Latest news with #holidayvillage
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
One of Europe's biggest theme parks opens new Wild West themed holiday village with wagon huts and cowboy bars
A NEW cowboy themed holiday village has opened at one of Europe's biggest theme parks. Europa-Park - the second biggest theme park in Europe after Disneyland - has added another themed area called Silver Lake City, and it's all about cowboys. 6 6 Inside, visitors can set up camp in the accommodation village called Tipi Town - which has 630 beds. Unlike most holiday villages, here you can sleep in a rustic wagon, or cosy log cabin, so you'll really feel like you're in the wild west. There are also colourful tipi-style tents or western-themed houses. Alternatively, you can camp in your own vehicle in the Europa-Park caravan park or sleep under the stars in your own tent. The new accommodation can sleep from one person all the way up to 16 - if you choose to stay in one of the log cabins. It's set to get even bigger too. In 2026 there will be a new Riverside Western Lodge with 120 rooms. The huge guest house will be open for bookings from November 11, 2025. Also in 2026 will be a new brewery with its very own craft beer. Gold Rush Golf is a mini-golf course across the site - and anyone can have a go. The challenging course has towers, slides and twelve holes to swing into. European theme park where you 'visit' Greece, Spain and Italy in a day has new roller coaster that's the world's steepest 6 6 There's also an adventure playground with a steam train, swimming lake and campfires. On the village site are also four new diners. One is called the Diner Station, which is in a western themed train station. You can even enjoy delights of the buffet in specially designed carriages that have been fitted with tables. There's also the Wild Horse Bar where you can have a tipple of whiskey like a cowboy, or beer and a cocktail too. Silver Lake Saloon serves up hearty North American dishes like steak and barbecue ribs. Finally, there's Cantina Amigo where you can order burritos, chilli and burgers. 6 Europa-Park opened a new year-round pool earlier this year, and it has a huge swim-up bar. You'll find the outdoor pool Svømmepøl in the Rulantica water world, it's 660sqm and sits inside a Nordic-style 'volcanic landscape' and is heated to 32C. The theme park recently celebrated its 50th anniversary where it added a brand new attraction based on its mascots. The Grand Prix EDventure is the equivalent of a ghost train with an interactive gaming element. The park's mice mascots Ed and Edda will be racing, and the ride will be based on the upcoming film, 'Grand Prix of Europe ', a cartoon film that stars Ed and Edda voiced by Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Gemma Arterton. One Travel Writer recently visited, he ventured through the mega theme park with 14 rollercoasters and 100 attractions. He also added that Europa-Park should be known for its thrilling white-knuckle rides.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
First pictures of UK's brand new Center Parcs show off overwater lodges, tropical lazy river and ‘sports loch'
THE first images of what the new Center Parcs holiday village will look like in Scotland have been revealed. Center Parcs has unveiled a flythrough video of its proposed new holiday villag e in the Scottish Borders. 12 12 The video takes viewers on a virtual tour of the site, featuring the arrivals road, waterside lodges, apartments, lochs, Aqua Sana Forest Spa, Subtropical Swimming Paradise, Sports Plaza, and the planned Nature and Heritage Centre. Center Parcs plans to submit a planning application this summer to Scottish Borders Council. The proposed site is located three miles north of Hawick and will feature around 700 lodges. The Scottish village will include a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, retail outlets, bars, restaurants, and signature swimming and spa attractions. The total investment for the new village is estimated at between £350 million and £400 million. Colin McKinlay, CEO of Center Parcs, said: "[There will be a] two kilometre access road that would take you up to the start of the area where we're looking to develop. "You'll be met with a cycle centre, a spa, you'll be able to walk through a forest to an iconic view of our swimming pool consulate with up to about 700 lodges that'll be interspersed within the trees. "Together with a nature centre, a heritage centre, lots of outdoor activities as well." He added: "It's fantastic to share a visual representation of our proposed Scottish village with the local community. "The flythrough video and 3D model really help bring the plans to life and add to the real sense of anticipation that has been evident at recent consultation events. Center Parcs reveals hugenew holiday resort opening in the UK "It's one thing to describe what we're hoping to build, but seeing it laid out visually captures the ambition of what we're planning. "This is about creating a destination that not only brings joy to families but also respects and enhances the local environment. "This has the potential to be a once-in-a-generation investment for the Scottish Borders." If approved, the village will create over a thousand permanent jobs and provide ongoing opportunities for local businesses. 12 12 12 He continued: "[It is] massively exciting. As a proud Scotsman to be able to bring Center Parcs to the Scottish Borders would be really, really exciting. "It's one where I think there's an opportunity for many people in Scotland to enjoy a Center Parcs resort as well as people from England coming up south of the border to enjoy the fabulous scenery in the Scottish Borders as well." McKinlay noted that the response to the project has been positive, with the reception from the people in the Scottish Borders being "fantastic". He also said that the consultation meetings have been a lot about listening to feedback from people who saw the proposed plans. 12 12 12 As a result of the meetings, some changes have been made including moving the position of some of the lodges and where more trees could be planted. "Fingers crossed if we get the planning permission then we would look to open in late spring, early summer of 2029," he concluded. In January, Center Parcs also revealed a new attraction at a UK park, which both kids and adults love. A mum has also revealed the affordable UK holiday park, which she says is like Center Parcs without the price tag. Plus, one of the world's oldest Center Parcs resorts has new farm experience and water playhouse. 12
