Center Parcs New Year: Is It Worth It?

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New Year is one of the most popular times to visit Center Parcs, and one of the most expensive.

I’ve been to Center Parcs more than ten times in the past six years, but I’ve never been over New Year. I did consider it last year and researched it thoroughly in the process, but found the value for money wasn’t right for me as I’d left it too late to get the best prices.

Entertainment & Activities

New Year at Center Parcs is part of the Winter Wonderland period, which runs from late November through to early January. The specific New Year highlights include:

New Year’s Eve dinner: Most villages offer a special three-course meal with live music on New Year’s Eve. At Woburn Forest & Sherwood Forest, a gala evening at The Venue is available, including dinner and entertainment. These need to be booked well in advance and sell out quickly.

Children’s New Year’s Eve Party: A dedicated children’s party runs in the Activity Den on New Year’s Eve, which is a useful option for families with young children who won’t make it to midnight.

New Year’s Day Fun Run: A one-mile route around the village on New Year’s Day, with prizes and certificates. A small fee is donated to charity.

The Enchanted Light Garden: The winter light installations are included with your stay and run throughout the New Year period, giving the forest a magical atmosphere after dark.

The Subtropical Swimming Paradise: Open daily throughout the New Year period, including New Year’s Day, heated to 29.5°C.

Crowds & What to Expect

New Year is one of the busiest periods of the year at Center Parcs. The site will be at or near capacity, which has practical implications worth knowing about before you book.

First, activities. With a limited number of activities available on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, options book up quickly and the Subtropical Swimming Paradise gets very busy.

The same goes for restaurants. Tables are reserved well in advance, especially for the New Year’s Eve dinner which you’ll need to book as soon as the 12-week window opens.

The evening entertainment options beyond the organised dinner are limited. Bars and restaurants close around midnight, and outside of the booked events there isn’t a great deal on offer for adults who want to celebrate beyond their lodge.

For families with young children this is less of an issue. The lodge, the hot tub and a quiet night in work well. For adults expecting a lively New Year’s Eve atmosphere, it can feel anticlimactic.

Costs & Value

New Year is one of the most expensive times to visit Center Parcs. A three-night break (typically 30 December to 2 January) in a standard Woodland Lodge for a family of four will typically cost in the region of £1,500 when booked several months in advance.

As availability reduces closer to the date, prices increase further, with some premium lodges reaching between £2,799 and £5,299.

Is It Worth the Premium?

If you book early, you’ll get the best available price, and at that point the New Year premium is more manageable. However, if you’re booking last minute, where availability is much lower and prices are higher, it becomes more important to think carefully about what you want from a New Year break.

If your priority is a cosy, low-key family celebration in a beautiful setting (the lodge, the light installations, a special dinner and the pool on New Year’s Day), Center Parcs genuinely delivers.

The atmosphere during the Winter Wonderland period is special, the children’s New Year’s Eve party is a practical solution for families with young kids, and the forest setting feels genuinely festive.

But if you’re looking for a big celebration with fireworks, late-night entertainment and a buzzing atmosphere, Center Parcs will disappoint. The site is quiet by design, evening entertainment is limited, and the absence of fireworks is a genuine consideration for those who associate New Year’s Eve with a countdown and a show.

Practical Tips & Booking Advice

Book as early as possible: New Year breaks sell out months in advance and the most popular lodges go first.

Book the New Year’s Eve dinner early: It sells out quickly and is one of the main draws of the break. Book as soon as the 12-week window opens.

Pre-book all activities: Activity availability at New Year is tighter than any other time of year. Have your plan ready before the 12-week window opens.

Stock the lodge for New Year’s Eve: On-site options are limited late at night and the ParcMarket is expensive. Bring your own food and drinks.

Consider whether you need New Year specifically: The Winter Wonderland period runs from late November through to early January. A break in early December or the first week of January will have a similar atmosphere at a considerably lower price.