UK Villages

Specialist Reports Holiday by Accommodation Holiday Villages UK Villages Center Parcs 

	Center Parcs
Head Office Kirklington Road, Eakring, Newark, Notts NG22 0DZ			MAP
tel: (08705) 200 300; special needs (01623) 872 998

Started in the ‘60s in the Netherlands and imported to the UK in the '80s, the company now reports the centres always 90% full. Given that a site like Elveden can take 3,500 people, outside the central facilities, they don't feel as crowded as you would expect. In 400 acres of ground the 700 villas and apartments are arranged to feel relatively secluded, not least because wandering off the paths is forbidden. This may help encourage the wildlife that visitors report visiting them, for example at breakfast, hoping for the odd snack. The fact that you have to unload your car and then return it to the car park means that arrival is not well suited to single parents with young children.

Where

In the UK at Longleat, Elveden and Sherwood plus the Oasis property at Whinfell just outside the Lake District National Park.

Accommodation

Of various standards from two to four-bedroom villas to executive villas of up to three bedrooms. All have live fires fuelled by smokeless logs. Executive villas come with maid service. A microwave, hair dryer, hydrobath and phone.

Facilities

Subtropical Swimming Paradise including rapids and slides plus hot spa pools in the cooler outdoor air - rainforest temperatures with pools plus cafes, shops and restaurants. The food is rarely rated highly but parents do appreciate the provision of Lego tables and chalk boards.

Activities

Most indoor sports including squash, tennis, short tennis, at Elveden Forest a 10-pin bowling alley, outdoors eg tennis, golf. Bikes are available for hire, along with kiddie trailers.
All three villages have a mini-health spa with treatments including thalassotherapy, aromatherapy and reflexology. Fitness and Beauty weekends combine fitness classes with complementary therapies.

Entertainment

One event a day such as Sunday jazz brunches, family cabaret in the evenings.

For Children

Children's play areas in most restaurants plus Lego tables and chalk boards. Wooden adventure playground with safety net (newly built), kiddy trailer to attach to the back of hire bikes. Baby Dolphins classes introduce very young children to swimming. Restaurants are geared for families with children's menus. Baby Dolphins in the pool is for those with under 3s only. In the pool waistcoats with floats are available for pre swimmers - useful for example in the gentler tunnels and whirlpools.

Child Entertainment

None.

Equipment

Cots and high chairs free.

Childcare

There is a kindergarten for 3+ with face-painting, badge-making etc, £4.60 for two hours. A creche will open at Elveden in the new year for babies. Babysitting at £3.60 per hour before midnight, £4 after.

Children's Activities

Junior Surf, Sail and Skim instruction or daily Junior Sports Hour twice a week, £2.50. Nature Trails for 7+, accompanied if under 12, with rangers by bike or foot, £6 each.

Sample Price

A week in August in a two bedroom property £773.

Reader Report

Just in case there is anyone out there with children who hasn't been to Center Parcs, it's difficult to think of anywhere easier for a family holiday. We recently spent a long weekend at the Sherwood Village in the Nottinghamshire forest of the same name. Ten years ago it was Center Parcs' first venture in England and now it's sparkling after a major revamp.
Center Parcs villages are totally child-friendly without adults having to feel that they've regressed into some toddler-filled hell. We were put off going for a while because we felt they had a sporty image. It's true the sports facilities are excellent and you do see sports-crazed individuals whizzing between appointments, but it's easy to ignore them.
The atmosphere is foreign and intriguing for children; bikes and squirrels everywhere and little houses half hidden in the woods. On the hot weekend we were there, the smell of barbeques and pine trees could have placed us anywhere in southern Europe, Cars are banned after the initial unloading surge. There are different combinations of bikes for hire to transport children and baggage and of course bikes with stabilisers, making it an excellent opportunity for learners.
The restaurants have Duplo tables; no-one looks round in horror if you walk in laden with small children. Each one has child portions and high chairs. Toilets are plentiful and clean, and the staff are very helpful with kids. There are organised activities for older kids, a kindergarten for younger ones, and several excellent adventure playgrounds. Entrance to the sub-tropical swimming complex is free and many families seem to spend all day there. Baby changing tables and poolside playpens make it easier for frazzled parents.
The forest and its inhabitants were probably the greatest hit with our kids. They were truly silenced one morning when a grey squirrel came and joined us for breakfast on the patio. I think he was probably a regular but Disney couldn't have done it better.
Some small niggles include the gaps in the entertainment for kids. Our animal-obsessed four-year-old couldn't go on the bug-hunting walk in the forest because he was six months too young, and the six-year-old was too young for most of the organised sports activities and bored by the kindergarten.
Otherwise it's difficult to fault the Parcs. There are plenty of chances for parents to escape from their children and we always come home feeling we've been abroad for two weeks and wondering what the weather's been like at home ... 60 miles away.
Jo Perkins
Bielby, Yorkshire