Which UK Center Parcs Village is Best?

There are five Center Parcs villages in the UK, and choosing between them isn’t always straightforward.

I’ve visited several of the UK villages multiple times over the past six years, first as a couple and now as a family with young children, and have researched all five in depth to help you decide which is right for you.

The honest answer to “which is best” is that it depends on where you live, what you’re looking for and what you’re willing to spend. But there are real differences between the five villages worth knowing before you book.

Quick Reference: Which Village Suits You?

• Best for value: Whinfell Forest
• Best for families with young children: Elveden Forest
• Best for the north of England and Scotland: Whinfell Forest
• Best for the Midlands and Yorkshire: Sherwood Forest
• Best for London and the south east: Woburn Forest
• Best for the West Country: Longleat Forest
• Best for East Anglia: Elveden Forest
• Best swimming pool: Longleat Forest
• Newest and most modern: Woburn Forest
• Most expensive: Longleat Forest

What’s the Same Across All Five Villages

All five Center Parcs villages follow the same format. Regardless of which you choose, you’ll find:

• Subtropical Swimming Paradise
• Aqua Sana spa
• Watersports lake and beach
• Restaurants and bars
• Hundreds of bookable activities
• Self-catering lodges in a woodland setting

The differences come down to price, location, setting, terrain and a handful of village-specific features.

Whinfell Forest, Cumbria

Best for: value, nature lovers, north of England and Scotland

Whinfell Forest is my personal favourite and the village I’d recommend to most people. It’s consistently the cheapest of the five UK villages and scores marginally the highest in combined guest reviews at around 88%, compared to an average of 85% for the other four.

Whinfell sits on the edge of the Lake District in Cumbria, surrounded by Caledonian pine woodland. Of all five villages, it feels the most remote and immersed in nature.

Whinfell is the most northerly of the five UK villages, making it best suited to guests in Scotland and the north of England. It’s our favourite village but personally I wouldn’t drive more than three hours to get there. At that point one of the more centrally located villages makes more practical sense.

Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

Best for: central location, Midlands and Yorkshire

Sherwood Forest is the original UK Center Parcs village which opened back in 1987. This village is the most centrally located and is therefore the most accessible option for guests in the West Midlands, East Midlands and Yorkshire.

We’ve stayed at Sherwood Forest multiple times but have often found that the Woodland Lodges in particular are more dated and worn when compared to Whinfell.

As such, I only choose to visit Sherwood Forest instead of Whinfell if it’s significantly cheaper, which is often not the case as Sherwood typically sits in the mid-price range across the five villages.

Elveden Forest, Suffolk

Best for: families with young children, East Anglia, flat terrain

Elveden Forest in Suffolk is widely regarded as one of the best villages for families with younger children. The terrain is notably flat compared to Longleat and Woburn, making it easy to navigate with bikes, buggies and toddlers.

It’s also home to the longest zip wire of all five UK villages and the exclusive Waterside Lodges, which sit directly on the water’s edge and are unlike anything else Center Parcs offers in the UK.

Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire

Best for: London and the south east, modern facilities, compact layout

Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire is the newest UK village, opening in 2014, and is set just an hour from London. However, its close proximity to the capital is reflected in the price, with Woburn sitting at the higher end of the five villages alongside Longleat.

It’s also a more compact site at 365 acres compared to the 400 acres of the other villages, which makes it easy to navigate, particularly useful with young children.

The newer build means the lodges and facilities are the most modern of the five. It’s also got the largest Subtropical Swimming Paradise and is home to a unique Mineral Room at its Aqua Sana spa.

Longleat Forest, Wiltshire

Best for: the West Country, swimming, scenic views

Longleat Forest in Wiltshire is the go-to choice for guests in the south and West Country. It’s frequently cited as having one of the best Subtropical Swimming Paradises of all five villages, with outdoor Wild Water Rapids that are unique to this village.

The free land train runs every 20 minutes around the village, which is particularly useful given the hilly layout. Meanwhile, the Escape Room activity is exclusive to Longleat.

The main drawback is price. Longleat is consistently one of the most expensive of the five UK villages when comparing like-for-like breaks.

Final Thoughts

For most people, the right Center Parcs village comes down to location first and budget second. Choosing the village closest to you means less time in the car and more time in the forest, and since the core experience is consistent across all five, proximity often matters more than any other factor.

The quick reference guide at the top of this post covers the key recommendations by location and need, but if you’re still unsure, the village closest to you is almost always the right starting point.