It’s been 12 years, but I can still remember the first time we drove through the hallowed forest and spotted our cabin in the woods, before collecting our bikes and heading to the “Subtropical Swimming Paradise” water park. It was back in 2014, and with three kids under five, Center Parcs appeared to offer everything we were searching for from a family holiday: bottle warmers, cot beds and even playpens by the pool were among the thoughtful touches.
Despite never being cheap – with two-bedroom cabins starting from around £2,128 for a three or four-night stay – we were immediately won over. Prices can fall to around £1,278 outside school holidays and for our young family, it felt like paradise.
Over the next decade, we visited every Center Parcs village in the UK and Ireland, as well as one in the Netherlands, where the company was founded back in 1968. The thumbs up formula – unlimited swimming, good restaurants and a crèche for the occasional bit of child-free time – continued to draw us back.
But now, our kids are 10, 12 and 15, and probably slightly too old to get the most from the experience. We also struggle to justify the cost. Back in 2023, we paid around £450 a night for a rainy stay at Center Parcs Longford Forest in Ireland.
