Centre Parcs

frizz_head

We're off in there in 3 weeks time and have just received our Planning your Stay pack this morning - now I am getting really excited. We have been going every year for the last 7 years, and have been to them all apart from Elvedon (were booked to go, but due to the fire we had our booking changed to Sherwood) and we have been back to Sherwood everytime ever since. Went to Oasis (before it was owned by Centerparcs) and it was lovely - but too far to drive for us - 5 hours at least.

Sherwood is still a 2-3 hour drive for us, but in our opinion - its worth it!

Hope you manage to persuade hubby Josie Jump!

Josie_Jump_3

Thanks for your help, well I've gone and booked Sherwood Forest for a weekend break and am quite looking forward to it.

We did a route planner, Sherwood Forest 15.9 miles, Longleat 179 miles, Elevdon 117 miles and Penrith 156 miles so although very close to home Sherwood Forest won due to all the positive remarks I've read about it. , Longleat sounded nice but just a bit too far and hilly for me - after all I'll be having to cycle with a youngster in tow !

frizz_head

You'll have a great time Josie! We did Longleat for years, and we had lovely holidays there, but the park is huge - and very hilly - so much so, they operate a land train that goes around the whole park. Everything is really spread out at Longleat, whereas at Sherwood everything is kept together - I guess its horses for courses really, but for us Sherwood is the best!

wishingwell

When you're feeling more adventurous I would recommend trying Center Parcs on the continent, especially The Netherlands and Belgium. The VIP villas are generally the same price as the "posher" villas in the UK and the facilities are different and in most cases better. I would definitely recommend De Vossemeren in Belgium. Travel on the ferry or through the tunnel... spend a day in Bruges then travel on to Lommel(De Vossermeren). You'll find that booking anything (including bikes, badminton, restaurants) is so much easier than in the UK and you hardly ever have to queue for anything. We tried all the UK center parcs when our kids were little and got fed up of the Friday "dash" and the booking ahead for sports activities. We have now done De vossermeren (great adventure dome for the kids) De Kempervenen (ski-ing), Het Heiderbos (Another adventure dome) and De Emhof (good for a visit to Amsterdam) and if your kids really can't get away from the TV De vossermeren even has BBC1. (Not the case in The Netherlands, but many of their films are in English) and everyone is really friendly.
Almost forgot, the other advantage of a VIP villa abroad is that the villa includes a sauna and fresh bread rolls on your doorstep every morning.