Going to Center Parcs Longleat - 1st time

Petal_3

Hi all

Any positive/negative stories to tell? Any must do's/definitely don't do's?

Really looking forward to the break!

Thanks x

flang

Ive never stayed at the Center Parks as i only live about 10 mins away from it so cant comment on that part however make sure you leave a couple of days at least to enjoy the estate as there is a lots to see and do! if possible try and go to shear water lake as its quite pretty.
How long you staying for?
Rember Salisbury and Bath are only a few miles away which are well worth visiting.

Lorian

Petal wrote:

Hi all

Any positive/negative stories to tell? Any must do's/definitely don't do's?

Really looking forward to the break!

Thanks x

It's a *bit* hilly (compared to the others).

I found the food service and costs not very good. But there is an on site shop or otherwise there are several supermarkets within 5 miles. I particularly think the pancake house is overpriced and poor food.

The pools and slides are great, I particularly like rapids (not for little ones) and the hot outdoor steampool - magnificent at night when it's cold outside.

Its very good for cycling.

Kids love feeding the ducks (turn up to be fed at the accomodation each morning) and if you get up VERY early you can see some deer.

Petal_3

Thanks for that. We get there this Friday and stay til Monday. We're in an "Exec villa" which I believe is on the steep part of the park. As we have a kitchen we're planning on taking a lot of our own food/drink as we got a cheap deal in the first place and don't want to bump up the cost! We were hoping to go to Longleat on the way back on Monday but I understand it's closed 'til Feb.

Lorian

Petal wrote:

Thanks for that. We get there this Friday and stay til Monday. We're in an "Exec villa" which I believe is on the steep part of the park. As we have a kitchen we're planning on taking a lot of our own food/drink as we got a cheap deal in the first place and don't want to bump up the cost! We were hoping to go to Longleat on the way back on Monday but I understand it's closed 'til Feb.

The executive villas are nice. Don't forget to take old bread to feed the ducks, they come looking for it about 7:30-8:00 each day. There's plenty to do on-site for a weekend. If you have kids and they want to go to any of the events it's worth booking as soon as you get there as they fill up quickly sometimes.

andyd

I've been to CP on at least a dozen occasions at various locations.

We ALWAYS take our own food to keep the cost down.We normally do a big Tesco shop the night before we go and leave most of the bags (securely) in the boot overnight so we don't have to re-load the following morning.There is a decent size fridge (and freezer compartment) in the villa.

The supermarkets at CP are pretty good but they are more expensive than your local supermarket.We often take a couple of disposable barbeques (and chicken/meat) to use on the patio outside the door of the villa for one of the evening meals.The chef gets a bit chilly whilst cooking but otherwise its great !

The restr's at CP aren't cheap hence why we take our own food (and drink of course !)

Hiring bikes is great fun,although your backside will ache by the end of your stay!Take some old shoes cos it'll be muddy this time of year.

Book sport,treatments,childcare etc AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE cos they get booked up v quickly.You can book some sessions before you get there so ring CP to check.

Take your own racquets if you have them to save on the cost of hiring them.

Enjoy it.You'll have a great time :j

froggy27_2

We went to Longleat last year and it was our first time at CP. We enjoyed it although the park is so big and so hilly that if you are in one of the furthest villas (as we were) it can take up to 30min walk to the pools. Although there is a little train also if you don't fancy walking. Our daughter was only 7mths old so we didn't do as much as we would now. but biking is great there if you fancy it. The pools area is really good and much fun for big and little ones! Take your food although the supermarket is quite reasonable as we found that the restaurants were quite pricey.
I will probably try another park next time, a smaller one. but really for a long w/e you should enjoy it. Have fun and relax!
PS: my other half is a keen fisherman and he said that the longleat lake was one of the best he fished in.. massive carps!

skippy64

We went last year just before Easter, but we have been to all the other Parcs in previous years.
The best tip I can give is that to arrive early on the Friday. Although you won't be able to go and offload at your accommodation you can park your car up and go and use the pool straight away. Once you have done enough splashing in the pool it will probably be time to go and get your car and drive it into the park to your villa and offload.
If you are thinking about hiring bikes then if you get your timings right you can quickly offload, all get back in the car, go and park it up in the main car park, walk to the cycle centre and get your bikes and cycle back to the villa.
Yes the pancake house is a bit over-rated but in general all the other restaurants/snack bars are OK to eat at.
Although you are just going for the weekend I would definetly think about a half a day in Bath (approx 20 minutes away from memory ) and visit the City and definetly go to the Roman Bath Houses. Also a drive over to visit Stonehenge and do the audio commentary tour is really good value for money.
Finally on your departure day if you are not in a rush to get home you can do the same as Friday, but in reverse,take the bikes back to cycle centre, get car and load up in the morning, park up on the main car park and then go swimming for a bit, have something to eat before leaving in the afternoon. We have done this many times just so that we can squeeze as much into the weekend as possible.
I have done some of the activities, best one was with the Birds of Prey, thoroughly enjoyed that there at Longleat.
Have a great weekend and lots of fun :j

gingerdad

Not been to Longleat but used Whinfell Forest and Sherwood Forest, my tips would be

get there early - we always arrive early at whinfell and leave late on the monday, the pool is at its quietest as most people seem to arrive late and leave early. we do only live 30 mins from whinfell though.

Hire your bikes early (or take your own) - we do a bit of both. again at whinfell you can hire them pretty much on arrival so it also beats the queues, what we then do is cycle to the villa, i drop of the dw and kids then go and get the car.

don't rush to bring your car on site at 3pm (though as in an exec i think you can bring them on early). as every one goest at that time.

Book any activites you really want to do ahead of time.

relax and have fun.

we have just booked to go for new years weekend... long time away but looking forward to it.

though if we could have gone this week is was only 102 for the week

Petal_3

Thanks again. We can book in at 1pm on the Friday so plan to get there at that time. We're taking our own bikes (although sourcing a bike rack at short notice is proving a bit of a problem)! My 3 yo is really looking forward to it....he's gonna have a pony ride and a few other things. I might treat myself to a massage or something....:D Just the break away for a few days will be bliss!

skippy64

Just read another thread on MSE about CP Whinfell ( discounts for Center Parcs i think it was.), I've copied it as follows

I also reccomend the aqua sana 3 hour session, expensive, but on Mondays and Fridays its reduced to £20 per person.

I dont know if this applies to Longleat, worth finding out. We are going to Whinfell at end of February so this deal is of interest to my wife.

Quick tip for breakfasts to save taking a big box of cereals, we just buy the small variety boxes ( I think they are in packs of 8) from Adsa, Tesco or whoever. Takes up little space in the car, there great for your three year old (there has got to be at least one of the cereals he likes !!) and you will have used them all up by the Monday so less to pack away !!