A Center Parcs break can be such a lovely way to spend a few days as a family, but it can also get expensive surprisingly quickly if you don’t know what to expect.
After visiting Center Parcs, I’ve picked up plenty of little tips that can make your stay easier, help you save money and hopefully mean you spend less time worrying about the practicalities and more time enjoying your break.
Before You Go
Download the Center Parcs App
You may well have already done this, but the Center Parcs app is really useful during your stay. You can use it to book activities, check the times of ones you’ve already booked and see how to get to different places around the site.
I also like to have a look around the app before we go so I can familiarise myself with the layout of the village and get an idea of where everything is. It makes navigating around the site much easier once you’re there.
Do A Groceries Shop Before You Go
The accommodation at Centre Parcs doesn’t come with much in the way of supplies; usually just one or two essentials such as a loo roll in each bathroom, some washing-up liquid and a couple of dishwasher tablets.
While you can order a starter pack or breakfast pack from Center Parcs, these can be quite expensive. Although I must admit that on our last trip we did add some Krispy Kreme doughnuts for our arrival!
One option is to take food with you and do a shop before you go. Just bear in mind how long chilled and frozen food will be sitting in your car if you’re arriving early in the day.
Another option is to do a click-and-collect shop and pick it up on your way or just after you arrive. You can drop everything at your lodge and then drive out to collect it.
It’s best to do this on the first day of your break when cars are allowed to move freely around the site.
You could also just head out and do a normal food shop locally if you prefer.
Don’t Book Early Check-In
Personally, I don’t think you need it.
Center Parcs has recently changed its arrival and lodge access times to help ease congestion on changeover days, with some lodges now available from 2 pm rather than 4 pm.
Even if you arrive on site from 10 am, which you’re allowed to do as a guest, there’s so much to see and do that you might find you’re not even ready to get into your lodge until later anyway.
I’d much rather spend that money on something we can actually enjoy during our stay.
Book Activities Before You Arrive
Activities do get booked up quickly, and you might find you can’t get the ones you want if you leave it until you arrive.
That said, there’s loads to do around Centre Parcs without booking an activity for every hour of the day. If you fill your itinerary, it can start to feel like you’re spending the whole holiday clock-watching.
As a family, we prefer to book a couple of morning activities and then have the rest of the day to do whatever we fancy.
Take Your Own Nature Trails
Printing and taking your own nature trail or scavenger hunt to Center Parcs is a great way to keep the kids entertained without paying for yet another activity.
There are plenty of things to spot around the site, from birds and squirrels to different types of trees, bugs and other wildlife.
If you don’t want to print one yourself, you could also pick up a cheap nature spotting kit before you go.
Bring A Firestick (Or Other Media Player)
One of the biggest complaints I see online about Center Parcs, aside from the cost, is the limited TV choice in the lodges.
We get around this by bringing our Amazon Firestick, which is already set up with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.
We don’t spend much time watching TV when we’re at Center Parcs, but it’s nice to be able to put on a movie and relax in the evening. Especially when you’ve got tired children!
Buy Fire Logs Before You Arrive
If your lodge has a fire, buying your fire logs before you arrive can save you quite a bit of money.
Smokeless fire logs are much cheaper to buy from places such as B&M or Home Bargains than they are at Center Parcs.
On our previous trips, I’ve picked them up for around £1.50 each, while Center Parcs charged around £10 for three.
Prices will obviously change, but the principle remains the same: if you know you’re going to use the fire regularly, buy your logs before you arrive.
It’s also worth checking the latest Center Parcs guidance during very dry periods, as barbecues and fire logs can sometimes be temporarily banned because of the risk of forest fires.
Bring A Bird Feeder & Bird Food
The highlight of our most recent Center Parcs stay was watching birds, squirrels and deer feeding right outside our Woodland Lodge.
We bought a basic bird feeder from Amazon and a large tub of bird seed from a local pet shop before we arrived.
It was such a simple thing, but the kids loved watching the wildlife from the lodge.
Just make sure you check the current Center Parcs rules before putting out food for wildlife, as these can change depending on the location and circumstances.
Take Extra Chalk
Every lodge comes with its own chalkboard, which is brilliant fun for both kids and adults.
You can use it to draw pictures, leave messages, play games or even keep track of your plans for the day.
However, the chalk provided can sometimes be in short supply or well-worn from previous guests.
To avoid disappointment, I recommend bringing your own extra chalks. They’re cheap, take up hardly any space and can provide plenty of entertainment.
Don’t Forget Bike & Scooter Locks
If you’re bringing bikes or scooters with you, don’t forget the locks.
There are bike racks around the villages and you’ll want to be able to leave your bikes securely while you’re visiting the pool, restaurants or other parts of the site.
It’s an easy thing to forget when you’re concentrating on packing everything else for the family.
Pack Board Games
It’s worth throwing a couple of board games or card games into the car before you leave.
Even if you have a full itinerary planned, there will probably be times when you’re relaxing in the lodge and want something to do.
We’ve found simple games are particularly useful after dinner when everyone is tired, but it’s still a little too early for bed.
