Centre Parcs for the first time

[fatpenguin10]

My DH, DD (13m), DM and DDa will be going to Centre Parcs in Woburn in a few weeks. Does anyone have any tips for when there or any pointers for what to bring?

We took groceries (most of them) though we did like the parc market and the sports bar allows you to bring in your own drinks

chalk for the blackboard
spare dishwasher tablets
anti bac wipes
some people bring food for the wildlife
spare teatowel
its cashless so no cash
snacks for the pool and you can buy the water squirters there

Make sure you book any activities as soon as booking opens. Some things go fast.

Buy Quickflame fire logs from BM Bargains! Saves a fortune compared to the ones they sell in the onsite shop!

I would leave your expectations at home that way you won’t be disappointed with anything 😐 It’s fun, but it’s expensive and mass market and inevitably there will be stuff that isn’t ideal.

Generally the food in the restaurants is soso… so eating at the lodges is more reliable, lots of the restaurants will have play areas but your child will be quite young for them. As your dd is quite young I’d probably focus on picking activities that you’ll enjoy as adults.

Take groceries with you eg bread, milk, teabags etc and logs for the fire.

Pre book all the activities you want to do as it's almost impossible to book anything when you're there as everything is busy.

Same with restaurants- Pre book those so you're guaranteed a table.

I love Center Parcs & we always have a great time when we go. Enjoy!

The curtains are very thin, so if your LO needs a dark room to sleep, you may want to take a black out blind and a small night light otherwise at nap time it may take them a while to drift off!
Take your own plastic bowls and cups.
There’s a mini beach at the lake. It’s tiny,but there’s just enough space on the sand for little ones to play with a bucket and spade. You can buy them there, but at a price so I’d take your own.
The pools do have swim vests available but they are often too big for small toddlers and babies.
Take a bike lock for the pushchair.
You can arrive from 10am and park up and use all the facilities (so you can book stuff for that first day). Don’t hurry off to bring your car up to your lodge at 3pm if you don’t have to. Let the rush die down a bit and then go, and you’ll beat the crowds and get a bit more time in the pool. If you plan to swim on arrival day, make sure all your swimstuff is packed separately to save you unpacking everything in your car boot!
If you like a quiet pool then getting there the minute it opens at 10am is the answer. It’s busy from mid morning to mid afternoon. And do not go after 7.30pm as the pool looks like a 18-30s single night!

Take lunchboxes and sandwich bags for snack and packed lunches.
The lodge towels can’t be used at the pool so take your own or rent them for £2 each at the centre.

Take a fold up clothes airer to dry swimwear / towels on and there is no hanging space.