Centre Parks - Longleat

[Mum1369]

Anyone been ? Any good ?Any tips on which accom to get ?

I'm afraid I completely agree with Hatrick.

We were at Longleat for a weekend at the end of the February half term and I have never seen it so rammed full of people - to the point where I didn't particularly enjoy the break at all.

We would go to the pool at 10.00am and by 10.30/45 it was absolutely heaving. The only time I would go swimming now is after about 7pm. The Jardin de Sports was busier than I have ever seen it as well. Whilst there, I bumped into someone I knew who agreed there are nowhere near enough facilties to cope with the place when at full capacity (although I don't remember it being so much of a problem before the huge amount of new accomodation was built).

We've been to the various Centerparcs many times, including six visits to Longleat, almost always during school holidays, and I don't think we will be going back for a while, if at all. It's a shame because we used to love it. Also, given the amount of money it costs and the amount of spending money required, I just feel it's simply not worth it.

Also, they seem to have changed the terms of their 'loyalty' voucher scheme without telling anyone - in fact, I heard it was being phased out completely, which wouldn't surprise me.

To be fair, we had nice (but pricey) meals in Strada and Huckleburys and also the Sports Cafe food was OK and reasonably priced. Also, my DD and her friend really enjoyed the 'outing with owls' encounter. Apart from that, I can't think of anything else that was good about the experience.

Sorry to not be more positive.

Thanks for that - oh dear !!! Good job I haven't booked it !If it's busy now, I can't bear to think what it would be like in July...my husband would have had a fit !!!He's not very patient and am on just on the cusp of persuading him to go on a child-focussed holiday !!!

I have been to CP at Longleat and Elvedon and much prefer Elvedon.

However we have since found a little park in the New Forest called Sandy Balls which we love (have been twice, with next visit already booked!), however we have never been in the school holidays so don't know how busy it gets.

The park is on a small scale, they have lodges (also caravans & tents), indoor pool, beauty salon, bistro, pub, supermarket, bike hire, some weeks they have activities for the children, games room for older children and soft play centre for the younger ones.

Just to give you a different opinion, we went for February half term and loved it. we stayed in a comfort villa which was basic but clean and comfortable. We enjoyed hiring bikes and exploring the forest, and certainly didnt feel in danger from other bike users when we were walking. the pool was great, the family changing areas were busy but the communal areas were very quiet so I changed with dd in the ladies and dh changed with ds in the mens and often were were the only ones in there. The pool was fairly busy but we always managed to bag seats and didnt have to queue for long for the slides. We spent hours in there every day and often returned in the evenings too.Its lovely in the dark.

We ate at Hucks and the sports cafe and had lovely meals and the spa was to die for !

Ds also loved the land train, I couldnt fault anything. We have been many times to sherwood but this was our first visit to logleat and we preferred it, things were more spread out and it was prettier.

if you have the money to make the most of the facilities then great... we didnt ...

we went off site every day as it was cheaper ... and went swimming at night....

never ate there so cant say about the food....

others love it though

To mum1369 - you may be OK in July. I think we inadvertently booked a weekend where early booking discounts were being offered and therefore possibly went on one of the busiest weekends of the year. Sometimes it's actually quieter there in the summer months when they don't offer so much in the way of discounts.

To mumto2andnomore - perhaps it was a bit quieter during the actual half-term week. I just felt the whole place was uncomfortably busy when we were there, particularly the pool complex which is simply not big enough for the number of people trying to use it during the day.

Regarding cycle traffic - I prefer to walk and don't take or hire a bike there because I think it's quite dangerous and am always amazed there are not more accidents.

Personally I wouldn't go back to Longleat unless I know there is some serious investment being made in to expanding the public areas - perhaps this is already happening?

Longleat used to be lovely and IS very pretty with an abundance of wildlife, but it still felt like a bit of a rip-off (although it didn't bother my DP or DCs as much as it bothered me!).