On Arrival Day
Don’t Bring Your Air Fryer Or Slow Cooker
As tempting as it might be to bring your own air fryer or slow cooker to save money on food, I’d leave these at home.
Electrical appliances brought from home may not have the required safety checks for use at Center Parcs and could present a fire risk.
It’s simply not worth risking your holiday for the sake of saving a few pounds on cooking.
Arrive From 10 am
Remember that you don’t have to wait until your lodge is ready before you can start enjoying Center Parcs.
Guests can arrive on site from 10 am, so make the most of that first day – you’ve paid for it after all!
You can park up, explore the village, grab some food, go for a walk or head to the pool rather than sitting around waiting for your lodge to become available.
This is also why I don’t think paying extra for early check-in is necessarily worthwhile.
Pack Your Swimwear Last
Make your swim bag the last thing you pack into the car and ideally keep it somewhere you can grab it easily when you arrive.
That way, if your lodge isn’t ready yet, you can head straight to the pool without having to unpack half the car to find everyone’s swimming costumes.
It’s a particularly good tip if you’re arriving early and have young children who are desperate to get into the Subtropical Swimming Paradise!
Money Saving Tips
Have A Child Under Three? Look Out For Baby Dolphins
If you have a child under three, look out for the Baby Dolphins swimming sessions.
These sessions are aimed at younger children and are free, with early morning sessions that are actually quite convenient when you have a toddler who is up at the crack of dawn anyway!
This is something that will need booking in advance, you can’t just show up.
Ask About Price Matching In The Toy Shop
I’ve not tried this myself, but I’ve seen reports from other Center Parcs guests that the Toy Shop may price match toys against Amazon.
It’s definitely worth asking before you buy, particularly if you’ve spotted the same toy cheaper elsewhere.
Take Advantage Of Restaurant Deals
Eating out can be expensive at Center Parcs, but many of the restaurants have lunch offers, set menus or kids-eat-for-less deals.
If you’re trying to stick to a budget, it’s worth checking what’s available before you go.
Just bear in mind that the offers aren’t necessarily the same as the ones you might find on the high street, and many restaurants don’t accept typical discount codes, student discounts or Blue Light Cards.
It’s worth checking the Center Parcs app and website before you go, as offers and menus can change between visits.
Don’t Forget About The Free Activities
There are actually lots of things you can do at Center Parcs without spending any extra money.
Some of our favourites include:
- Visiting the many play parks around the village
- Riding the Land Train at Longleat
- Swimming at the Subtropical Swimming Paradise
- Baby Dolphins sessions for younger children
- Doing a nature trail or scavenger hunt
- Cycling, scooting or walking around the forest
- Watching the wildlife
- Feeding the ducks
When you’re already paying a lot for your Center Parcs break, making the most of the free activities can make a big difference to your overall spending.
Take Your Own Table Tennis Set
We always take a table tennis set with us and play in the lodge rather than paying to use the Sports Plaza.
It’s a really simple thing to pack and provides some extra entertainment without having to book or pay for another activity.
Use Your Blue Light Card At Starbucks
While you can’t use your Blue Light Card discount in the Center Parcs restaurants, you can use it at Starbucks.
You can also collect Starbucks Rewards stamps towards your next free drink, so it’s worth remembering to scan your app when you make a purchase.
Adults Don’t Have To Paint At Pottery Painting
We love pottery painting at Center Parcs, but it can get expensive.
You pay for the table and paints, which is around £6 per person, and then choose your pottery, which starts at around £12. Center Parcs then glazes and fires your finished piece so you can actually use it afterwards.
However, you don’t necessarily need to pay for everyone in your group.
If you’re taking children, you can book places for the kids and the adults can help them with their painting.
You’ll be allocated a table for four, so you don’t need to book and pay for a separate pottery painting session for every member of the family.
This is a great way to make the activity a little more affordable.
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Head To The Nearest Town For A Takeaway
Personally, we’ve been pretty unimpressed with the takeaway delivery options at Center Parcs.
You often need to book in the morning to secure a delivery slot, particularly on arrival days, and we’ve found the choice quite limited and the prices higher than we’d pay elsewhere.
When staying at Longleat, we usually pop into Warminster and pick up a takeaway instead.
Doing this on the first night worked particularly well for us. We were heading out to get some shopping anyway, and cars can still be moved around the village on arrival day.
On our last trip, we picked up a McDonald’s on the way back, took it to the lodge to eat and then moved the car back to the car park at around 8 pm.
Another option is to order through Just Eat or Deliveroo and arrange delivery to the Arrivals Lodge, then collect it yourself.
Practical Center Parcs Tips
Staying At Longleat? Take Advantage Of The Land Train
Taking the Land Train at Longleat is a must, particularly if you’re staying in the Fir area of the park.
It’s a great way to get around without having to walk everywhere, especially with younger children.
It can get busy at peak times, though. One particularly busy time is around 4.30pm when lots of people are leaving the Swimming Pool to head back to their lodges for dinner.
You Don’t Need Coins For The Lockers
Don’t worry about remembering a handful of pound coins for the lockers at the pool.
The wristbands you use to access your lodge can also be used to lock and unlock the pool lockers, so there’s no need to take change with you.