Centre Parcs...any good?

[Squirdle]

We are thinking of maybe going to Centre Parcs this summer and wondered if anyone recommended it.

We went to Whinfell forest - not tried any others. We enjoyed it - got around on bikes, dd loved the playground and pool. It's child friendly as you would expect. The food at the restaurants was a bit overpriced for what you get, but there is a supermarket on site if you want to cook your own!
We didn't bother with any activities, if you do the price would mount up pretty quick I would think.
On the whole we liked it for a long weekend, I wouldn't go back every year though!

Great holiday but don't expect it to be cheap.

Can we still get discount from mumsnet? Have looked but can't see anything anymore.

Definitely recommend it. We're going back for the 7th year in July. We weren't going to bother as we now have to fit in with niece's school hols but we really missed not going. Have been to all except Whinfell. Elveden best, then Sherwood. Longleat VERY hilly! Can be as expensive as you want it to be. We always cook for ourselves and stick to tennis, badminton and swimming.

It's a good laugh but that might be because we go with my brother's family and our villa ends up like the big brother house. My DH usually gets evicted fairly early on!

Yes it's brilliant.

Yes its fab! Very good and family focused. Be prepared for walking or biking though.

Yes its great ! We have been to Sherwood many times and Longleat once.Look out for discount codes (google them ) which will save you money. We dont do any activities, just use the pool and go for cycle rides and walks, we always come back feeling really refreshed.

Fantastic - we do a CP break every year. The activities aren't cheap but we all have such a wonderful time it's worth every penny. The dc's look forward to it every year.

We have been to CP several times over the past few years (so many that DD (3) refers to the pool as "my swimming pool!").

The costs do go up in summer hols (we are booked the week before school hols and it is 50% less than the following week!). Have a look on the CP website tho for the special offers section which may have some discounts depending on when you go. Also I think Whinfell (the Lakes) tends to be more expensive than the rest but that might have changed.

We tend to only book a couple of activities, if at all, to keep the cost down and also to make sure you aren't just dashing from one thing to the next.

Would recommend getting "off the beaten track" and walking through the woods as our DD loves looking for flowers / collecting leaves etc etc

Enjoy!

I didn't enjoy it to be honest. Thought it was really, really overpriced (esp restaurants) and we were v disappointed with the accommodation (though to be fair we went for the 'cheapest') - which was really damp (so bad we were moved on our second day). We were tied to school holidays and found all the public places really crowded. Also depends I think if you like booking activities in advance when on hols. My SIL does, I absolutely don't!

Sorry if I sound grumpy about it - it was the most we had ever spent on a UK holiday and I am a bit bitter .

If you do just stick with the swimming and nice walks/ cycle ride stuff which is free, I think its worth considering other independent holiday villages (some good ones in Hoseasons with lodges etc) as they are a lot cheaper.