Center Parcs: My Honest Review After 10+ Visits

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I’ve been visiting Center Parcs for the best part of a decade. Sherwood Forest first, then Whinfell Forest repeatedly. First as a couple, then with extended family, then with a baby and now with a toddler. I’ve stayed in standard Woodland Lodges and Forest Lodges, visited in term time and school holidays, in summer and winter.

That breadth of experience is what I’m drawing on here. This isn’t a review of one trip. It’s an honest account of what Center Parcs is actually like across more than ten visits, what has changed, and whether I still think it’s worth it.

The short answer: Center Parcs is still worth it. But I have far more reservations than I did after that first visit in 2014.

What Has Changed Over the Years

The Forest Environment & Village

The forest environment remains the best thing about Center Parcs. Walking out of your lodge into a car-free forest, cycling to the pool or a restaurant, spotting deer from the patio. The environment is genuinely special.

Sherwood Forest is our closest village, but we opt to travel a little further to Whinfell Forest. It sits on the edge of the Lake District with towering Caledonian pines, red squirrels, and a sense of genuine remoteness that the more centrally located villages don’t quite match.

The car-free element is also often underrated. It sounds like a minor convenience, or inconvenience depending on who you ask. But in practice it completely changes the feel of a break.

Children cycle independently, there’s no noise or exhaust fumes, and the pace of life slows in a way that’s hard to replicate at some of the Center Parcs alternatives.

Accommodation

I’ve stayed in both Woodland Lodges and Forest Lodges of various sizes across multiple visits. Back when I first started coming to Center Parcs, the lodges were clean, comfortable and well equipped.

Since 2020 I’ve found repeated cleanliness issues, tired furnishings, and equipment that doesn’t work properly.

This inconsistent quality and maintenance creates a lottery of what condition your lodge might be in regardless of which type of accommodation you choose.

This, together with the ever-increasing price, is the primary reason we’ve opted for Center Parcs alternatives more and more since having children in 2021.

Activities & Facilities

The activity range is one area that Center Parcs has continued to maintain for as long as we’ve been visiting.

The Subtropical Swimming Paradise especially remains excellent. It’s well-maintained, great for all ages and included in every break. Having visited with elderly parents and children, I’ve found this activity in particular works across every age group in a way that few other Center Parcs activities do.

The outdoor activities (aerial trekking, watersports, archery, cycling) are consistently good and the car-free environment makes getting between them easy. The Aqua Sana Forest Spa is outstanding and one of the main reasons my wife and I love to return as parents.

Center Parcs has continued to improve the range of activities in recent years.

Woburn and Whinfell Forest have recently opened an Entertainment Hive with an escape room, interactive shuffleboard, a high-tech batting experience and Puttify mini golf. This directly addresses one of the most common criticisms of Center Parcs, that there isn’t much to do in the evenings.

Unfortunately, the frustration with Center Parcs activities remains the cost. Activity prices have increased significantly and the “example prices” advertised on the Center Parcs website are consistently lower than the actual prices you’ll see once you’ve booked.

Food & Dining

Food and drink at Center Parcs has always been expensive and this continues to be the case. However, the quality of food from the restaurants has become inconsistent, which makes it increasingly hard to justify the high price tag.

Eating out at Center Parcs typically costs between £60 and £80 for a family of four before drinks. On-site drinks are priced at resort rates.

The range of restaurants covers most tastes (American, Indian, Italian and British), though the specific lineup varies by village and has changed over time, so it’s worth checking what’s currently available at your chosen village before you go.

The on-site supermarket is called the ParcMarket. It’s convenient but expensive, so stocking up at a supermarket before you arrive remains one of the most effective ways to save money.

Costs & Value

Center Parcs is and has always been expensive. However, since 2020 the price increases have outpaced the quality improvements.

Having now visited Butlins and Haven as alternatives since having children, the cost disparity is stark. Both offer a broadly comparable family holiday experience at a significantly lower price point.

For a long time, I returned to Center Parcs partly out of familiarity. We knew what to expect, it felt safe, and the forest environment was hard to match.

Now that we’ve experienced alternatives, that logic is harder to sustain. The cost gap is real and the quality gap between Center Parcs and alternatives has narrowed more than the price gap would suggest.

Who Center Parcs Suits Best

Center Parcs is still the right choice if:

• The forest environment and car-free setting genuinely appeal to you
• You have young children and want a safe, self-contained break with no logistics
• The Aqua Sana Forest Spa is a priority
• You’re travelling outside school holidays and can access more reasonable prices
• You want a short three or four night break rather than a full week

Center Parcs is harder to justify if:

• Budget is important, as alternatives offer comparable fun at lower cost
• You’re visiting in peak school holidays given the inflated price
• You’ve been before and found the lodge quality disappointing
• Evening entertainment matters to you, though this is improving

My Verdict

Center Parcs remains a genuinely good holiday. The forest, the pool and the spa are hard to match anywhere in the UK. But I can no longer recommend it as enthusiastically as I once did.

The pandemic marked a turning point for Center Parcs quality that I don’t think the brand has fully recovered from. Lodge maintenance slipped, prices accelerated, and the value proposition that once felt straightforward now requires more justification than it used to.

The price increases haven’t been matched by quality improvements across the board, particularly in accommodation, and having experienced alternatives, the cost gap is harder to ignore than it used to be.

There are encouraging signs. The refurbishment programme, the new evening entertainment at Whinfell and Woburn, and the Scotland expansion all suggest a company that is investing rather than standing still.

If you haven’t been to Center Parcs I’d still recommend going at least once. However, if you’ve been before and are wondering whether to return, the honest answer is that it depends on what you’re going for. The forest and the pool are still worth it. The price tag requires more justification than it once did.