Which Centre Parcs?

[Annamariadarling]

We're on the brink of booking our very first centre parcs break - midweek in term time so it's pretty reasonably priced but I can't decide which park to book.

Whinfell, Sherwood, or Elveden?

We have 2 kids, aged almost 4 and 17.

When are you going and where do you live.
we got to whinfell most often but we’re northwest and have two under 5. Your little one would love it but its pool as not as adventurous for big ones. Though I love the pool. Much smaller site.

sherwood pool is better but the central area is all exposed unlike whinfell.

can’t speak for Elvden though.

We're planning to go in May, we're Midlands based so they're all around 2 to 3 hours away from us. We don't mind travelling for a nicer site though.

Longleat is much nicer than Elveden

@tinyspiny Longleat unfortunately doesn't have availability when we want to go

Whinfell was originally owned by Rank so is not the same as the other CPs. I have been to all of them except Longleat. We used to go every year. Woburn was a once and never again. You can look at the Whinfell map and see there is just the lake in the centre. The other CPs except Woburn, most of the villas back onto water which is lovely for younger children when the ducks all come wandering past your patio doors.

Our favourite when the children were younger was Elveden because everything is together in the centre. The layout is different due to a fire and a rebuild many, many years ago. There is more seating inside the sports centre so more places to sit either waiting for your turn at a booked activity or just watching. If you look at the map you can see the subtropical paradise is in the same location as the sports plaza.

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

On the Sherwood maps (where we go now) they are separate and the bike parks are separate too. As adults (ours sons are adults) we can just walk across but it might be a bit of a pain in the arse to come out of the sports place, get on your bike, ride over to the centre because you need milk, park your bike back up at the other bike park, walk to the supermarket, collect your bikes again. Look at where the bike parks are on the map. This may or may not be an issue.

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

There are a million youtube videos of people at CP touring the villas and Google maps covers it all too so you can drop down and see the bike parks etc. We love it (obviously) we have had great times at all different times of the year.

Elveden has a dinghy water ride which your older child would love.

The white water rapids are better at Sherwood than at Elveden.

I haven't been to Whinfell, so can't comment!

We’ve just come back from Whinfell and loved it. It’s not too big, the pool is great, as is the lake area. It’s built on a hillside so it’s quite private.