Center Parcs Bike Hire: Costs & How to Book

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✓Last visited: July 2026

You can hire bikes from the Cycle Centre at every Center Parcs village. Bikes are the easiest way to get around, especially since the village is relatively car-free during your stay.

There are several different bikes available to hire (mountain bikes, electric bikes, kids’ bikes). However, the cost of hiring can be expensive if you’re getting one for everyone in the family.

When I hired bikes at Whinfell Forest in July 2026 I paid £33 online for an adult cycle and £25.50 for a balance bike, each covering the full break.

Exact prices vary depending on:

• When you book (online is cheaper than in person)
• The village you’re staying at
• The duration of the hire (one day is cheaper than a weekend)

Here’s a photo of the in person prices at Whinfell Forest during my visit in July 2026. At the counter an adult cycle was £46 for a weekend or a midweek break and £61 for a full week, against the £33 I paid online.

Do You Need a Bike at Center Parcs?

You don’t need a bike for Center Parcs. However, it can help you get around the village quickly (especially if your lodge sits further out from the activity areas) and can enhance the experience.

Center Parcs villages are spread out. It can take 15 to 20 minutes to walk from an outer lodge to the main activity areas. Having a bike makes getting around significantly quicker and children are far more enthusiastic about cycling between activities than walking.

Unfortunately, bike hire is not cheap. For a family of three or four hiring for a full week the cost can easily exceed £150. On our most recent trip we hired one adult bike with a child seat, with one of us cycling and the other walking or jogging alongside. It worked well and kept the cost down considerably.

If you are unsure as to whether you will use a bike, wait until you arrive and see how you feel. You can hire from the Cycle Centre once you are on site.

A scooter is a practical budget alternative for children. Regular scooters are permitted on designated cycle paths, though not in or around main buildings, and the Cycle Centre at Whinfell sells scooter locks.

For a younger child who cannot ride independently, a child seat or trailer is worth the cost. Trailers are suitable from 6 months and child seats from 12 months.

If you plan to bring a scooter don’t forget to add it to your Center Parcs packing list along with a helmet and any additional safety equipment.

How Much Does Center Parcs Bike Hire Cost?

Bike hire prices vary by village, bike type and length of stay. Center Parcs does not publish exact prices publicly. You can only see the cost once you have an active booking and access to the activity booking page.

Those screenshots are from my own Whinfell Forest booking for a break starting Friday 24 July 2026. An adult cycle came to £33 and a balance bike to £25.50, each covering the whole stay.

Prices for longer stays and specialist bikes such as tandems and electric mountain bikes are higher. All prices vary by village and date and are subject to change.

The best way to save money on bike hire is to add your bikes at the same time as your original accommodation booking.

Center Parcs offers up to 37% off the standard hire price at this point, but the discount is only available at the point of booking accommodation, not as an add-on once your break is already confirmed.

Bringing Your Own Bike to Center Parcs

You are permitted to bring your own bikes to Center Parcs and given the cost of hiring a bike it’s definitely the most cost-effective option.

However, bike theft is a known issue across all five villages, so if you are bringing a bike you care about, bring it inside the lodge overnight rather than leaving it locked outside. The porch or utility area is usually large enough.

During the day, a good lock is essential. Center Parcs recommends a five-star D-Lock. If you don’t have one then you can buy one from the on-site Cycle Centre.

I picked up a basic Bumper Lock for my kids’ bikes for just £5.50 but prices go up to £32 depending on the type.

There are bike parks at the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, restaurants and activity centres across the village.

Electric bikes are permitted provided they are UK-compliant. E-scooters, hoverboards and similar motor-powered equipment are not permitted at any village.

The downside to bringing your own bike is fitting everything in the car alongside luggage, car seats and everything else a family break requires. We take the kids’ bikes since they are smaller and hire adult bikes, which means we avoid needing a bike rack and keep the cost down.

Bike Repairs

If your bike develops a problem during your stay then the Cycle Centre offers a paid repair service. During my visit to Whinfell Forest in July 2026 costs and services available included:

• Brake or gear adjustment: £7.50 each
• Replace brake pads: £10 single wheel, £15 front and rear
• Cable inner replacement: £10 single, £15 front and rear
• Wheel truing: from £7.50
• Inner tube replacement: £10
• Tyre replacement: from £15
• Tube and tyre replacement: from £25
• Chain repair: £10
• New chain: £20 (1-8 speed) or £30 (9-11 speed)

Hiring a Bike at Center Parcs

Center Parcs has a Cycle Centre at every village with a fleet of around 10,000 bikes across all five sites.

