Longleat Center Parcs – New Year in the forest

With Christmas behind us, our holiday season continued with our family gathering at Centerparcs. The pre-bookings had been changed numerous times to accommodate fluctuating numbers, a food mountain ordered from Tesco, the cobwebs brushed off our bikes and all manner of sporting equipment assembled.

Check in at Longleat Center Parcs

Finally we arrived at the appointed time (3pm) and experienced a warm welcome and efficient check-in, although my sister arriving half an hour later got stuck in a traffic jam and arrived a little more frazzled. Our two adjoining cabins were cozy and well laid out, each one set a little apart and surrounded by pine forest.

Getting everything unloaded and cars removed to the car-park in the drizzle and darkness did make me feel a little grumpy. But any bad mood melted away the next day when we woke to find the winter sun filtering through the forest around us and we set out to explore the world of Centerparcs.

Jardin De Sports at Centerparcs

First to be investigated was the Jardin des Sports overlooking the lake with facilities for every indoor sport under the sun. The place was buzzing with energetic families and far more tropical greenery than any normal sports centre. Here the teenage boys tried their skills in an American Pool tournament, while the rest of us enjoyed an easy game of badminton.

The Pool Area at Longleat Center Parcs

Next was the pool area, again modelled on some equatorial paradise with lush palms, rocky outcrops, a tropical pool, lazy river and waterslides all under the huge dome for which Centerparcs is renowned. A Tarzan call marked the start of the wave machine in the pool, giving you the chance to drift in the gentle surf.

Other activities at Center Parcs

There were plenty of more adventurous activities for the teenagers, including abseiling and climbing across rope walkways, but as they were quickly booked up we opted for some Laser Clay shooting. Some mastered the shooting better than others – my 10 year old found the gun too big and heavy, but the teenagers enjoyed trying their skill with mixed success.

They all seemed to enjoy the grown-up element of shooting, nonchalantly slinging the guns over their shoulders like hunters for the photo call at the end.

The Grand Cafe at Longleat Center Parcs

For New Year’s eve we started with champagne in our cabin and my sister, getting into the Greek carnival spirit produced a box of party hats and streamers for the occasion.

We had originally booked for Huckleberries, an American style restaurant near the pool. But when we arrived we decided to change our booking to The Grand Café, a bistro which was more attractive and closer to our cabin.

The Grand Café was like a converted barn with painted metal beams and a high ceiling open to the rafters.

New Year’s Eve Celebration

We all enjoyed the meal which was a mixture of bistro favorites and modern British cooking – full marks too for trying to use local produce. The teenagers mostly had steak and chips – I enjoyed a rather more sophisticated sea bass on a bed of sweet potato and fennel. The staff were delightful, as we found was typical of Centerparcs. We ended our New Year’s eve with a rousing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and a firework display by the lake amongst other happy party goers.

In between the fun and games we managed to do plenty of relaxing and felt fit and rested by the time we came to leave. Even my husband had to admit he had enjoyed himself although I could see his point about Stalag Luft.

Many people enjoy the self-contained world that Centerparcs offers but for the more adventurous in spirit it does have something of the gilded cage about it. As we left I spotted sign for the Longleat stately home just next door – a place I’d always planned to visit. But there was something so cozy and contained about Centerparcs that I hadn’t given it a second thought until it was too late.

What we enjoyed most at Center Parcs

• Seeing so many families out to enjoy themselves was infectious and put me in a holiday mood.

• All the staff we encountered were lovely – cheerful, friendly, welcoming and helpful

• With such a wide range of sports and activities in an attractive setting, there was something to keep everyone happy, from the toddler to the teenager.

• With no car and having to cycle or walk everywhere, the atmosphere was more relaxed and we felt healthy and virtuous.

What to watch out for at Center Parcs

• The biggest barrier for me was the price – the accommodation was expensive even for peak season and all activities except the swimming were an additional and substantial cost. I would definitely shop around for better value alternatives before booking again (but there seemed to be no shortage of families prepared to fork out, so I may just be a cheapskate and out of touch with reality!)

• Our accommodation, though comfortable and cosy was looking a little tired, although we could see that a renovation programme was going on in some other cabins. Also I felt that for the price, it was a bit much to be asked to provide our own soap and towels.

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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