Centre Parcs, Butlins or other?

[Stu-nph26]

Looking to book a family holiday for the wife and I, and my 18 months old some time in March.

Never been anywhere like Centre Parcs or Butlins are they decent for a week away?

Any alternatives PH would suggest? TIA!

[eliot]

Went to Butlins in Bognor for a music weekender - I was pretty impressed with the place to be fair, nice indoor pool too.
Been to CP Woburn, nice but like all CP’s ruinously expensive out of term time.

[Stu-nph26]

eliot said:

Went to Butlins in Bognor for a music weekender - I was pretty impressed with the place to be fair, nice indoor pool too.
Been to CP Woburn, nice but like all CP’s ruinously expensive out of term time.

Yeah Butlins looks way cheaper almost too good to be true

[scenario8]

Butlins, Bognor Regis, is an entirely acceptable place to spend a long weekend with an 18 month child. Big “tent” with fare rides etc, an awesome soft play centre, live shows, petting zoo and the like. A very good swimming pool type place. Good enough Harvester type food pubs/restaurants as well as KFC etc. Very family friendly and few if any kids in their late moody teens. You could spend a weekend and barely notice the weather (which could be dicey in March) but if it’s pleasant enough outside the beach is literally “just there”.

Plenty of on site parking.

The old style chalets are cheap and the very modern hotels are, again, entirely decent places to stay.

You can see the prices yourself on their website and see if you think it offers value. I would very very strongly advise avoiding the school holidays as prices will increase very dramatically.

I haven’t done it myself (although I know loads of families who have) so I will leave it to others to comment on Centre Parcs other than to say “probably better, especially for older kids, probably more middle class, certainly far dearer”.

Have a great time.

Edited to add they also have crèches and babysitting in the evening if that’s significant.

Edited by scenario8 on Monday 3rd January 21:30

[Stu-nph26]

scenario8 said:

Butlins, Bognor Regis, is an entirely acceptable place to spend a long weekend with an 18 month child. Big “tent” with fare rides etc, an awesome soft play centre, live shows, petting zoo and the like. A very good swimming pool type place. Good enough Harvester type food pubs/restaurants as well as KFC etc. Very family friendly and few if any kids in their late moody teens. You could spend a weekend and barely notice the weather (which could be dicey in March) but if it’s pleasant enough outside the beach is literally “just there”.

Plenty of on site parking.

The old style chalets are cheap and the very modern hotels are, again, entirely decent places to stay.

You can see the prices yourself on their website and see if you think it offers value. I would very very strongly advise avoiding the school holidays as prices will increase very dramatically.

I haven’t done it myself (although I know loads of families who have) so I will leave it to others to comment on Centre Parcs other than to say “probably better, especially for older kids, probably more middle class, certainly far dearer”.

Have a great time.

Great post thank you very much. I should have said it'll be Skegness for us as we're up north. Sounds exactly what we're looking for.

[Petrus1983]

Did 5 days at CenterParcs Longleat last week - probably 10th time there - love it. It’s clean, well run, loads to do, pretty in itself, crazy good pool. Book well in advance for best prices and pick your location well. We were in villa 810 and it was a 5 minute walk from the main plaza - but busier/noisier
than the lodges further out.

[Wacky Racer]

Butlins has always been great for kids although at 18 months, probably wont get the benefit of all the "free" stuff, such as the rides etc.

Food was always decent and plenty of it.

[anonymous-user]

I personally can't see the appeal of any of these places, what is the attraction? That is a genuine question? They look dreadful

[Stu-nph26]

MonkeyMatt said:

I personally can't see the appeal of any of these places, what is the attraction? That is a genuine question? They look dreadful

A week away as a family is the appeal. What would you suggest as an alternative?

[scenario8]

MonkeyMatt said:

I personally can't see the appeal of any of these places, what is the attraction? That is a genuine question? They look dreadful

They’re very family friendly, safe, accessible, provide bundles of on-site options/activities/entertainment for young families - and are affordable to ordinary working families. Well, Butlins in term time is anyway.

Not everyone’s bag, obviously.

[Stu-nph26]

Wacky Racer said:

Butlins has always been great for kids although at 18 months, probably wont get the benefit of all the "free" stuff, such as the rides etc.

Food was always decent and plenty of it.

Yeah that's what I thought but that's to be expected it's not that expensive either, as long as there's a few things she can do that'll be fine.

[rustyuk]

Make sure you avoid the school holidays and the weeks just before and after.

[Petrus1983]

MonkeyMatt said:

I personally can't see the appeal of any of these places, what is the attraction? That is a genuine question? They look dreadful

All under one roof - accommodation is well presented (CP), lots of activities etc. Without kids though - no idea.

[Welshbeef]

Been to Butlins a few times - never tried centre parks (but that’s pricy).

Havan is another option


Butlins is a wildly different budget to centre parks

[scenario8]

Petrus1983 said:

MonkeyMatt said:

I personally can't see the appeal of any of these places, what is the attraction? That is a genuine question? They look dreadful

All under one roof - accommodation is well presented (CP), lots of activities etc. Without kids though - no idea.

The adult only music weekender things are very popular. Not my thing but I can understand why others would be attracted to those.

Surely there won’t be any/many adults without kids visiting at “normal times” though?!

[Petrus1983]

Welshbeef said:

Been to Butlins a few times - never tried centre parks (but that’s pricy).

Havan is another option


Butlins is a wildly different budget to centre parks

Haven is where I was trying to think of - their kids themed mornings and early evenings are actually really entertaining (for the right age group).

[CorradoTDI]

Forest Holidays maybe a better bet with a toddler...

[ClaphamGT3]

When ours were younger we used to love this group. We stayed at Fowey, Moonfleet and Ickworth. Ickworth was probably our favourite.

Not the cheapest but a lovely experience

https://www.luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk/

[anonymous-user]

Stu-nph26 said:

MonkeyMatt said:

I personally can't see the appeal of any of these places, what is the attraction? That is a genuine question? They look dreadful

A week away as a family is the appeal. What would you suggest as an alternative?

a week away with family is very appealing and something I have done often, but never anything like this, what is the appeal, a holiday is not the appeal

[anonymous-user]

scenario8 said:

MonkeyMatt said:

I personally can't see the appeal of any of these places, what is the attraction? That is a genuine question? They look dreadful

They’re very family friendly, safe, accessible, provide bundles of on-site options/activities/entertainment for young families - and are affordable to ordinary working families. Well, Butlins in term time is anyway.

Not everyone’s bag, obviously.

What are the on-site options etc? Other than a cost friendly budget I genuinely don't get it