Anyone been to Center Parcs? (Cumbria)
Discussion
Hi all,
So SWMBO wanted me to book this for us to have a little break together, I've not been to one of these places before so what is there to expect?
There seems to be a ton of activities on offer, but whenever I go to book, a bicycle for example, I get told it's unavailable.
So, other than the activities they offer, what's the complex like?
I'm sure it will still be enjoyable just to get away from working life for a few days but it's not really a holiday is it? (It's in England for starters?)
Share your experiences please!
The park we're booked at is the Cumbria one, next month.
Dan
So SWMBO wanted me to book this for us to have a little break together, I've not been to one of these places before so what is there to expect?
There seems to be a ton of activities on offer, but whenever I go to book, a bicycle for example, I get told it's unavailable.
So, other than the activities they offer, what's the complex like?
I'm sure it will still be enjoyable just to get away from working life for a few days but it's not really a holiday is it? (It's in England for starters?)
Share your experiences please!
The park we're booked at is the Cumbria one, next month.
Dan
I went for the first time last January - Sherwood forest one though. I have to admit i was a bit like you and skeptical however i wasn't paying as my Mrs' work pay for the company to go! happy days! I have to say i was very surprised and loved it! The cabins are really nice and clean. The activities are good if not a little expensive and the restaurants are above average but you can take your own food and cook in the cabin.
We hired bikes however £90 for 2 for two days angered me so i'm definitely taking my own bikes this year. This is a must though as it will take you 3 times as long to get anywhere as things are spread quite far away.
We also did archery which was a good laugh, bowling, and a high wire course along with the swimming pool and general walks around the place.
One thing we did learn though was to get there as early as your allowed because it takes the piss queueing to get in parked, drop your stuff off and then park the car in the proper car park for the weekend.
We hired bikes however £90 for 2 for two days angered me so i'm definitely taking my own bikes this year. This is a must though as it will take you 3 times as long to get anywhere as things are spread quite far away.
We also did archery which was a good laugh, bowling, and a high wire course along with the swimming pool and general walks around the place.
One thing we did learn though was to get there as early as your allowed because it takes the piss queueing to get in parked, drop your stuff off and then park the car in the proper car park for the weekend.
richatnort said:
I went for the first time last January - Sherwood forest one though. I have to admit i was a bit like you and skeptical however i wasn't paying as my Mrs' work pay for the company to go! happy days! I have to say i was very surprised and loved it! The cabins are really nice and clean. The activities are good if not a little expensive and the restaurants are above average but you can take your own food and cook in the cabin.
We hired bikes however £90 for 2 for two days angered me so i'm definitely taking my own bikes this year. This is a must though as it will take you 3 times as long to get anywhere as things are spread quite far away.
We also did archery which was a good laugh, bowling, and a high wire course along with the swimming pool and general walks around the place.
One thing we did learn though was to get there as early as your allowed because it takes the piss queueing to get in parked, drop your stuff off and then park the car in the proper car park for the weekend.
Ah awesome man, thanks for the reply. We hired bikes however £90 for 2 for two days angered me so i'm definitely taking my own bikes this year. This is a must though as it will take you 3 times as long to get anywhere as things are spread quite far away.
We also did archery which was a good laugh, bowling, and a high wire course along with the swimming pool and general walks around the place.
One thing we did learn though was to get there as early as your allowed because it takes the piss queueing to get in parked, drop your stuff off and then park the car in the proper car park for the weekend.
Did you have to prebook all the activities?
I know what you mean about the bike rental, wish I had a roof rack and I'd take our own.
We did yes. I think it's hard if you just turn up but then it's also hard to know what's good and what's not.
I think you can rent bike racks now for next to nothing which might be a cheaper option. I don't have a bike rack but there's only 2 of us so going to put the seats down and chuck them in the back.
I forgot we did the high wire course too which wasn't bad! mainly because my other half s
t her self and i kept shaking everything she stood on.
I think you can rent bike racks now for next to nothing which might be a cheaper option. I don't have a bike rack but there's only 2 of us so going to put the seats down and chuck them in the back.
