Center Parcs holiday villages are the perfect place for a short break or week long staycation. Great for families, friends or couples. Here’s all you need to know to Enjoy Center Parcs for less.

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.

Lets have a look at 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.

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.
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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 the restaurants.
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Executive Studio Center Parcs

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 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. You may not think you need it but…..
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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.

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

How to enjoy Center Parcs for less

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

  • Have a look at our How to save money at Center Parcs article for tips like bring your own disposable barbeques and booking tips
  • And What to pack for a self catering holiday post
  • 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. 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!
  • 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.
  • 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. School holidays are much more expensive
  • Is Center Parcs expensive? It can be if you eat out every day and do many of the activities. Everyday essentials like bread and milk from the Parc Market cost no more than a corner shop and all the meat etc is top quality.
  • 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.
  • Can I get a day pass for Center Parcs? Yes a pass is valid from 10am to midnight. You can only book day passes for friends / family if you have a booking already. You can’t just go for a day.
  • Can I use discount vouchers at Center Parcs Restaurants? No, you can’t even earn Starbucks rewards. Deals and vouchers for restaurants like Bella Italia and Café Rouge are not valid either.
Pool Cabana. Image Center Parcs

Our favourite memories made in Center Parcs

There are a few. 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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