Anyone been to Centreparcs?

cambsno

cambsno

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Considering the Nottingham one as a short break/holiday in Feb/Mar next year, probably midweek during school time so hopefully not too packed!! Any feedback - good, bad, or indifferent? Will be there with the wife and an 18mth old and an almost 4yo. Will spend much of the day in the pools and in any play areas, may do the odd activity like pony treking too. Looks good on paper but nice to hear from people who have been.
 
We went to the Elvedon centre once/twice a year until the kids went to University so I'd have to say it was good :)

The best thing is to hire a large villa and go with another couple so you can share child minding (and costs) :thumbs:
 
Cheers, will be just us 4 - like some nice family time alone!
 
not been myself but friends have.

General concensus is good but expensive (anything and everything over and above swimming) there is a charge. Restaurants on site are apparantly quite expensive as well (alledgedly) compared to similar in a town. However they are all S/C arn't they, and you'd eat if at home, so that cost can be netted off.
 
Been to a few Centreparcs and have enjoyed it.

As Brian said a big villa shared is more economic. I used to go as a group and we could share the cooking. In your case the child minding.

The pool area is great but watch the overall costs. Everything else is charged and for some you need to book early.

They have restaurants and a good shop but not cheap. I would plan ahead and take food with you.

Have fun.

Ken
 
Restaurants dont seem too bad, and it would not be much of a drive to places like Pizza Express where we can use tesco vouchers - plan a trip to sherwood forest anyway!!

Looks like Centreparcs is a goer!
 
Went to the one in the lake district last year.. we enjoyed it but did find that the restaurants were expensive. don't be conned into booking for your meals before you get there either. all in all it was good and i was lucky enough when my kids did the tree walking that they gave he a hard hat and let me into the compound to take pictures of them.. the pools where we were were good and as you want to go outside of the school holidays it will be even better for you. hope you have a good time....
 
Lynton said:
General concensus is good but expensive (anything and everything over and above swimming) there is a charge.
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:plusone:
It ain't cheap for any extras above swimmimg and your villa charges.

Don't count on it being quiet. They reckon to run on something like 85% occupancy. But you should escape most of the kids in the 4+ age group in term time.
I find it very relaxing. Reckon it's to do with the fact there are no cars racing around.
 
I live near and went to the Notts site last year, as said above can be quite expensive but very nice. I had a session with the birds of prey and wow a well spent £20 and great photo ops. The Indiantake away is very expensive and at best mediocre but the rest of teh place is great. Wild fowl and squirrels eat out of your hand after knocking on the window for food. The kids'll love it (if yiu have them).
 
Visited Longleat a good few times and stayed there the once. Great time and great accomodation but pricey. Been abroad all inclusive for less but still a great stay.
 
Have been to Sherwood a few times (no recently though).

Really nice place for a long weekend, or a week if you're the active sort.
 
What's the deal with taking your own food and drink?

I'm going with brothers family soon and they aren't in a position to waste vast sums of cash. I was thinking of taking an extra bag with me and stocking up on simple stuff that can be knocked up in the villa plus a few bottles of vino.
 
you can take what ever you want to food and drink wise..
 
I also went to Sherwood a couple of weeks ago. We've been to Elvedon 3 times now and fancied a change. Sherwood was much nicer in my opinion despite going for a lower spec villa without a hot tub, the sauna had to suffice!
Meals aren't that badly priced really and there are offers on in the sports bar for buy one get one free meals each day of the week, which we took advantage of.

Yes additional activities are a little pricy but we all enjoyed the 5 days and will probably be going again next year. I'd go now if I could!
 
Well, got back last Friday from there and had a great time. I have a soon to be 4yo and an 18mth old and they loved it, so if anyone has kids and is looking for a good break (and not breaking the bank) then it is recommended.

Accomodation was a bit dated and tired, but clean and everything worked, quite a bit of space too and beds were comfy. Didnt do much in the way of paid activities - had great weather and just spent it in the play areas, pool and just walking around. The shop on sight is not that expensive, and thought food was pretty reasonable too. All in all a great holiday and will definately be going back again.

