Center Parcs Price Guide: How Much Does It Actually Cost?

Center Parcs is one of the UK’s most popular short break destinations – but it’s also one of the most difficult to budget for. The accommodation price you see when booking is just the starting point, and between activities, food and extras, the total cost of a break can vary significantly.

I’ve been visiting Center Parcs for the best part of a decade and have spent a lot of time tracking what things actually cost. This guide breaks down the total cost of visiting, not just the cost of your accommodation.

Party type	Term time / School holidays	Midweek / Weekend	Estimated total
Couple	Term time	Midweek	£550 – £700
Couple	Term time	Weekend	£650 – £800
Couple	School holidays	Weekend	£850 – £1,000
Couple	School holidays	Midweek	£1,000 – £1,200
Family of 3	Term time	Midweek	£550 – £750
Family of 3	Term time	Weekend	£650 – £850
Family of 3	School holidays	Weekend	£900 – £1,100
Family of 3	School holidays	Midweek	£1,100 – £1,400
Family of 4	Term time	Midweek	£600 – £800
Family of 4	Term time	Weekend	£700 – £900
Family of 4	School holidays	Weekend	£1,200 – £1,600
Family of 4	School holidays	Midweek	£1,600 – £2,000+

The lodge price you see when booking includes:

• Unlimited access to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise
• Use of the forest, cycling trails and outdoor playgrounds

Everything else is an additional cost — for the full breakdown see my what’s included in a Center Parcs break guide.

Accommodation

Accommodation is the single biggest cost of a Center Parcs break, and the price varies significantly depending on:

• Lodge type
• Village
• Time of year
• Duration – weekend, midweek or 7 night break

Based on my most recent bookings at Sherwood Forest and Whinfell — both booked well in advance for the cheapest available two-bedroom Woodland Lodge – here’s what you can typically expect to pay:

Duration	Term time	School holidays
Weekend (3 nights, Fri–Mon)	~ £700	~£830 – £880
Midweek (4 nights, Mon–Fri)	~ £500	~£1,289 – £1,329

I’ve found that during school holidays, the midweek break is significantly more expensive than the weekend — booking well in advance is the best way to keep costs down.

Prices also vary across the five Center Parcs villages — Whinfell Forest in Cumbria tends to be the most affordable, while Woburn Forest and Longleat are typically at the higher end.

For premium accommodation, prices rise considerably. Exclusive Lodges come with a private hot tub, sauna and games room and cost significantly more than a standard Woodland Lodge. At the top end, Treehouses can cost over £7,000 for a week during peak season.

Activities

On a recent family trip to Sherwood Forest, our activity booking total came to £199 – and that was without any of the bigger outdoor adventures or watersports.

Activities are where Center Parcs costs can escalate quickly, and it’s worth knowing that the “example” prices published on the Center Parcs website are often lower than the actual prices you’ll see once you’ve booked. The only way to see real prices for your specific stay is to log in after booking.

With that in mind, here are real activity prices from that trip:

Children’s activities:

• Mucky Pups: £13 per space
• Sensory Play Toddlers: £10 per space
• Football Fun Factory for Tots: £11 per space
• Mini Musical Movers: £9 per space
• Chestnut’s Picnic: £15 per space

Cycling (per break hire):

• Adult mountain bike: £42
• Children’s cycle (large): £31
• Balance bike: £31
• Child seat (12–47 months): £21

Spa:

• Aqua Sana spa day: from £69 per person
• Individual treatments (e.g. Face & Body VOYA Tranquil Delight): £99

For a full breakdown of what activities are available and what they cost, see my Center Parcs activities guide.

Food & Drink

The cost of food and drink at Center Parcs varies significantly depending on how much you self-cater versus eat out.

One of the easiest ways to save money at Center Parcs is by bringing your own food rather than buying it from the on-site ParcMarket which is priced at a premium. Eating out at one of the on-site restaurants for a family of four can easily come to £60 – £80 per meal.

A middle ground worth knowing about is the Restaurant Runner lodge delivery service, which allows you to order for food delivered to your lodge from:

• Rajinda Pradesh
• Pizzarrivo
• Pinch of Asia

From our own order, a shared starter, one main and a side came to £28.35 for two people including a £3.95 delivery fee. For a full breakdown of dining options and prices, see my Center Parcs restaurants guide.