Center Parcs Bike Hire – Everything You Need to Know

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Cycling is one of the best parts of a Center Parcs break. The villages are largely car-free during your stay, the paths are well maintained and children can ride around freely without traffic to worry about.

We have visited Center Parcs more than ten times across multiple villages and we have brought or hired bikes on every trip.

Bringing Your Own Bike to Center Parcs

Bringing your own bike is the most cost-effective option.

However, bike theft is a known issue across all five villages, so if you are bringing a bike you care about, bring it inside the lodge overnight rather than leaving it locked outside. The porch or utility area is usually large enough.

During the day, a good lock is essential. Center Parcs recommends a five-star D-Lock, which you can borrow from the Cycle Centre on a refundable deposit if you don’t have one.

There are bike parks at the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, restaurants and activity centres across the village. Always lock your bike when you leave it. Center Parcs also recommends obtaining adequate insurance for any personal bike you bring.

Before you travel, do a basic maintenance check on brakes, tyres and gears. If you get a puncture or a mechanical problem during your stay, the Cycle Centre mechanics are on hand to help, including with personal bikes brought from home.

Electric bikes are permitted provided they are UK-compliant. E-scooters, hoverboards and similar motor-powered equipment are not permitted at any village.

The downside to bringing your own bike is fitting everything in the car alongside luggage, car seats and everything else a family break requires. We take the kids’ bikes since they are smaller and hire adult bikes, which means we avoid needing a bike rack and keep the cost down. It’s the perfect compromise.

Hiring a Bike at Center Parcs

Center Parcs has a Cycle Centre at every village and a hire fleet of around 10,000 bikes across all five sites. The bikes are custom-made Pinnacle models by Evans Cycles, designed specifically for heavy holiday use with durable frames, wider gear ranges and always-on lighting.

Children’s bikes

Here is the full breakdown of all the children’s bikes available by age and height:

Bike	Wheels	Age	Height
Balance bike
Small	12″	Ages 3–5	From 90cm
Medium	16″	Ages 5–7	From 1.1m
Large	20″	Ages 7–9	117–135cm
Extra large	24″	Ages 8–11	127–149cm

All bikes come with a free helmet. The small and medium bikes are available with or without stabilisers.

Add-ons

There are several add-ons also available to rent from the Cycle Centre:

• Child seat (ages 12–47 months): fits Center Parcs Traditional Cycles only
• Child trailer (from 6 months): fits standard Center Parcs hired bikes only, not electric or premium cycles. Children can use it until their seated height with helmet reaches the trailer roll bar
• Tag-a-long (ages 5–9, minimum height 1.1m): comes with an adult bike already attached and only fits Center Parcs cycles

If you are unsure which size is right for your child, Cycle Centre staff will help you find the correct fit.

Adult bikes

Here is the full breakdown of all the adult bikes available by size and height:

Bike	Size	Height
Traditional	Small	Under 1.65m
Traditional	Medium	1.65m–1.75m
Traditional	Large	Minimum 1.75m
Mountain bike	Small	1.50m–1.65m
Mountain bike	Medium	1.65m–1.75m
Mountain bike	Large	Minimum 1.75m
Premium mountain bike (GT)
Electric traditional	Small–medium	155cm–175cm
Electric mountain bike	Small–medium	155cm–175cm
Premium electric mountain bike	Small–medium	165cm–178cm
Tandem
Adult tricycle

• All electric bikes have a minimum age of 14 and do not accept tag-a-longs, trailers or child seats
• The premium electric mountain bike has a maximum weight of 136kg
• The premium mountain bike (GT) has front suspension and hydraulic braking. It’s the best option if you want to use rougher tracks as well as main paths
• The tandem has a minimum age of 14 for both riders

Helmets are included free of charge with every hire. The Cycle Centre also stocks accessories including protective gear, water bottles, lights and gloves, available to buy or hire. Prices for accessories at the Cycle Centre are higher than you would pay elsewhere so bring your own from home if possible.

Bike hire covers the full duration of your break. Day rentals are not available, but if you only want a bike for part of your stay the Cycle Centre can arrange a shorter hire in person.

Accessible Cycling Options at Center Parcs

Center Parcs offers several adapted cycling options for guests with disabilities or additional needs. These must be booked separately from standard bike hire.

