If you’re looking for holiday parks near longleat I’m sure you will have come across Center Parcs as an option and it is well worth considering for post-COVID staycations. Our first family holiday to Centre Parcs, Longleat Forest was an amazing holiday and probably my favourite of our UK staycation trips. Going with friends to Center Parcs really helped make it an even better break for us, so much so that we have booked again to return with the same friends at another of the locations. If you are thinking about booking a Center Parcs break, I really recommend it.
Accomodation at Center Parcs Longleat
We stayed in a three bedroom executive lodge at Center Parcs so we each had our own ensuite bathroom. You can read my full write up of our accomodation and watch a lodge tour to see where we stayed. The longleat site is huge, there is actually a Landtrain to help make the place more accessible to everyone. There isn’t space for an upright pram so if you’re visiting Longleat you might want to consider a baby carrier or sling or even pay to be closer to the centre. Otherwise, prepare for a long walk! Our accomodation was based at the top of the cascades walkway and whilst beautiful and peaceful, it was a good 20 minute walk down to the sports centre and a further 40 or so minute walk to the plaza which hosts the swimming pool and restaurants. Longleat self catering accomodation is suitable for a variety of family sizes.
Food At Center Parcs
We ate out pretty much every day which was really nice but you do have a fully stocked kitchen if you want to go self catering. There are also takeaway options if you fancy a meal in and don’t want to cook. We tried Hucks American Grill, The Pancake House, Las Iguanas, Bella Italia, Dexters and had afternoon tea at Cafe Rouge. We also had a BBQ one evening at the lodge. The best meal was Las Iguanas. It is set in a beautiful part of the plaza with a little river full of fish running through it. It’s a gorgeous place for the cuisine. Bella Italia was a great place to eat too. We love that each food place has a kids play area so it’s really family friendly. On site there are parc markets and Starbucks coffee too. Because of social distancing many of the Center Parcs Longleat resturants offer delivery to your lodge service which is well worth considering.
Tropical Paradise Swimming Pool
Without a doubt the best swimming pool I’ve been too. On the first night we went after eating for a couple of hours. It was cold outside and really dark but the pool is open until 9pm so you can do the outside rapids in the dark. It’s actually really fun. The slides shut off in the evening but the rapids and lazy river are open, as is the wave pool. I loved swimming at night. Next time we go we plan to spend a full day doing pool stuff as Felix will be bigger and able to enjoy it a little more. There is a hotdog cafe and plenty of seating around the pool area for those that aren’t swimming and for a little bit of resting space. The inside of the pool is heated all year around which is ideal. There are also plenty of hot tubs to warm up in. The rapids and slides also get the adrenaline going.
Winter Wonderland at Center Parcs Longleat
We loved going in November, it was such a lovely week and we had so much fun. Having all of the Christmas decorations available and the winter wonderland set up in the Village Square was such a nice touch and really got us all in the festive spirit. I would absolutely go during the winter wonderland celebrations again because it’s so magical for families although this did of course make things a little busier on site.
Overall our trip to Center Parcs was so much fun and I am converted to going back year on year. I can’t wait for our next trip! You can watch our family vlog including some pool time and water shots below.
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