9 Best Alternatives to Center Parcs

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The cost of visiting Center Parcs has increased significantly in recent years. As a longtime visitor who has stayed at multiple villages more than ten times, I understand why so many families are starting to look at alternatives.

The good news is that the popularity of forest and activity-based holidays has created real competition. There are now several excellent alternatives to Center Parcs worth considering, depending on your budget, preferred accommodation style and what you want from a break.

1. Forest Holidays

🗺️ Location: Multiple
💻 Website: ForestHolidays.co.uk

Forest Holidays is the closest like-for-like alternative to Center Parcs. There are currently 13 locations across England, Scotland and Wales, with a 14th at Glentress Forest in the Scottish Borders coming soon.

Almost every cabin comes with its own private hot tub on the decking as standard, which is a significant advantage over Center Parcs where hot tubs are only available on higher-tier lodges. Cabins vary in size, with the largest accommodating up to 10 guests across five bedrooms. Pet-friendly and wheelchair-accessible cabins are also available.

On-site facilities are more limited than Center Parcs. For example, there is no swimming pool at any Forest Holidays location. The activity programme is also smaller, focused mainly on outdoor and nature-based experiences such as bushcraft, wildlife walks and axe throwing. However, all locations are chosen for their proximity to great walking, cycling and local attractions.

If you love the forest setting of Center Parcs but want a quieter, more nature-focused experience with a hot tub included as standard, Forest Holidays is the strongest alternative.

2. Ribby Hall Village

🗺️ Location: Lancashire
💻 Website: RibbyHall.co.uk

Ribby Hall Village is a single holiday village in Lancashire, a short drive from the beaches of Blackpool and the Fylde Coast. Accommodation includes cottages and lodges, the largest of which sleeps up to 14 guests.

On-site facilities include a swimming pool, outdoor playgrounds, a fitness centre and an indoor soft play area. Ribby Hall also has daytime and evening entertainment and three on-site restaurants.

It is one of the most comparable single-site alternatives to Center Parcs in terms of the overall village feel, and the Lancashire location makes it a strong option for families in the north of England.

3. Bluestone

🗺️ Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales
💻 Website: BluestoneWales.com

Bluestone is a single holiday resort set within 500 acres of Pembrokeshire National Park in Wales. Accommodation includes apartments, cottages and lodges, the largest of which sleep up to 12 guests across six bedrooms. Adapted lodges are also available for different accessibility needs.

On-site facilities include the Blue Lagoon Water Park, an indoor-outdoor adventure play area and a spa. The activities programme is comprehensive and includes coasteering, paddleboarding and electric mountain biking forest tours.

4. Parkdean Resorts

🗺️ Location: Multiple
💻 Website: ParkdeanResorts.co.uk

Parkdean Resorts has over 60 locations across the UK, making it one of the largest holiday park operators in the country.

Accommodation options include tent pitches, caravan and camper pitches, static caravans, glamping, cottages, chalets and hotels, making it a strong option if you want to bring your own caravan or campervan.

On-site facilities vary by location but most have an indoor or outdoor swimming pool and a kids’ club. More popular sites also offer activities such as archery and arts and crafts, plus daytime and evening entertainment and a range of dining options.

5. Landal Green Parks

🗺️ Location: Multiple
💻 Website: Landal.co.uk

Landal GreenParks started in the Netherlands and now has 22 UK locations which range from coastal resorts to countryside and forest settings, and no two parks are the same. Accommodation is primarily lodges, with some locations also offering cottages and apartments.

Facilities vary significantly across the portfolio. Some sites have a swimming pool and spa, others focus on outdoor activities such as golf and fishing. If you are considering Landal GreenParks, it is worth checking the specific facilities at your chosen location before booking, as the experience can differ considerably from site to site.

6. Away Resorts

🗺️ Location: Multiple
💻 Website: AwayResorts.co.uk

Away Resorts has 26 locations across the UK, ranging from coastal parks with direct beach access to inland lakeside and woodland sites. Like Parkdean, accommodation options include tent pitches, caravan and camper pitches, static caravans, glamping and lodges, with hot tub lodges available at selected parks.

One practical advantage Away Resorts has over most holiday parks, including Center Parcs, is flexible arrival days. Unlike the fixed Friday or Monday arrivals common elsewhere, Away Resorts allows you to arrive on any day of the week and choose your own length of stay, which can make it significantly easier and cheaper to book around your schedule.

On-site facilities vary by location but many parks have a swimming pool, and some of the larger sites offer an aquapark, axe throwing, watersports and a health club. Tattershall Lakes in Lincolnshire is frequently cited as one of the best holiday parks in the UK, with multiple lakes, watersports, an outdoor lido and an inflatable aquapark.

7. Haven

🗺️ Location: Multiple
💻 Website: Haven.com

Haven is one of the UK’s most established holiday park companies, with more than 30 locations, the majority of which are coastal. We visited Haven Primrose Valley in Yorkshire for the first time with our children last year and were genuinely impressed, particularly by the price difference compared to Center Parcs.

The range of bookable activities at Haven is broadly similar to Center Parcs, but the cost is significantly lower. Activities that would typically cost £7.50 to £12.50 at Center Parcs were priced at £2.50 to £4.50 at Haven. For families doing a full week with children who want to try everything, that difference adds up quickly.

The accommodation is different. You’re staying in a caravan rather than a lodge, which won’t suit everyone. But Haven has the added advantage of being easier to use as a base for exploring the surrounding area. With Center Parcs, leaving and returning to the village involves getting your car in and out, which makes spontaneous trips less appealing.

8. Butlins

🗺️ Location: Multiple
💻 Website: Butlins.com

Butlins was the first holiday camp in the UK, founded in Skegness in 1936. There are currently three Butlins locations in the UK: Bognor Regis in West Sussex, Minehead in Somerset and Skegness in Lincolnshire.

Butlins is less like Center Parcs and more like Haven in that the focus is firmly on entertainment rather than nature. The resort regularly partners with mainstream TV shows and brands throughout the year, with recent partnerships including The Masked Singer, Peppa Pig and Mr Tumble.

Most entertainment at Butlins is included in the price of your break. Additional paid activities include access to the fairground, archery and football training.

9. Darwin Escapes

🗺️ Location: Multiple
💻 Website: DarwinEscapes.co.uk

Darwin Escapes is a collection of 26 holiday resorts across the UK, ranging from luxury lodge retreats and coastal escapes to more traditional family holiday parks. It is one of the lesser-known names on this list but consistently receives strong reviews and offers good value compared to Center Parcs.

Accommodation options include lodges, static caravans, treehouses and boutique hotel suites depending on the location. Seven Darwin Escapes resorts have an indoor swimming pool, and hot tubs are available across much of the portfolio. Many resorts are pet friendly.

Unlike Center Parcs, Darwin Escapes resorts vary significantly in character. Some are quieter lodge retreats focused on relaxation, others are more activity-led with on-site dining and wellness facilities.