Centre Parcs

As a family we are serious fans of centre parcs and by a split majority this is the favourite of the uk versions.
So Centre Parcs is a family holiday park based in the middle of a forest with a giant leisure pool at the centre along with a sports centre, spa, water facilities and access to practically every sport you could wish for. A mixture of restaurants and bars are dotted around the place and a lake offers a mix of water sports. There is a fairly expensive supermarket with some local produce — we normally take food with us,
For your money you get a detached villa, rather cleverly designed so you have your own private space — they are mostly modern and well equipped, with good kitchens and plenty of space and free access to the pool. Wildlife on your doorstep — rabbits, deer and ducks Middle class parents cycling around to do sports with their kids…
Everything else you book and pay for just like a leisure centre. The whole place runs smoothly — the pool is great. The best indoor pool in the UK that we have sampled — and we visit a lot. Separate review for that…
and also the best water slide in the UK — The Tropical Cyclone — a brand new £4 million slide — great fun. Sampling this new slide was the driver for our visit. Separate review for that…
Expensive during school holidays but out of season you can get some great mid week deals. A must to visit for the pool and slide alone — everything else is a bonus. With kids or with friends and family a great place to have a lot of fun.

No matter what the weather is you cannot fail to find something to entertain any member of the family here. The swimming pool is out of this world. There is an amazing childrens section where they have two pool, one for toddlers and one for 4 – 8 year olds with a little slide that the kids love. The main pool has a wave machine and a lazy river type section too! Along with plenty of slides, and an outdoor salt pool. There is also plenty of places to sit around the pool and loads of playpens to put younger ones in to sleep. The place is warm and the staff are so friendly. They are always updating the area too so now there is a starbucks and a pancake house!
The villas are beautifully set among the forest and are really private although there are plenty of them. The villas near the lake are the best in my opinion and the ducks seem to think they live in them too and often pop in if you leave the door open!
To get around you mainly cycle, hire of bikes is expensive but it has to be done! There are plenty of bike parks nearby the main centre and lovely bike rides to go on. Cars are only allowed on site on Mondays and Fridays which are arrival an departure days so the place is really safe for children.
We have visited this place loads and still want to go back again! I love it and could go on about it all day!

Terrific fun and excitement for the whole family whether it’s raining, sunny, hot, cold, snowing or tuesday. we’ve been to all the Parcs in all weathers and it doesn’t matter.
Eleveden in Thetford Forest was great as it’s flat so the best place for children’s bikes and pushing pushchairs — compare to centre Pacrcs at Longleat which is beautiful and brilliant but so, so hilly!
The sub tropical paradise is marvellous as well as the outdoors stuff — my children particularly enjoyed the high ropes and adventure activities as well as cricket, football, cycling and so on. endless list.
Doing so much can add up in cost but you can always eat most of your meals in your villa — needn’t take long to have fresh pasta etc and it’ll cut down the costs.
Enjoy