Just back from a weekend at Elevden, Thetford. It's not my first visit, spent a christmas there about 6 years ago but caught flu on boxing day and spent the remaining time in bed..and have been on a couple of corporate days as its only an hours drive from here.

Its an odd place really when you analyse.

For those who have never been to one before the parcs in all set in lovely surroundings - Elveden is in a forest, everywhere you walk is within the forest and very pretty. The accomodation is top quality, all mod cons, very comfortable, stylish and each patio looks out onto its own view of the forest. Very cleverly each villa is designed so it isn't over looked by your neighbours. Once you have unpacked your car is parked in a carpark just off site and you then either walk round or hire a bike.

However - once you enter the 'Village' you are greated with families of all ages and sizes all clad in sports gear, bouncing around with raquettes of varying sports in hand. The sports hall and pool are open till 10pm and this seems too soon for a lot of the die hards! There are a good selection of eateries - don't bother getting changed as people eat in their sports gear.

I did enjoy the weekend and we had a good laugh, but I did find a certain snobbery there...on saturday night I made an effort and showered and changed out of sporty stuff and was sat at a bar with trendy trousers and dangly jewelery (Bella) and held the gaze of the pink cheeked ladies in their new sports gear and unscuffed trainers.....for I knew that I was up at 6.30 sprinting 4 miles round the park with Bazeeeeeeeeeeel and would be again the following morning after my 4 pints and the best part of a bottle of wine.

I remembered from before too that it is one of the most uncomunicative/ cliquey places I have been too.....I don't think I talked to one other person during the whole stay - which is VERY unusual for me.

HOWEVER....for kids - especially hard to please boys it is brilliant and you do feel so safe and secure there.

Anyone else been?

Lets have a heated debate.

Cat, I have just asked after you about your hols on another thread...how spooky?!!!

Glad to hear my jewellery is getting around! :)

btw - Mr B's dad was from Thetford!!

Center Parcs was our first holiday we went on as a family, oh let's see about 6 years ago. Katie was 18 months and Abbie was a twinkle in her father's eye. We went to the Sherwood Forest one and I felt it was pretty much, in the words of the Eagles song "You can check-out but you can never leave"! We did leave the camp one day, to go to Macclesfield as some horrible person stole Katie's Winnie The Pooh sandals and we went there to get some more! We didn't get sandals but we did get a £25 parking ticket! Charming eh?

We didn't opt for the sporty stuff but hired the bikes and cycled most of the time even though it rained every single day!

I found on the whole that it was really expensive to go there in the first place, expensive to eat out though the supermarket was reasonably priced and all the add-on extras, if you done them all cost an absolute fortune. Mr B did treat me to an afternoon in the Spa whilst he baby-sat and it was wonderful, it was just lovely!

I have also been to the one in the Lake District and didn't find this as nice as the Sherwood Forest one, but that was before it was taken over by Center Parcs so it may have been upgraded since then. It was a lot smaller and was in need of a make-over.

I think if I was ever to go back it would be with a group of people.

We have said if we go back it will be with other people...having Freddie just restricts you, I am going to suggest to my brother (him of new puppy but no children) to go. I would love pelting round the forest on the bikes with him and running with him every morning...thrashing everyone at babminton then being the only ones getting hammered at the bar.

We have said if we go back it will be with other people...having Freddie just restricts you, I am going to suggest to my brother (him of new puppy but no children) to go. I would love pelting round the forest on the bikes with him and running with him every morning...thrashing everyone at babminton then being the only ones getting hammered at the bar.

Oh, we would join you in getting hammered at the bar Cat, so you won't feel left out of course, as it's not usually the sort of thing we do!!! :w00t: :ninja:

I've not been to Centre parcs myself. Its more of a "family place".

Having said that, my sister and her husband, plus two of their mates (both couple childless) have been and thought it was fab and my sister is the most un-sporty person you could ever meet.

Anyway, this contribution is rubbish. I ain't been and despite the fact that my sister liked it, she didn't manage to persuade me that it was worth a visit. I did look into once for a sort of quick break, but actually, for what it is is isn't that cheap! Its definitely more geared towards families and if you don't have kids, there are lots of other, btter alternatives for the same price. I think we went to Florence instead. :ninja:

Given a choice I would have chosen Florence.

it sounds quite weird and wonderful Cat! were you allowed to take Bazeel?


my son is going to the Longleat one in October with our neighbours and their son.
I've always thought it was quite pricey and this has put me off getting a brochure ... now I'm put off by all the sporting activities!

Were the bars expensive to drink in? or did you smuggle your own in? would it be frowned upon to smuggle your own in? did people get p!ssed and sing outrageous karokee at the end of the evening? (I mean people, not just you Cat!)

I have never been as it has never appealed to me. The thought of people prancing around in their sports gear until the late evening is just not my thing.

I would much rather go to Butlins, Haven, Pontins etc for a family holiday. I have always found they have plenty of sporting activities for the children to do as well as entertainment in the evening!

This is a bit of a sore point with me because earlier this year Mr. C announced to me that he and his brothers and their mate were going to the Sherwood Forest Centre Parc for a "flying" weekend. Oooh goody, I thought. I will take advantage of the pool and facilities while he goes and does his thang! But no!!

The rub was that they had got a cheap apartment just for them, through someone who works there. No, I didn't want to sleep with 5 snoring, farting men (not that they asked me anyway).

They only used it as a base so didn't use or need the facilities, or even make a note of them. I was treated to a tale and video of the family of ducklings that would come waddling up to the patio every day, though, just to rub salt in the wound. It looked very nice.

