The summer holidays are here, which can only mean a Center Parcs alternative holiday is on the cards for you and your family. Yes, that's right - 2024 is the year we say "No More!" to Center Parcs' often hefty pricing because there are plenty of other family-friendly holiday parks that are just as good, if not better.
Indeed, If you've got a UK staycation on the agenda, Center Parcs UK is likely at the top of your list. However, the renowned forest getaways can come with a weighty price tag. For instance, a four-night stay for a family of four during school holidays can easily soar to nearly £1,500. Fortunately, some fantastic alternatives offer all the exciting activities, cosy accommodations, and delicious dining options without breaking the bank.
Closer's best Center Parcs alternatives, at a glance
We're all struggling to find money these days, but that shouldn't stop you from creating family memories you'll treasure for a lifetime. With summer sales and holiday deals always there to save you some cash, it is a no-brainer thanks to our help. With all that being said, welcome to Closer's ultimate guide to Center Parcs alternatives. Here's a breakdown of some budget-friendly options for a four-night getaway for two adults and two children during the May half-term.
From Parksdean Resorts to Glamping Hideaways, discover the best Center Parcs alternatives now.
SHOP: Best Center Parcs alternatives for your next family holiday
Editor's Choice
Parkdean Resortswww.parkdeanresorts.co.uk
Winner of the "Best Company For UK Family Holidays" during the British Travel Awards 2023 (along with two other company-based awards), Parkdean Resorts owns and operates 66 holiday parks across England, Scotland and Wales as the UK’s largest holiday park operator.
From coastal havens by Britain’s favourite beaches to lakeside retreats in scenic countryside settings, there’s something for everyone. Each park offers a range of fantastic family facilities with excellent entertainment in the evenings. A worthy rival of Center Parcs at half the cost. Winner.
Pros
- We love that Parksdean is a proud three-time British Travel Award winner
- Reviews say the caravans are spacious and cleaned to perfection
- There is a Cancellation Cover available
- Rated as creators of amazing memories on Google and TripAdvisor
Cons
- Some of the cheaper parks can look a bit tired, we recommend going for parks in the £200 range (for 4 nights) and above, and reading reviews
| Locations | 66: woodland, lakeside or coastal |
| Regions | Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, East Anglia and Lincolnshire, Essex, Isle of Wight, Kent and Sussex, Lake District, Lancashire, Northumberland and County Durham, Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire |
| Accommodation available | Caravan, lodge, camping, glamping, hot tub, cottage, chalet, hotels, Fallbarrow Hall |
| Dog friendly? | Yes, across 55 parks |
| Activities available | Swimming, bear workshops, mini-golf, bumper zorbs, water slides, high ropes, archery, arcades, Virtual Reality Experience, kid's clubs, variety of catering, ski slope at Warmwell |
2.
Away Resorts
Best high-end Centre Parcs alternative
Away Resortswww.awayresorts.co.uk
Looking for somewhere a little more luxurious? If you've got the cash to spend, spend it at Away Resorts - it'll still be a bargain in the face of Center Parcs, that's for sure. Every Away Resorts park is within areas of natural beauty, places of interest, national parks and beaches – with every village having its own unique sense of charm and adventure.
A particular highlight is the Sandy Balls Holiday Park, a popular alternative for a Center Parcs style retreat. They have a selection of properties to suit every budget, from luxury caravans to deluxe cabins with private hot tubs. Activities includes cycle hire, alpaca walks, adventure playground and outdoor cinema screenings as well as craft sessions, soft play and indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and a gym.
What's more, Away Resorts allows you to own your own top-quality holiday home, so you can escape the horrors of everyday life whenever you please. However - our favourite fact about Away Resorts is that they have Burst of Blue accommodations, painted using colours that align with a dog's vision capabilities. It's the little things, isn't it?
Pros
- We love that they have flexible arrival and departure times, for busy families
- Reviewers love the Away Resort extras, like grocery or boardgame packages
- You can get accommodation with a hot tub!
- Instagrammable locations are always a plus
Cons
- A little more expensive than the others on our list
| Locations | 26, across England, Wales and Scotland |
| Regions | Cornwall, North Wales, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Dorset, Scotland, Hampshire, Yorkshire, Isle of Wight, Essex |
| Accommodation available | Caravans, Lodges, Glamping, Touring and Camping |
| Dog friendly? | Yes, their Burst of Blue rooms are adapted to suit a dog's visual capabilities |
| Activities include | Forest holidays, fishing holidays, romantic getaways, biking, segways, archery, axe throwing, watersports, animals, high ropes, zip wire, laser tag, sports court, theme park |
3.
Haven
Best coastal Centre Parcs alternative
Havenwww.haven.com
Does your soul crave the sound of the sea? Haven's 38 holiday parks are all coastal, and they strive to make your seaside holiday a good one. Dotted around the UK's top resorts, Haven's parks are surrounded by the most spectacular landscapes and sandiest beaches.
Not only do the surroundings look tip-top, but the stuff going on inside the parks is just as fantastic. Think splash-tastic heated indoor and outdoor pools, archery, and zip wires – entertainment for all ages.
