Center Parcs: A holiday escape from reality

Center Parcs is a popular holiday break in the UK, and I recently visited one of the villages and already want to return.

2019. Five years ago. That was the last time I went on a family holiday. Since then, I've felt like my life has been full of work and studying, with very few days off in between.

However, earlier this month, my family and I went to Center Parcs for a week to have a break from life and just enjoy ourselves. And I must say, I never wanted to leave.

Center Parcs is an activity-based holiday with resorts all over the UK in five different locations: Elveden, Sherwood, Woburn, Longleat, and Whinfell. I've been to three of the different parks in my life, but the one I've visited the most is Elveden.

Growing up, Center Parcs was a family staple. I've stayed there during summers with my immediate family; once we had a big extended family holiday there; my mum and I had a small break there after my GCSEs and I often holidayed there with some family friends, who live five doors down the road.

Essentially, it felt like I grew up at Center Parcs because I visited it so much during my childhood.

So, when I returned this month, a wave of nostalgia hit me. Elveden isn't too far from where I live, so it was a quick journey that allowed us to make the most of our check-in and check-out days. Arriving on the Friday, we turned up at 11:30 and when we left the following week, we departed at 19:30.

Having been rather stressed with work beforehand, I was very glad to have eight days of escaping reality and ignoring the world outside Center Parcs. And it was bliss!

The good thing about Center Parcs, I've found, is that there is something for everyone to do. It doesn't matter if you've gone as a family, as a couple, on a girls/boys trip, or even for a break during retirement - there will be something you will enjoy doing.

At Center Parcs, their Subtropical Swimming Paradise is the only activity that is free. But it offers a lot. Elveden, in particular, has a huge wave pool inside that links round to a lazy river. There are then two flumes, a white slide, whirlpools, Venture Cove (the kids area), a Lagoon Pool, the outside pool, a plunge pool, the Wild Water Rapids, and of course, the Tropical Cyclone.

The wave pool at Elveden Forest at night.

There is so much on offer and every day I found myself in the pool at some point. My sister and I went for a night swim one evening as well, which provided a different experience of the swimming pool, but one that is still just as good.

But, if you're not a fan of being in the water, then don't worry. Center Parcs has boat rides you can go on, across the lake, which my family and I did, and I have to say, it was lovely and peaceful floating around, looking out at nature with the sun shining. And if you're worried about falling overboard, don't be!

Taking it more on land, but still outside, there are activities such as Adventure Golf, which I very much enjoyed, high ropes, a zip wire, a 10m drop, and so much more. Plus, if you're a cycling family, it's almost second nature at Center Parcs to hire bikes, or take your own, and explore the forest around you.

Badminton is another popular activity at Center Parcs, and in the past, my family and I have had our own little tournaments. But this year, we decided to forgo the rackets and shuttlecocks and instead, used glow-in-the-dark pool cues and also bows and arrows.

Standard pool is available, which my sister was very good at, but there's also glow-in-the-dark pool. This was very fun, despite it being tricky to line up the balls correctly and determine the difference between the black eight ball and a dark red three ball.

Nevertheless, we laughed a lot whilst playing.

Archery, though, is probably one of the highlights of my holiday. I'd never done it before, I was the only one out of the 11 people in our group to be a beginner. I had had a couple of goes practising during lockdown with a plastic garden archery set, but nothing like the others.

However, I was good. I managed to hit the bullseye and in the games we played, my sister and I as a team achieved double bingo. Now, I'm not saying I'm Robin Hood or Katniss Everdeen, but my sister and I were gifted Robin Hood hats as a reward for getting double bingo.

The boat lake

Archery

Glow-in-the-dark Pool

Aqua Sana

If you're after a more relaxing break, where you don't have to plan anything or rush to get to your next activity, then Center Parcs is still for you. As I mentioned the swimming is free, and there are lots of beautiful walks you can go on around the park, Starbucks if you fancy a coffee, and of course, the different restaurants with pancakes, Italian cuisine, Indian cuisine, Chinese cuisine, etc.

Also, the Aqua Sana Spa at Elveden was recently refurbished. It was next to the apartment/hotel that my family and I stayed in. Our visit to the spa was incredible. It was peaceful, calming, and overall just an enjoyable experience. There were god knows how many different rooms ranging from Scandinavian Huts to saunas and steam rooms.

The spa had its own outside pool as well as hot tubs and a café as well - this café had the nicest slice of Victoria Sponge cake that I think I've ever eaten.

In fact, all the food at Center Parcs was delicious, especially my Bella Italia's pizzas and Treats' ice cream. But I just want to take a moment to thank Center Parcs and all its restaurants for being so on top of everything when it came to allergies.

Everything about my holiday at Center Parcs was wonderful and I must say, reading Emily Henry's Happy Place whilst there was rather fitting, because it is one of my happy places in life.

If you've got this far and read about my holiday, thank you, and I hope I've inspired you to check out Center Parcs as a UK holiday destination.

Until next time...