Overpriced Center Parcs is dead to me – these UK holiday parks are so much better and cheaper
PARKS AWAY Overpriced Center Parcs is dead to me – these UK holiday parks are so much better and cheaper
CENTER PARCS is a firm favourite among British parents, thanks to its mix of nature, family-friendly activities and weather-proof offerings - but the price of a week-long break during school holidays has rocketed in recent years.
As a result, many UK families are on the hunt for a break that recreates the forest feel, outdoor activities and pool paradise we all love, but without busting the holiday budget.
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Center Parcs is a massive hit with British parents - but there's so many alternative holiday parks which will save you HUNDREDS
Credit: Getty
I've checked out dupe destinations far and wide - with luxury lodges, amazing on-site swimming and traffic-free paths through nature.
Swapping your staycation could slash your accommodation costs by half if you choose the right location and date, as well as bagging similar activities for a fraction of the price.
Here's a few of my family favourites and how they compare to Center Parcs.
I've priced up staying as a family of four for four nights at the end of August in the cheapest accommodation at each of the five Center Parcs locations in England, compared to lodges or the closest equivalent at their competitors.
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If you're looking to save further, most of the rival sites also had cheaper rooms or caravans available.
Bluestone
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Bluestone National Park Resort in Wales
Credit: Supplied
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A family cycling at Bluestone National Park resort holiday vacation centre
Credit: Alamy
The closest we've come to finding something similar to Center Parcs in the UK was on our trip to Bluestone in Wales.
The boys loved swimming in the Blue Lagoon pool and taking on the Skywalk high ropes course in the open-sided Serendome.
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Meanwhile I loved relaxing in the upside-down lodge with a sunroom that converts into a balcony, for views over the rolling countryside.
We also loved whizzing around the site on a golf buggy.
If a trip to Aqua Sana spa is a key part of any Center Parcs trip for you, you can find a thermal suite and treatments at the Well Spa at Bluestone.
Access to the spa is about £30 for two hours, compared to a twilight spa for four hours at Center Parcs from £79.
With so much to do at Bluestone, it's no surprise that it's not cheap in the school holidays, although still a saving compared to the closest Center Parcs site.
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Longleat Center Parcs: £1599
Bluestone: £1300
Away Resorts
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Away Resorts Tattershall Lakes in Lincolnshire has an inflatable aqua park
Credit: Away resorts
If lakeside lodges spread out beneath the trees float your boat, head to Away Resorts Tattershall Lakes in Lincolnshire.
The Lakeside Activity Centre offers kayaks, canoes and paddle boards for hire, with prices from £18 - similar to the starting point for watersports at Center Parcs.
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There's also an inflatable aqua park here that costs from £23 per participant.
To make the most of the lakeside location, there's a wooden playground and outdoor stage overlooking the water outside the entertainment hub, as well as a large lido nearby.
If you don't like having to pay for all the added extras at Center Parcs, be aware that there's a similar set-up here.
You can swim free at the lido or the indoor pool and splashpad, but other activities like festive shows in the Spiegeltent and crafts for kiddies tend to have an additional cost.
Center Parcs Sherwood Forest: £1449
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Tattershall Lakes lodge: £844
Butlin's
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Butlins's Bongor funfair-inspired pool will be a hit with the kids
Credit: PA:Press Association
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The holiday park even has a zipwire and lots more immersive activities
Credit: Butlin's
If you're not bothered about staying in the forest, but like swimming in the outdoor rapids and the new Entertainment Hive and Gamebox at Woburn Forest, give Butlin's Bognor a go.
The funfair-inspired pool has rapids and slides galore, while the nearby Playxperience offers immersive activities similar to the digidarts, shuffleboard and indoor crazy golf on offer at the Entertainment Hive, but with more options to choose from.
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Both golf activities cost around £8 per person, while shuffleboard is about £10 per person for 55 minutes at Center Parcs, but only £16 per board for up to eight people for an hour at Butlin's.
If eating out is all part of your staycay vibe, you can swap Huck's American Bar and Grill, Cafe Rouge, Bella Italia or Sports Cafe at Center Parcs for Papa John's, Burger King and the Diner or the Beachcomber Inn at Butlin's.
But if you're looking for a laid-back stay in nature, then Butlin's, with its many shows and entertainment venues included in the price, might not be for you.
Center Parcs Woburn Forest: £1449
Butlin's Bognor: £737
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Haven
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Haven's only inland site - Wild Duck in Norfolk - has a serious Center Parcs vibe
Credit: Haven
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One big difference is the pool facilities - you can only swim for an hour at a time at Haven
Credit: Haven
We were wowed when we headed to Haven's only inland site - Wild Duck in Norfolk, as the accommodation spread through woodland.
As a result, the entertainment hub, pool and eateries in the heart of the resort really gave us that Center Parcs vibe.
If you love to hire bikes to ride around under the trees, this could be the spot for you.
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An adult bike can be hired at Haven for £10 per half day, compared to about £20 for an adult bike for a day at Center Parcs.
You do need to be aware that the road system around Haven is not traffic-free, as cars are parked next to your accommodation, unlike at Center Parcs, when vehicles stay in a dedicated car park away from the lodges other than on changeover days.
One big difference is the pool facilities - you can only swim for an hour at a time at Haven and the pools are generally much smaller, so it's recommended to prebook a slot.
Wild Duck has a slide and a toddler splash area at its indoor pool, as well as a lido elsewhere on site, but water babies will prefer the Center Parcs offering.
Center Parcs Elveden Forest: £1549
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Wild Duck lodge: £1049
Center Parcs in Ireland and Europe
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A little-known option that you might overlook is heading to the only Center Parcs in Ireland
Credit: PA:Press Association
If you've got your heart set on a Center Parcs stay, it might be best to look further afield to see what suits your bank balance.
We've saved hundreds when visiting Center Parcs in the Netherlands and Belgium, especially if the European school holidays don't coincide with ours.
August isn't a great time for the swap as most Europeans take a holiday then, so prices abroad aren't much different from those here.
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But a little-known option that you might overlook is heading to the only Center Parcs in Ireland.
Longford Forest, an hour and a half west of Dublin, only opened in 2019 and boasts Ireland's largest water park.
As Irish schools have longer summer holidays than elsewhere, many families take a summer break at the start of July when it's cheaper, so prices start to drop toward the end of August.
If you're looking for a Center Parcs stay with a difference, this could be an excellent option for exploring Ireland as it's in the middle of the country.
Center Parcs Whinfell Forest: £1299
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Center Parcs De Haan, Belgium: 1650€ (£1400)
Longford Forest 1299€ (£1100)
So whether it's leafy locations, pedal power or sauna sessions that you're looking for, trying something different this summer could be the key to saving cash while having family fun in the sun.
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