The bikes are custom-made Pinnacle models by Evans Cycles, designed specifically for heavy holiday use with durable frames, wider gear ranges and always-on lighting. Each bike hired includes a helmet and bike lock.

Children’s Bikes

Here is the full breakdown of all the children’s bikes available by age and height:

The small and medium bikes are available with or without stabilisers. There are several additional add-ons also available to rent from the Cycle Centre:

• Child seat (ages 12-47 months): fits Center Parcs Traditional Cycles only
• Child trailer (from 6 months): fits standard Center Parcs hired bikes only, not electric or premium cycles. Children can use it until their seated height with helmet reaches the trailer roll bar
• Tag-a-long (ages 5-9, minimum height 1.1m): comes with an adult bike already attached and only fits Center Parcs cycles

If you are unsure which size is right for your child, Cycle Centre staff will help you find the correct fit.

Adult Bikes

Here is the full breakdown of all the adult bikes available by size and height:

• All electric bikes have a minimum age of 14 and do not accept tag-a-longs, trailers or child seats
• The premium electric mountain bike has a maximum weight of 136kg
• The premium mountain bike (GT) has front suspension and hydraulic braking. It’s the best option if you want to use rougher tracks as well as main paths
• The tandem has a minimum age of 14 for both riders

Bike hire covers the full duration of your break. Day rentals are not available, but if you only want a bike for part of your stay the Cycle Centre can arrange a shorter hire in person.

How to Book Center Parcs Bike Hire

There are two ways to hire a bike with Center Parcs:

• Online via the activity booking page
• In person from the Cycle Centre

You can reserve bike hire up to 12 weeks before your arrival date. If you change your mind you can cancel through your Center Parcs account up to 12 hours before the start time for a full refund.

Pre-booked bikes can be collected from 11am to 8pm on arrival day and from 9am to 5pm on every other day. Bikes must be returned between 8am and 10am on your departure day.

If you decide during your visit that you’d like to hire a bike simply visit the on-site Cycle Centre in person where a member of staff will be able to help you.

Accessible Cycling Options at Center Parcs

Center Parcs offers several adapted cycling options for guests with disabilities or additional needs. These must be booked separately from standard bike hire.

• Duet bikes are three-wheeled adapted cycles for one able-bodied cyclist and one wheelchair user. Book via the contact centre on 03448 266200.
• Theraplay Trikes are available at Sherwood Forest specifically. Also book via 03448 266200.
• Tandems are available for guests where one person has a visual impairment.
• Adult tricycles are available for guests who need additional stability.
• Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are also hireable from the Cycle Centre.

All adapted equipment is available on a first-come, first-served basis and availability is limited, so book as soon as your 12-week booking window opens.

Center Parcs Cycle Routes and Village Terrain

Terrain varies significantly across the five UK villages and is worth factoring in when planning, particularly if you are visiting with young children or less confident cyclists.

• Elveden Forest: This is the flattest of the five villages and the most accessible. The compact layout also means distances between facilities are shorter than at other sites, making it the most manageable for families who prefer to walk rather than cycle.
• Sherwood Forest: This village has hills but is more manageable than the hilliest sites. As the largest village, bikes are particularly useful here for covering the distances between activities.
• Whinfell Forest: This village is hilly. It’s also our home village and the one we know best. The terrain adds to the beauty of the setting but means young children may find it more demanding to cycle around than at Elveden.
• Woburn Forest: This is the smallest village, so bikes are less essential there than at larger sites. It does have some steep descents where cyclists are asked to dismount, so choose your lodge location carefully if cycling is important to you.
• Longleat Forest: This is the hilliest of the five villages. It is a spectacular setting but cycling can be hard work, particularly if you are less fit or cycling with young children. However, there is a free Land Train as an alternative.

Each Center Parcs village has its own downloadable cycle route map as a PDF. Download the map for your village before your break and plan a few routes in advance, particularly if you have young children.

Frequently Asked Questions

The same handful of bike questions comes up before every trip, so here are the short answers.