Pros
- 38 parks all around the coast of England, Scotland and Wales
- We praise that it is a safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals and families
- Reviews state that the staff are lovely and accommodating
- Deals available: e.g feed your family for £20 deal, spend £45 on activities and get the cheapest free
Cons
- Caravans can be too small for groups of 5+ adults
- Reviews note delivery from the on-site takeaways closes relatively early
| Locations | 38 parks, all coastal |
| Regions | Blackpool, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Essex, Kent, Lake District, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Wales, Northumberland, Scotland, Somerset |
| Accommodation available | Caravans, Lodges, Apartments, Chalets, Glamping |
| Dog friendly? | Yes, apart from Riviere Sands and Burnham-on-Sea parks |
| Activities include | Daytime and evening entertainment, arcades, inflatable arenas, aerial adventures, seasonal craft activities, water sports, swimming, archery, zip wires |
Best glamping Centre Parcs alternative
Glamping Hideawayswww.glampinghideaways.co.uk
Why do regular cold, uncomfortable, muddy camping - when glamorous camping, glamping, exists? Glamping Hideaways has a unique collection of glamping locations throughout the UK, from shepherd’s huts and lodges to yurts and safari tents. If you’re looking for a way to get back to nature, enjoy some fresh air and unplug for a few days, then jump aboard the glamping train, stat.
All of Glamping Hideaway's "glamping pods", as they call them, are cared for by a dedicated onsite team, who are generally the owners of the location. You might even get to enjoy some special extras, such as a hot tub or firepit under the stars.
Pros
- Variety of unique accommodations like domes, grain silos and gypsy huts
- We rate this as a nature-focused retreat away from technology and fast-paced modern life
- Reviews rate that there are hot tubs and firepits available on certain sites
Cons
- No onsite activities which reviewers think is a shame
| Locations | 26, in England, Scotland and Wales |
| Regions | Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Rutland, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Sussex, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Yorkshire, Clackmannan, Brecon, Carmarthenshire, Gwynedd |
| Accommodation available | Airstream, bell tent, boat house, campervan, dome, grain silo, gypsy hut, horsebox, lantern and larks, cabin, pavilion, poacher's hut, pod, safari tent, shepherds hut, shipping container, treehouse, yurt tent |
| Dog friendly? | Yes, they have certain dog-friendly sites listed on the site |
| Activities include | No onsite activities |
5.
Pontins
Best child-free Centre Parcs alternative
Pontinswww.pontins.com
Probably the most infamous Center Parcs alternative on our list, Pontins is a treasure trove of slightly corny entertainment, which will be a laugh and a half to experience with your partner. Pontins has two-holiday parks to choose from: Pakefield Holiday Village, situated near Lowestoft in Suffolk, or Sand Bay, near the stretch of coast in North Somerset.
Their Premium Adults Breaks are packed with acts from all across the UK, spanning a range of entertainment that appeals to all tastes, including live music from bands playing hits from the decades.
Pros
- Choose from decked-out apartments or bungalows
- Reviews love that there are no kids running around as both parks are marked as "exclusively adult only"
- Activities like dance workshops with Strictly professionals
- Free activities ranging from bowls to swimming and much more
Cons
- No children allowed (rules changed in 2020)
- No dogs allowed in any of the parks (excluding the bungalow at Pakefield)
| Locations | 2 - in Pakefield, Sand Bay |
| Regions | Suffolk, Somerset |
| Accommodation available | Classic Apartment, Club Apartment, Holiday Apartment, Bungalow |
| Dog friendly? | No, except for bungalows at Pakefield |
| Activities available | Steam room, Sauna, Indoor Heated Pool, Snooker, Table Tennis, Darts, Crazy Golf, Pitch and Put, Bluecoat Shows, Star Cabaret Acts, Amusement Arcade and Bingo, 9 Hole Pitch and Putt, Crazy Golf, Ballroom and Latin Dance, Outdoor Short Mat Bowls |
So, what are the best Center Parcs alternatives, in summary?
We here at Closer believe that the top Center Parcs alternative has to be Parkdean Resorts, with Haven and Away Resorts coming in second and third place. Parkdean Resorts has everything you could want in a Center Parcs holiday at half the cost. A tonne of activities for all ages, including high ropes, watersports and even a ski slope at Warmwell, so you can have that aesthetic family ski trip you've always dreamed of without waving goodbye to a huge chunk of cash. From forests to beaches all around the UK, Parkdean simply has the best variety of parks on offer for the best price. Center Parcs is old news, my friends.
Looking for more ideas? Here are more Center Parcs alternatives
If your search is still ongoing, why not take some of these ideas into consideration. For a dream family holiday that you won't forget any time soon, check out some of Closer's ideas, below.
Go Dutch
What many people don’t realise is that you can bag an amazing bargain by travelling to one of Center Parcs’ European destinations in Belgium, France or the Netherlands.
The De Eemhof resort is around 40 minutes away from Amsterdam, making perfect for a day trip. It offers a stylish two-bedroom cottage in a woodland setting plus a programme of great activities including segway hire, escape rooms and archery. The Aqua Mundo pool has water slides and a rapid run, and the entertainment is performed in both Dutch and English.
Try Butlins
This British classic is still the perfect family holiday. Butlin’s Minehead is just by the beach in Somerset and a short distance from Exmoor Country Park. On-site there are a selection of places to stay, from seafront apartments to chalets.
Splash Waterworld has loads of flumes and a lazy river and there’s a brand new Skypark designed for inclusivity, interactivity and illumination. Of course, the entertainment combines top name shows as well as the likes of Justin Fletcher, Mister Maker and Peppa Pig for little holiday makers.
Woodland Lodge
For fully-fledged nature lovers, Forest Holidays have a number of locations across the country which boast gorgeous cabins with stunning views. They are the perfect spot to immerse yourself in cycling, hiking or star gazing, or relax with an in-cabin spa treatment from £125.
All of the Forest Holidays locations are a short drive away from a Go Ape centre and each has its own on-site forest ranger who can help you and your little ones explore the surroundings and learn bushcraft and survival skills. There’s a shop where you can buy locally-sourced produce and holiday essentials, plus you can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner options delivered to your cabin.
Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for Closer, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her “dupe queen”, as there’s not a product in the world she can’t find a cheaper alternative for.