hill.

We have been to Whinfell, Sherwood and Elveden as well and our hands down favourite was Elveden purely due to the fact that there was a fire that destroyed the centre (stay with me) and when they rebuilt it they asked what everyone wanted and the general consensus was stop separating the swimming place from the sports place. Put everything in the centre then you don't have to unlock your bike, cycle over to the other part to pick up milk etc.

Woburn is small enough to walk between the two places but take note of where you cannot cycle. Positives are, small enough to get to places easily, rapids are the best ones, there is a lot of seating inside the pool. The changing room area is more spacious between the cubicles and the lockers so it feels less crowded. Negatives, the outdoor pool area is ridiculously tiny and the indoor pool with the waves is small and gets very overcrowded. Last time we went to Elveden was 3 years ago, we have been going for almost 20 years. I love Center Parcs, love the activities for the children and the cycling. We will be returning again but to Elveden.

Longleat but stay near the plaza

Go to longleat and make sure you book a cottage anywhere on the north side of the main road between the plaza and sports plaza. That’s all flat. Don’t get a cottage on the south of the lake. The swimming pool is in the plaza.

it’s a much bigger, better site with great play areas. Woburn is small. Great for toddlers. 5&7 yr olds will prefer longleat.

Here is the map. Anything to the north or east of that black and white dashed land train track is flat

www.centerparcs.co.uk/content/dam/centerparcs/maps/download-map/Longleat-Forest-Village-Map.pdf

Yeah Woburn isn't flat! We've stayed a few times and after the first (up the hill) we've always chosen our lodge.

Depends where you live op and l know you didn't mention Elveden but that is my local one and l love it there

We only found one play area at Woburn but that was with a 3YO on foot- it was pretty small.

Longleat has a huuuuuge forested one with loads of tunnels, slides etc, is amazing, plus many others.

Longleat is basically on two levels. The level you drive in at has carpark, plaza with shops, restaurants, pool, plenty of lodges up there. Also country club type place with crafts, nature activities, where all the Christmas stuff is.

Then you go down a huuuuge hill with the famed zig zag boardwalk. Pancake house at the top, tree top course and crazy golf towards the bottom. Huge lake with sports centre, spa, some shops/restaurants. Outdoor activity centre. No lodges down here. H

another huuuuge hill with zig zag boardwalk back up the other side to more lodges. These lodges are about a 30 min walk from the main plaza. So basically depends where you want to be. Any of the activities by the lake you are going to go down and have to come back up again, no matter where you stay. Stay by the plaza and no hills for swimming etc. If you’re over the back there is actually a bordwalk going round to the plaza without any need to go down to the lake and back up!

Everyone seems to walk/scoot more now. When I was a kid, I was probably 7/8 and with much encouragement was able to cycle up and down the big zig zags, getting stronger over the weekend.

agree with @lookforthesun with a smaller child Woburn was fab.

Anything older and I’d want the space and variety of Longleat.

Longest was too hilly to be enjoyable with small children. Even ultra-fit cyclist dh agreed. Facilities were lovely and we enjoyed Longleat nearby. But after one visit we reverted to Elveden.

Woburn is my least favourite because it’s so small. Elveden is the best of Sherwood.

Sorry I know I’m not very helpful saying two you didn’t mention are better.
longleat is fine it’s just you have to negotiate the hill and I always felt I was hurrying up or down the hill because I was in the wrong place. Woburn just feels small and isn’t flat. I saw a very nice bike accident on the steep hill.
Sherwood is lovely. Elveden is my favourite because it’s big enough and mostly flat.

Wow thank you everyone- this is all so helpful! Thinking Longleat over Woburn bases on your recs but...
@Snowraingain @Dilbertian @Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin @JanuaryKeepMe I hadn't considered Elveden because it's the other side of the country to me - however I just looked on the maps and it's only about 30minutes longer to drive there than Longleat. Do you feel that there are a good number of play areas and activities there? Feeling drawn to this one because of how much you all rate it. My husband has a health condition that means traipsing up and down a hill will be quite difficult so like the appeal of it being flatter.

I’m going to throw a spanner in the works and ask if you’ve looked at Bluestone? (I’m assuming if Elvedon is the other side of the country you are in the west somewhere?)

It ticks a lot of your boxes - the play areas are good (inside ones and outside ones), and you can hire a golf buggy if hills are an issue (it is hilly).

I’ve only been to Longleat Centerparcs but I prefer Bluestone, it’s more compact and we found it cleaner, plus it’s easier to get back to your car for day trips.

Yes plenty of activities there and is flat so easy to get around.

@FlyingFlamingo oh no...I'm finding it hard enough to choose between Center Parcs without adding something else in to the mix 😂however I'm clearly about to go and look it up anyway!

@Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin thanks!

I think the Bluestone place sounds great if you could hire a golf cart given your Dh's health. Probably massively cheaper too. I think CP is expensive for what it is but the children loved it. Ds1 is now 19 and we started going when he was a toddler. Always used a school inset day and took them out for a day to make a Fri-Mon booking.

For Elveden we didn't hire bikes as we always booked the exact same villa each time. It was in the central area and took us around 6 minutes to walk into the centre.

I have just remembered another thing about Woburn, the villas don't back onto the water. Same with Whinfell which was Rank before CP bought it out. Elveden, Sherwood and Longleat back onto water. This may or may not appeal.

If I was you I would ring CP, tell them about your Dh's mobility and take their advice on villa location etc. You don't have to book but it would be good to be informed.

Elveden has a lot of play areas.