Center Parcs holiday villages are the perfect place for a short break or week long staycation. Great for families, friends or couples. But they can be expensive. Let’s have a look at what makes Center Parcs a great break AND how to make Center Parcs excellent value for money?

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Table of contents

What is Center Parcs?

Each Center Parcs is a holiday village set in acres of woodland. Staying in lodges and accommodation set in the woodland, it’s a perfect break in nature. You have the choice of plenty of activities – outdoors and indoors. There are 5 Center Parcs villages in England, so you can choose your nearest , or one further from home.

Why you should visit Center Parcs.

Why should you visit Center Parcs? Each Village has everything you need for a holiday or short break that’s as active or as relaxing as you like. Ideal for families, friends or as a couple. Dogs are welcome too. All of the villages have the same core accommodation styles, restaurants and activities. Set in around 400 acres of forest. Once you are unpacked you put the car back in the car park and your break is car free. Cycle or walk everywhere.

centre-parcs-woburn-forest-2

Where are the Center Parcs Villages?

  • Elvedon Forest, Suffolk. Sat Nav postcode IP24 3TR.
  • Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire. An hour from London Sat Nav postcode MK45 2HZ.
  • Longleat Forest, Wiltshire, Sat Nav postcode  BA12 7PU
  • Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire. NG22 9DN
  • Whinfell Forest, Cumbria CA10 2DW

5 things to do in Center Parcs

  • Subtropical Swimming Paradise Center Parcs water park is the heart of every village. The Subtropical Swimming Paradise is heated to 29.5C all year round and decked in lush green tropical plants and trees.  There’s the pool, Wild Water Rapids, whirlpools and rides and slides. Access is free for the duration of your stay. Spend the whole day there if you like, there’s lockers and places to eat inside. You can pay for cabanas and even buy swimming related kit but it’s much cheaper to take your own goggles and towels.
  • Aqua Sana Spa Each of the Spas has over 15 different Spa experiences. Plenty of choice of Spa days from £89per person or 4 hours spa visits including Twilight packages from £59 per person. You can book the many spa treatments like manicures or facials (men and women). A 20 minute express facial costs £31.
  • Beautiful lake and beach Every Village has a lake and a beach, take a picnic and beach mat or hire pedalos or try the water sports. On a warm day it’s beautiful. On a cold and rainy day it really still is (maybe skip the water sports though!)
  • Indoor and Outdoor activities When we first went to Center Parcs, well over 20 years ago, there were lodges, a few basic activities like badminton and tennis and the Subtropical Swimming Paradise. Not much else. It was a relaxing, fun break, cycling around, enjoying the nature and playing cards and games in the evening. Not even any Wi-Fi! Now the list of activities is huge. All at a cost of course. From Horse Riding to (fake) Ice skating.
  • Winter Wonderland and seasonal activities. Christmas at Center Parcs is magical for the kids. Santa’s Workshop with the elves, photos with Santa and (fake) reindeer rides and the villages are all Christmassy and twinkling. Special events and themes for Easter and Halloween are also well worth a visit.

Types of accommodation in Center Parcs

When choosing your accommodation, you can pick from a number of bedrooms, style of villa and facilities. From the basic (but still fab) woodland villas to the Luxury spa suites. All have free Wi-Fi and private outside patio. Have a look at Katy Kickers fab Center Parcs accommodation videos on YouTube.

  • Budget friendly (ish) Woodland Lodges With 1 to 6 bedrooms. Open plan with log burner and fully equipped kitchen.
  • Splash out Luxury Villas Executive Lodges are 1 to 4 Bedrooms, Exclusive Lodges and Treehouse Lodges have 4 bedrooms and Waterside Lodges have 3 bedrooms. All have en-suite bathrooms. Choose your luxuries including sauna, hot tub, daily cleaning and games rooms.
  • Adapted Lodges Lodges with easy access, dedicated parking nearby and open-plan living and dining with a fully-equipped kitchen and lowered worktops, spacious bedrooms with an electric bed and bathrooms boast walk-in/wheel-in showers. The Exclusive Adapted Lodges have hot tubs with hoists, and saunas and steam rooms with wider access.
  • Hotel and apartments located close to amenities, all rooms have en-suite hydro bathrooms, hairdryer and a balcony or terrace. Rooms are available with twin or double beds, and some have a compact kitchen.
  • Luxury Spa Suites Available at Elveden Forest and Woburn Forest Villages. Hotel like suites at the Aqua Sana Spa. Booking includes a 55-minute Signature Treatment, complimentary lunch in Vitalé, continental breakfast served in your suite, and a £25 restaurant voucher per person for an evening meal in one of the restaurants.
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Executive Studio Center Parcs

What is included in the price at Center Parcs?

  • Entry to the Village from 10am on your day of arrival to midnight on the day of your departure.
  • Your accomodation which includes WiFi, bedding, towels and no extra charges for electricity etc. There is a hairdrier, safe a tea towel, sachet of washing up liquid and 3 dishwasher tablets.
  • Unlimited entry to the SubTropical swimming paradise.
  • Kids playgrounds and free baby food in some restaurants.
  • The 400 acreas of woodland, a fabolous lake and sandy beach to explore.

So there is plenty to keep you occupied and entertained that you don’t have to pay any extra for.

What extras can you pay for at Center Parcs?