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Center Parcs reveals flythrough of Scottish site near Hawick
A computer-generated flythrough video of plans for the first Center Parcs holiday village in Scotland has gone on show in the company is holding its fourth and final community consultation in Hawick, ahead of submitting a formal planning application for the £400m Parcs wants to build 700 lodges and accompanying tourist facilities on a site to the north of the town - creating about 1,200 jobs.A two-day open event to see the latest on its plans - including a 3D model - is being held at Hawick Rugby Club. An updated masterplan of the proposed village is being presented along with the flythrough were also set be present on both days to discuss the planning application in the planning application is submitted it will be advertised and comments can be made directly to the council as part of the decision-making process. Plans for the park were first revealed in November last year and there have been a string of public consultation events since have been voiced about the loss of usable farmland and also that visitors to the village might not venture into surrounding has prompted questions about the wider economic benefits for the Borders as a the company has said that many people who book three or four-night stays with them at other sites then go on to "explore the area as well". Colin McKinlay, chief executive of Center Parcs, said it was "fantastic" to share their vision for the site in a new way."The flythrough video and 3D model really help bring the plans to life and add to the real sense of anticipation that has been evident at recent consultation events," he said."It's one thing to describe what we're hoping to build, but seeing it laid out visually captures the ambition of what we're planning."He said the company had worked hard to ensure its proposals reflected the feedback it had received from the community.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- The Sun
Inside abandoned UK Butlin's resort now transformed into £25m holiday village with poolside sauna, arcades & playground
A ONCE-thriving Butlin's resort has been transformed into a £25million coastal holiday village with pools, saunas, an arcade, and spa. Billy Butlin's Filey campsite was once a haven for thousands of post-war Brits hoping for some beachside R&R. 9 9 Nestled between Scarborough and Bridlington in North Yorkshire, Filey pulled in more than 150,000 guests every year. Holidaymakers enjoyed swimming, sunbathing, dancing and amusement arcades at the seaside resort. In the evening, if they hadn't retired to their simple, yet homely chalets, they were treated to entertainment laid out by the famous Red Coats. The Butlin's campsite was so popular that it had its own branch and station on the north east railway - which is still open to this day. Despite its popularity, it was no match for the boom in affordable trips to Spain in the 1970s, and bosses closed it down in 1983. By 2001, it resembled a ghost town with the shells of abandoned cabins and drained swimming pools filled with rubbish. Richard Bailey, a former staff member at Filey, paid the site a visit that year and shared his findings on social media. "I was walking my dog along the beach towards Primrose Valley when I went in search of the remains of the old Butlin's holiday camp whereas an 18 year-old-art student I had worked in the summer holidays of 1968," he wrote. "There was still plenty of evidence of what had once been a holiday camp, including the chalets, fountains and remains of the outdoor and indoor pools." But now there's almost no trace of the original staycation provider at the redeveloped site, which is now called The Bay. The luxury complex has been described as a 'purpose-built holiday village on the clifftops. The first beach house was built in 2012 and in 2021 The Bay expanded to include a new 'Meadows development'. There are around 500 properties on the site, many are rented out by private owners. According to its website: "The developers paid great attention to the look and feel of The Bay, including boules courts, courtyards, grassed areas all around the development to make it a lovely setting. "Gardens are not enclosed partly to make it easier for our gardeners but also makes it a lovely communal holiday village." At the centre of the village is a 20 metre pool with a baby pool and sauna and steam rooms. There's also a gym for those who want to get the blood pumping. The Bay has a beauty room for holidaymakers looking for a bit of pampering, There's a pub on site, which serves food ad drink all day and in a slight nod to Butlins: a family entertainment centre with an arcade. There's even a purpose-built shop selling all the necessities and souvenirs. For kids under the age of 12, there's an adventure playground. Despite its luxurious feel, Filey Bay prides itself on being perfect for those on a budget. For a two-night stay in June, a two-bedroom apartment will cost £380. On the same dates, guests can also stay at the Sea Urchins beach house, which has king-size bedrooms and an open-plan kitchen for £464 . At the other end of the scale, a massive four-bedroom house with a sea view will cost £1,160.28 for two nights in June. 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