Anyway, a bit off topic because no, I haven't been there, but I would have liked to go (probably, but now I'm not so sure ;) )

The Ducklings (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/liberated60s/P1010054.jpg) Sweet aren't they :glare:

I love Centre Parcs and been loads of times. We always go either fisrt week December or Last week Jan/first week Feb. It is cheaper and less crowded and brilliant. We have been going for about 16 years now. and have only missed one or two years out.

my friends go every year at the beginning of December too Buzz! They always have a great time. And I'm pretty sure my friend Gill would NOT be sitting around in sports gear for any length of time!

The Ducklings (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/liberated60s/P1010054.jpg) Sweet aren't they :glare:

They are sweet Critique! Our first visit to Center Parcs we had a swan and her cygnets come to our door to get fed! Katie was really excited about that.

The pool facilities were great and we used them everyday. Not everyone lounges around in sports gear all the time, we certainly never! Although you could spot the sporty, competitive families a mile off, we gave them a wide berth!! :w00t: We did have a laugh one day watching a family playing badminton, there was the grandad and grandson on one side and the mum & dad on the other. They were so not the sporty types and the grandad couldn't even get the shuttlecock over the net, they were having a good laugh at themselves. It may not seem funny to you all, it's probably one of these things where you had to be there.

The surroundings were lovely though and the accommodation was very good! There was plenty of entertainment at night to keep everyone amused too.

The Ducklings - are just soo cute :wub: (http://www.survivor-online.co.uk/forums/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#)
Now Centre Parcs? Hmmm? Quite honestly it is not my thing, I just don't fancy organised holiday parks, the thought of doing it with everyone else makes me a bit cringy. And Mr F hates anything like that more than me.

However, having said that, I haven't been so I don't know whether I would like it or not. And so many people tell me that when you have children, especially children with age gaps [6 and 14 yrs] there is something for each and all. So perhaps I shouldn't be so quick to judge.

Mind I would really fancy going to Centre Parcs like Crit's hubby is [with a load of mates], now that would be fun and I would jump at the chance!!

oooo I am having a bit of a brainwave - how about a Centre Parcs SO meet??:idea: (http://www.survivor-online.co.uk/forums/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#) We can have cycle races and water bomb fights - and lovely gentle walks in the forest??

I have now talked myself into wanting to go now!!

The Ducklings - are just soo cute :wub: (http://www.survivor-online.co.uk/forums/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#)
Now Centre Parcs? Hmmm? Quite honestly it is not my thing, I just don't fancy organised holiday parks, the thought of doing it with everyone else makes me a bit cringy. And Mr F hates anything like that more than me.

However, having said that, I haven't been so I don't know whether I would like it or not. And so many people tell me that when you have children, especially children with age gaps [6 and 14 yrs] there is something for each and all. So perhaps I shouldn't be so quick to judge.

Mind I would really fancy going to Centre Parcs like Crit's hubby is [with a load of mates], now that would be fun and I would jump at the chance!!

oooo I am having a bit of a brainwave - how about a Centre Parcs SO meet??:idea: (http://www.survivor-online.co.uk/forums/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#) We can have cycle races and water bomb fights - and lovely gentle walks in the forest??

I have now talked myself into wanting to go now!!
Book over Xmas and we will come too.

Book over Xmas and we will come too.

A Christmas SO meet! We could come dressed as shepherds & angels! :w00t:

We have been to CP (mainly Sherwood) many many times and although it's dead easy to do and very relaxing (no one has to do sports!) we did find that we kind of grew out of it after a bit. I did like the Aqua Sana (spa) though and bowling was always a big family favourite. It's an easy, rather than exciting holiday I'd say, but sometimes that's what you want isn't it?

I've only just found this thread.

I've been to Center Parcs a few times........we ddin't go last year, but for the 3 years before that we went to Sherwood for either Christmas or New Year. And I went once for a week in July. (I also had a weekend at Longleat in 2001 on my own....I'd booked to go with my husband but he left me just before we were due to go so I went on my own and had a great time!!)

The main reason for going there for Xmas/New Year is that it's somewhere we could go and take the dog.
The first year was great....but I've noticed that since the fire at Elveden the prices seem to have gone up a lot...to cover rebuilding I guess.
There's also been a lot more villa added since the first time I went, but the facilities haven't been extended so when it's full I think there are too many people there for the facilities to cope.

I had two camera stolen when I was at Center Parcs.....2 years running....that put me off a bit, but it's also made me more careful with my camera.

There does seem to be a certain amount of snobbery from other guests - some of the people I have encountered we downright stuck-up, but I guess you can get that anywhere.

Last time I went to Sherwood the older villas and the public areas were looking very tired and in need of a refurb. In fact I got the extra blanket out the cupboard because I was chilly and it had pubes stick to it!! Nearly made me chuck!!

I was due to go to Eveldon the weekend after the fire, but was cancelled and I was also booked to go there that Christmas but changed the booking to Sherwood......they were really good....they gave me £150 vouchers for the inconvenience, chocolates, wine and a photo album. They also let me take my dog in a 'no dogs' villa as there were no doggy villas left at Sherwood. Although it did take Mr M causing a rumpus to get all that.

I have had some great times at Center Parcs....but my last experience left me thinking it's overpriced and tired.

Good report Minkie.

I must admit without children I wouldn't touch the place with a barge poll, but the 2 elder boys loved it and were entertained (at a cost) every minute of the day almost to the point of exhaustion.

We have suggested to my brother (no kids but a dog and likes exercise) to do a weekend and he is up for it.

As said, I will go again with other people but not on our own.