  • Cycles and cycling equipment Hire any bike from tandems to trailers, all come with locks included. You can hire or buy anything you need from helmets to water bottles.
  • Welcome Grocery packs Pre-book and they will be ready for you in your accommodation when you arrive. You can get breakfast packs, English breakfast packs, grocery essentials, logs, Krispy Kreme donuts and pretty much everything in between.
  • Late check out And day passes for guests.
  • Indoor and outdoor activities There is so much to do, all bookable online from 12 weeks in advance from crafts and classes for the kids to paintballing and golf.
  • Villa location and selection You can pay extra for lodges in a certain location, i.e. close to the centre. Or for villas close together if there are a few families going in separate villas. You can book a dog friendly Woodland and Executive Lodges, near clearly marked dog exercise areas.
  • Insurance You will be offered insurance to cover your stay, with cancellation cover.
  • SubTropical Swimming paradise extras You can book a cabana (below!) hire towels for £2 and buy everything you could possibly need.
Pool Cabana. Image Center Parcs

Where to eat in Center Parcs?

There are many restaurant and take away places at Center Parcs. We mostly do self catering but always have a visit to our favourites.

Hucks American Bar and Grill American and Mexican food, great for families – there’s a great kids play area and children’s menu. Ribs, fly fries (fries with cheese sauce) and the spinach dip are awesome. And the Freakshakes….unmissable. Have a look at Hucks menu – our favourite.

The Pancake House Unmissable, great for brunch. American pancake stacks, sweet or savoury pancakes, waffles and omelettes. Kids menu and fun atmosphere.

Foresters Inn Lovely gastro pub at Longleat, Elvedon and Sherwood Forest villlages. Leave the kids somewhere while you enjoy this one. Lovely setting with beautiful views. Eggs Benedict is £9.50 and a Latte is £3.20

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Freakshakes Image Center Parcs

Easy ways to save money on your Center Parcs break

Center Parcs is a place where you can go and have any type of holiday on any budget. It is easy to get carried away with the huge choice of activities and restaurants on offer. The trick is knowing what to expect when you get there and plan accordingly.

  • Have a look at this fab How to save money at Center Parcs article for tips like bring your own disposable barbeques and bikes and booking tips
  • And these really useful What to pack for a self catering holiday and how much spending money do you really need articles.
  • Book activities. Some activities get booked up well in advance so pick a couple and pre-book them. You will have a lot less choice / temptation when you get there.
  • Pick a restaurant and pre-book a table. Sometimes there are offers for early or late dining times.
  • Plan to mostly do free activities and make the most of the opportunity to be in such lovely surroundings, spending time with your loved ones.
  • Get there early and stay late. This gives you much more time on your break. Although you can’t check into your villa, you can use the facilities from 10am, so make the most of them. Same when you are leaving, check out of your lodge and drop your keys off and leave your car in the car park and you can stay. This also means you avoid the pretty huge queues to get in and out too.
  • Come back soon offer. When you leave you will be emailed a discount off your next booking. Plus there is a lowest price guarantee. We have used this before to book our next trip AND got the difference refunded when we found it cheaper. They don’t tell you – you have to keep checking but it’s worth it.
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Woodland Lodge Center Parcs

Find out more about Center Parcs

Here are some useful links for Center Parcs

Frequently asked questions about Center Parcs

When’s the best time to visit Center Parcs?

Whatever time of year you go, you’ll have a great time. Great weather is a bonus but we have had wet weekends in February when it was much cheaper and quieter and had a fab time!
Prices go up massively for school holiday times.

Which Center Parcs is best?

We have been to Elvedon Forest, Woburn Forest and Longleat Forest. All pretty much the same experience once you are there.
Look at the prices and travel times/ distances for you. A £50 saving for a few hours of travel each way is probably not worth it.

When is the cheapest time to visit Center Parcs?

January seems to be cheapest. A midweek break in school time is only a few hundred pounds. So if you are not tied to School Holiday times then there are some bargains to be had. Bonus too is that the Park will feel less busy and activites and restaurants easier to book.

Can I take my dog to Center Parcs?

Yes, when you book you add the number of dogs (max 2) and you will have a choice of dog friendly lodges.

Is Center Parcs expensive?

Center Parcs can be as expensive or cheap as you make it once you are there. If you eat out every day and do many of the activities, then the cost will multiply hugely. Everyday essentials like bread and milk from the Parc Market cost only a little more than a corner shop and all the meat etc is top quality. Pop in near closing time and you’ll even find the yellow stickered items.

Can I get a day pass for Center Parcs?

You can’t just go for a day but day passes are available for friends / family if you have a booking already. A pass is valid from 10am to midnight.

Can I use discount vouchers at Center Parcs Restaurants?

Deals and vouchers for restaurants on the Center Parcs site like Bella Italia and Café Rouge are not valid.
Same with Sarbucks – you can’t even earn Starbucks rewards.

Is Center Parcs good for Couples?

Absolutely yes. Center Parcs is a great break for couples. Especially if you can avoid school holidays and get the better value prices. Choose a lodge to yourselves or an apartment and the break can be as romantic, active and cheap or expensive as you like.

Center Parcs summed up

A break at Center Parcs really is the kind of holiday that anyone can make enjoyable. Whatever your budget or activity level. Planning what kind of break you are going to have is the key. What are your experiences or tips for an awesome Center Parcs break?

It is a fab place for making new memories with famity or friends. What are yours?

We have quite a few wonderful memories of Center Parcs…… The geese tapping on our patio doors. Mum falling off her bike (she wasn’t hurt!) and us all pulling her out of the ditch. Best burgers ever made on the Bar-b-ques on our patio and the bruises we got from going down the rapids dozens of times.

Tracy

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