Nice as well, was the sign in the pool area saying its fine to take pics as long as they are non intrusive, but no pics in changing area which is fair enough. Good to see in this age of 'people taking pics of kids must be a sex offender'!
 
Good to hear you enjoyed it! Ive been to all except Oasis Windfall. Most recently (last summer) went for a long weeked with the current Mrs Nick_1981 to Sherwood and had a good break. We did eat in the resturants in the evening but for other meals we stocked up from their onsite supermarket.

They are building another in Bedford on the Woburn estate at the moment which means im only about 15 miles away once its open :D
 
The "Nottingham" centre Parks si ten mins from my house, and reported to be bloody good. I actualy deliver in there regularly. Its a real nice place. A lot of the villas have been refurbished over the winter too. Facilities are brilliant .As for the attractions in the area, and the cycling, theres plenty.
 
I work at the outdoor activity Center at Sherwood. Any questions just let me know
 
we are going to longleat in july, i intend to take my camera and a couple of lenses as well as my ipad and wondered if the safe in the lodge is big enough for them to go in.
 
steunited said:
we are going to longleat in july, i intend to take my camera and a couple of lenses as well as my ipad and wondered if the safe in the lodge is big enough for them to go in.
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We've been to longleat twice (a 2 bed cabin and a 3 bed house) and neither had a safe big enough for more than a small body and standard zoom.
 
Went to the Notts one a good long time ago...but it was lovely.
 
Johnd2000 said:
We've been to longleat twice (a 2 bed cabin and a 3 bed house) and neither had a safe big enough for more than a small body and standard zoom.
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thanks i phoned them up and the woman said it should be big enough for a camera and tablet.
i suppose the chances of the lodge being broken into is quite slim.
the only reason i want to take the camera is because we will be going to longleat safari park.
 
Went to the winfell twice last year, either side of our main summer holiday, just for weekends both times. Went in March for little miss wisemens 5th birthday and again in October. Really enjoyed it both times but if you intend to eat out for all meals then it starts to get expensive, but as mentioned previously there are various offers on. We go again in March for another weekend and will be booking to go in October when we get back from that one.
 
We went again this Jan. Lovely time, eating out can add up but the shop is well stocked and reasonable. The sports bar does a bogoff on Tues which is excellent.

Nothing is guaranteed but it is safe there. Leave camera out of sight and lock the door, very slim chance of theft.
 
Been 14 times mainly at New Year. Safe was big enough for 2/3 iPads and my epl2 and a couple of lenses.
 
when we went i took Peanuts in the shell and wild bird seed... we had red squirrels coming into the lodge and eating out of our hands as well as all the other wild life that came to visit.

Oh and i would also say we booked to get a welcome pack. so got bikes and a shopping pack...
 
The wife and I have been several times to Elveden and are just sad we didn't find out about them sooner.

It started with a couple of spa days at the Aqua Sana (which is great if you like your spa) and one day when there we took a walk down to the main complex for dinner. Not long after that we'd booked in to the hotel and haven't looked back since!

In the hotel they do have a fridge so last time we went we took cereal (and bowls/spoons) and had breakfast in the room. Keeps the costs down. You don't have to spend loads on food. We often had a sandwich from Starbucks for lunch and prices are the same as offsite. Restaurants are similarly priced to offsite in my opinion.

We did stay in a villa with friends and kids and found we didn't pay for much else except crazy golf which didn't break the bank! The new water ride at Elveden is ace but no little kids sadly.

Last time we went, last month in fact, we stayed in the hotel again. My brother and family stayed nearby and the wife and I painted pots with my niece and it was cheaper than our local paint a pot place!

My brother stayed in one of the three bed villas and it had a spa bath in but the decor there and in the hotel is a little dated. When we went with friends we stayed in the 'new style' and they were much more modern.

Not sure about the other sites but the hide at Elveden is good for killing a couple of hours and I saw my first treecreeper there too!

Villas are good and I think you are pretty much guaranteed to have deer visit as well as squirrels and birds. We have everytime although some squirrels do come in the house if the peanuts are on show!

