There are several Center Parcs holiday villages in the UK and all over Europe that prove popular with groups and families wanting to spend time together in a natural setting. We spent a New Year break at the Longleat park in Wiltshire, that was once part of the estate of nearby Longleat House.

Cabin at Center Parcs, Longleat, UK

One of the features of Center Parcs is that once you’ve unloaded, the car is left in the car park and you can cycle and walk through the forest to get between numerous sporting activities and swimming dome. You book for lodging at Centerparks for a 3 night (weekend), 4 night (mid-week) or 7 night break and accommodation is in wooden cabins sleeping from 2 to 8 people, set in the woodland. You should be aware that the site is large and you do need bikes to get around, or you can use the small train that runs regularly around the site.

Pool dome at Center parcs, Longleat, UK

The cabins are furnished in modern, Scandinavian style with an open plan kitchen/living area and open fires which gave them a cosy feel. The setting is lovely as there are small ponds around the whole area and plenty of trees making each cabin feel quite private. This works well for families holidaying together as you can rent separate but adjoining cabins.

A well known feature of Center Parcs is the dome housing the pool area, looking like a tropical paradise with lush palms, rocky outcrops, and several different pool areas. At the sound of the Tarzan call, the wave machine starts up and you can pretend you’re on some beach in the sun with the waves washing gently over you. The children loved the lazy river and the water slides which took you outside into the fresh air and back in again before splashing you into a deep pool.

Lake at Center Parcs Longleat, UK

We also spent plenty of time at the Jardin des Sports, filled with tropical greenery and overlooking the lake. Here you’ll find facilities for every sport under the sun including American Pool, badminton, tennis, raquet ball and many fitness classes on offer. For those that want to also have a bit of pampering there’s the Aqua Sana spa with different treatments available. If your children are looking for more adventurous activities, there are plenty to choose from including abseiling and climbing across rope walkways, but you need to book for these as soon as you arrive as they are very popular. Ours opted for the Laser Clay shooting enjoying the grown-up feel of it and posing like hunters for photos at the end.

For our celebration meal on New Year’s eve there were many different restaurants to choose from grouped around the grounds. We settled on The Grand Cafe, an attractive bistro that looked like a converted barn with painted metal beams and a high ceiling open to the rafters. After our meal, we gathered with other guests around the lake for a New Year’s eve firework display.

The only drawback of Center Parcs is the cost, particularly in high season and holiday breaks. Although unlimited use in the swimming dome is included, all the other sporting activities cost extra and for a family the cost of sporting activities, bike hire, drinks and snacks can add up. So if you’re on a budget be sure to do your grocery shopping before you arrive and bring your own bikes to save the cost of renting them. However, for families or groups wanting a relaxing and self-contained place to spend time together with plenty of amenities, Center Parcs is ideal. You can also visit the Uptake site for more family friendly hotels and lodging ideas.

For more information about what’s on offer at Center Parcs Longleat and the other UK sites visit the Center Parcs website

Photo Credits: All photos by Heather on her travels on Flickr