I forgot we did the high wire course too which wasn't bad! mainly because my other half s
t her self and i kept shaking everything she stood on. We went to the Cumbria one a few years ago with my dad, brother and his family. Stayed in a big cabin, very well equipped, clean, generally well done. We hired bikes which were a bit pricey, but was convenient. It's set in a forest, so very picturesque, but is spread out so the bikes are kind of necessary. Very family orientated though. Can't comment on the restaurants as we self catered. Had an excellent time.
We go to the Sherwood one each year with the kids and absolutely love it.
Yes expensive to stay and do activities but we offset that by taking food ourselve and even making meals beforehand.
We do treat ourselves in the Pancake House a few times :-)
We had a chalet next to it last time and overlooking the lake.
Re. bikes, if its anything like Sherwood there are hundreds of bikes for hire so maybe just leave it and hire when you get there.
Yes expensive to stay and do activities but we offset that by taking food ourselve and even making meals beforehand.
We do treat ourselves in the Pancake House a few times :-)
We had a chalet next to it last time and overlooking the lake.
Re. bikes, if its anything like Sherwood there are hundreds of bikes for hire so maybe just leave it and hire when you get there.
Edited by GreatGranny on Friday 20th December 11:21
surveyor said:
Did Cumbria a few years ago, Felt the prices were bordering on ridicules and not as impressed as I remember as a kid. Iirc that Cumbria was built by someone else and bought by centreparcs.
I've only been to Cumbria and Sherwood, I prefer Cumbria, Sherwood is too spread out and you need bikes. Plus the pool at Cumbria is better for kids. Other than that, the restaurants are similar. I agree about the prices though, but I think fook it, I'm on holiday! just come back after 5 days up at Whinfell, the family have been going there for the last 4 years or so, we used to go to Leaplish Lodge up at Kielder (which is really nice) for our annual Christmas family get together,but as more and more of us had kids we looked for a place with more activities etc for them.
Whinfell forest is nice, the lodges and nice, well appointed and clean. The facilities are good,with plenty of christmas activities for the kids,including a firework display at the weekends.
By far the best part of the whole facility is the waterpark with jacuzzis, water slides, wave pools etc ect - you can spend the full day in there, as we egenrally do.
The shops are generally pricier than those outside the site, but the supermarket isnt much more expensive. The restaurants are good but on the expensive side for their type. The burger place I found to be rather pricey.. cost us £40+ for the family to have what would likely have cost £15 at Mcdonalds and they were cleaning the table before we had even finished in order to get us out the door and the next people in.
The waterside bar is nice, with a kids play area and restaurant, but beware the drinks prices are not cheap, I paid £18.50 for 2xJ20s and a couple of baileys with Ice (admittedly one was a double) for us to watch the firework display with outside...
Whinfell forest is nice, the lodges and nice, well appointed and clean. The facilities are good,with plenty of christmas activities for the kids,including a firework display at the weekends.
By far the best part of the whole facility is the waterpark with jacuzzis, water slides, wave pools etc ect - you can spend the full day in there, as we egenrally do.
The shops are generally pricier than those outside the site, but the supermarket isnt much more expensive. The restaurants are good but on the expensive side for their type. The burger place I found to be rather pricey.. cost us £40+ for the family to have what would likely have cost £15 at Mcdonalds and they were cleaning the table before we had even finished in order to get us out the door and the next people in.
The waterside bar is nice, with a kids play area and restaurant, but beware the drinks prices are not cheap, I paid £18.50 for 2xJ20s and a couple of baileys with Ice (admittedly one was a double) for us to watch the firework display with outside...
Edited by hedgefinder on Saturday 21st December 13:15
Visited Whinfel last year with OH and 1yo. As above really, lots to do but fairly expensive. For us it was a bit of a recce so we ate out every meal. When we go back we will definitely eat in a bit more as the food isn't great value. The boy was still too young for most of the activities, but it served as a good taster for future visits. Don't think I would go without kids though. For me it felt a bit like a cruise ship. Central eating/shopping areas and a big pool complex in the middle. We didn't bother with bikes and felt everything was pretty close - even with a toddler/stroller, though there were plenty of others who rode everywhere. The cabin (we had one of the newer ones) was clean and well maintained.
Overall I enjoyed it and we will go back, but probably only when the kids are a little older and can do more.
Overall I enjoyed it and we will go back, but probably only when the kids are a little older and can do more.
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