8 Free Things to Do at Center Parcs
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One of the best things about Center Parcs is the number of activities available on-site. However, much like the cost of accommodation, activities can be expensive. The good news is, there are several things to do at Center Parcs that are completely free.
I’ve visited Center Parcs more than ten times across multiple villages, first as a couple and now as a family with young children. These are the free activities we keep coming back to on every trip.
1. Swimming at the Subtropical Swimming Paradise
The Subtropical Swimming Paradise is the best free activity at Center Parcs and the heart of every village. Heated to 29.5°C all year round, it’s open daily from 9am to 8pm and included in the cost of your stay, so you can visit as many times as you like.
Every village has water slides, a wave pool and a dedicated children’s water play area. We typically come here several times during our visit.
A couple of things worth knowing before you go:
- There is a quiet hour at 9am on Wednesdays and Sundays.
- Children aged 4 and under must have one adult per child in the water.
2. Cycling Around the Village
Cycling is the best way to get around a Center Parcs village. The paths are smooth, largely flat and completely car-free, which makes it genuinely relaxing when you have young children with you.
On a recent trip, our children spent hours cycling around the paths near the lodge and through the forest. Since the village is car-free, you can let them ride with far less worry than you would on a normal road.
Bringing your own bikes is by far the cheapest option but if you don’t have any then bike hire is available on-site.
3. The Outdoor Playgrounds
There are several outdoor playgrounds dotted around each Center Parcs village, all free to use and with equipment to suit a range of ages. Each playground is slightly different, so it’s worth exploring all of them across your stay rather than just returning to the nearest one.
The playgrounds are particularly useful on arrival and departure days, when the number of bookable activities available is limited.
4. Spot the Carved Wooden Animals
A lovely free activity for young children is spotting the carved wooden animals around the village. Some are carved into old logs, others have been turned into benches or sculptures along the paths.
We’ve incorporated this into a family walk around the Center Parcs village with our children several times and they absolutely love hunting them out.
There’s no official map or list for each village, which makes it all the more exciting to find them.
5. The Beach
Each Center Parcs village has a small sandy beach area around the lake. Bring a bucket and spade and young children will happily spend hours here, particularly in summer. Our children would happily spend an entire afternoon here given the chance.
6. Picnic & Walk Around the Lake
Walking around the lake is one of our favourite Center Parcs traditions. The lake is the focal point of every village and the walk around it is peaceful and easy, particularly lovely in the evening as it gets quieter. With young children it doubles up nicely as a way to burn off energy before bed.
The picnic areas around the lake are free to use and a great alternative to eating out or cooking in the lodge. Pack a picnic from the food you’ve brought from home (another good reason to stock up at the supermarket before you arrive) and make the most of the lakeside setting.
If you’re visiting Longleat Forest specifically, the free land train runs every 20 minutes around the village from 8am to 11pm, a handy option when little legs are tired.
7. Spot the Wildlife
Center Parcs villages are home to an array of wildlife. On our trips we’ve regularly spotted:
- Red & grey squirrels
- Deer
- Ducks
- Moorhens
- Wide variety of birds
Early morning and dusk are the best times to see the more elusive animals, with deer in particular tending to appear at the edges of the forest when it’s quieter.
We always add bird feed and a clear window bird feeder to our Center Parcs packing list so we can watch the birds from inside the lodge. It’s something our children absolutely love and costs next to nothing.
Just be mindful that you’re in a nature reserve, so stick to appropriate bird feed and avoid feeding animals like squirrels or deer, which Center Parcs actively discourages.
8. Board Games in the Lodge
Center Parcs lodges don’t include board games, so unless you’re staying in a lodge with a games room it’s worth adding a couple to your packing list. These are great for a rainy afternoon as a family, or on an evening as a couple.
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Thanks for stopping by! Do you have experience with this trip or want to share some of your own tips? We’d love to hear about it! Comment below and let’s chat!