Bargains can be had off peak. We were looking to book a 3 bed the other day for £300. In fact, just talking about it I may see if they are still on offer!
 
cambsno said:
Well, got back last Friday from there and had a great time. I have a soon to be 4yo and an 18mth old and they loved it, so if anyone has kids and is looking for a good break (and not breaking the bank) then it is recommended.

Accomodation was a bit dated and tired, but clean and everything worked, quite a bit of space too and beds were comfy. Didnt do much in the way of paid activities - had great weather and just spent it in the play areas, pool and just walking around. The shop on sight is not that expensive, and thought food was pretty reasonable too. All in all a great holiday and will definately be going back again.

Nice as well, was the sign in the pool area saying its fine to take pics as long as they are non intrusive, but no pics in changing area which is fair enough. Good to see in this age of 'people taking pics of kids must be a sex offender'!
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Did the 18 month old get a lot out of it? I'm considering Centreparcs for a short break, our son would be about 20-22 months on the dates i'd consider. At the moment, the only thing I think he'd be interested in would be swimming.
 
Julie1979 said:
Did the 18 month old get a lot out of it? I'm considering Centreparcs for a short break, our son would be about 20-22 months on the dates i'd consider. At the moment, the only thing I think he'd be interested in would be swimming.
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Little Master wisemen was 13 months and 20 months when we went, will be 25 months when we go in March and he loves it. The pool is the obvious way to spend time but he loves riding round on back of mums bike, doing things like treasure trail, enjoying the wildlife, especially the red squirrels and going out to eat. There are also soft play areas to play in an also outdoor play areas.
 
wisemen said:
Little Master wisemen was 13 months and 20 months when we went, will be 25 months when we go in March and he loves it. The pool is the obvious way to spend time but he loves riding round on back of mums bike, doing things like treasure trail, enjoying the wildlife, especially the red squirrels and going out to eat. There are also soft play areas to play in an also outdoor play areas.
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Might give it a go. We took him to Majorca when he was 1 and we're still traumatised! At least he enjoys the car.
 
We had our honeymoon at Longleat back in 1996 and loved it, but we went back perhaps five years ago, and found they had built considerably more accommodation and the whole place just felt over-crowded and looked very tired. We did enjoy ourselves, but it was a big disappointment compared to our first visit, and we felt they were just trying to squeeze in as many people as they could.
 
Julie1979 said:
Did the 18 month old get a lot out of it? I'm considering Centreparcs for a short break, our son would be about 20-22 months on the dates i'd consider. At the moment, the only thing I think he'd be interested in would be swimming.
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Yeah, in the pool liked the toddler area. Lots of play areas in and out too.

Very child friendly place.
 
MadWoman said:
We had our honeymoon at Longleat back in 1996 and loved it, but we went back perhaps five years ago, and found they had built considerably more accommodation and the whole place just felt over-crowded and looked very tired. We did enjoy ourselves, but it was a big disappointment compared to our first visit, and we felt they were just trying to squeeze in as many people as they could.
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We've been to Longleat twice but found the same as you that it gets a bit crowded- now always go to Sherwood (despite it being further) as better laid out, less crowded and the staff are friendlier.
 
How are the activities now? Apart from the pool, we always found everything fully booked up, either by people on the first day or before they arrived.
After that we've not been back. If you fancy something different look at forest holidays. We had squirrels, deer, owls all around our cabin, well spaced out and great accomodation. We were at sherwood this year and there we great outdoor facilities there, plusmgreatbthings in the area.
 
Byker28i said:
How are the activities now? Apart from the pool, we always found everything fully booked up, either by people on the first day or before they arrived.
After that we've not been back..
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yep you are best booking in advance for the more popular activities- we go when it's as busy as it gets and always get to do the things we want by booking in advance. You can always get badminton, table tennis etc. though.
 
Had some very good holidays at Elveden (pre-fire) and Longleat and the kids loved being towed around in the bike trailer things.

The prices really rocketed though once the kids were school age and we could only go during the school holidays so it stopped being good value.
 
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