• Duet bikes are three-wheeled adapted cycles for one able-bodied cyclist and one wheelchair user. Book via the contact centre on 03448 266200.
• Theraplay Trikes are available at Sherwood Forest specifically. Also book via 03448 266200.
• Tandems are available for guests where one person has a visual impairment.
• Adult tricycles are available for guests who need additional stability.
• Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are also hireable from the Cycle Centre.

All adapted equipment is available on a first-come, first-served basis and availability is limited, so book as soon as your 12-week booking window opens.

How Much Does Center Parcs Bike Hire Cost?

Bike hire prices vary by village, bike type and length of stay. Center Parcs does not publish exact prices publicly. You can only see the cost once you have an active booking and access to the activity booking page.

As a guide, approximate current prices for a short midweek or weekend break are:

• Adult bike: approximately £45
• Child’s bike: approximately £35

Prices for longer stays and specialist bikes such as tandems and electric mountain bikes will be higher. All prices vary by village and date and are subject to change.

The best way to save money on bike hire is to add your bikes at the same time as your original accommodation booking.

Center Parcs offers up to 37% off the standard hire price at this point, but the discount is only available at the point of booking accommodation, not as an add-on once your break is already confirmed.

How to Book Center Parcs Bike Hire

There are two ways to hire a standard bike:

• Online via the activity booking page, available from 12 weeks before your arrival date and up to 24 hours before arrival
• In person from the Cycle Centre on arrival or during your stay

Booking in advance is strongly recommended, particularly during school holidays and busy periods.

If you pre-book bikes and change your mind, you can cancel through your Center Parcs account up to 12 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancelling within 12 hours of the start time incurs a 50% charge. If you booked via the contact centre, call 03448 267723 to cancel.

Center Parcs Cycle Routes

Each Center Parcs village has its own downloadable cycle route map as a PDF. Download the map for your village before your break and plan a few routes in advance, particularly if you have young children.

Village Cycling Terrain: What to Expect

Terrain varies significantly across the five UK villages and is worth factoring in when planning, particularly if you are visiting with young children or less confident cyclists.

Elveden Forest: This is the flattest of the five villages and the most accessible. The compact layout also means distances between facilities are shorter than at other sites, making it the most manageable for families who prefer to walk rather than cycle.

Sherwood Forest: This village has hills but is more manageable than the hilliest sites. As the largest village, bikes are particularly useful here for covering the distances between activities.

Whinfell Forest: This village is hilly. It’s also our home village and the one we know best. The terrain adds to the beauty of the setting but means young children may find it more demanding to cycle around than at Elveden.

Woburn Forest: This is the smallest village, so bikes are less essential there than at larger sites. It does have some steep descents where cyclists are asked to dismount, so choose your lodge location carefully if cycling is important to you.

Longleat Forest: This is the hilliest of the five villages. It is a spectacular setting but cycling can be hard work, particularly for less fit guests or families with young children. However, there is a free Land Train as an alternative.

Do You Need a Bike at Center Parcs?

You don’t need a bike at Center Parcs. But it can help. Especially if your lodge is located on the outskirts of the village.

Center Parcs villages are spread out. It can take 15 to 20 minutes to walk from an outer lodge to the main activity areas. Having a bike makes getting around significantly quicker and children are far more enthusiastic about cycling between activities than walking.

That said, bike hire is not cheap. For a family of three or four hiring for a full week the cost can easily exceed £150. On our most recent trip we hired one adult bike with a child seat, with one of us cycling and the other walking or jogging alongside. It worked well and kept the cost down considerably.

If you are unsure as to whether you will use a bike, wait until you arrive and see how you feel. You can hire from the Cycle Centre once you are on site. A few other options worth considering:

• Bring your own bike if you have one, as it is almost always cheaper than hiring, particularly for longer stays
• Consider bringing a scooter for children as a practical budget alternative. Regular scooters are permitted on designated cycle paths, though not in or around main buildings. The Cycle Centre at Whinfell sells scooter locks if you need one
• If you have a younger child who cannot ride independently, a child seat or trailer is worth the cost. Trailers are suitable from 6 months and child seats from 12 months

If you plan to bring a scooter don’t forget to add it to your Center Parcs packing list along with a helmet and any additional safety equipment.