The holiday park chain is one of the most popular in the UK, offering a vast array of activities and family fun, but there’s one common issue in reviews that has seen it criticised, especially by parents
Its six holiday parks have serene lake and forest settings(Image: Center Parcs)
One of the UK’s most popular holiday park chains has been hit by a low score in a national ranking, with visitors particularly irked about one thing in particular.
Center Parcs has six holiday villages across the UK, and in a recent Which? survey, it was the most-visited holiday park on the list, especially popular for short breaks in its car-free forest locations.
Which? said: “You like that you know what you’re getting, from the acres of forest trails to the swimming pool in a heated glass dome – a subtropical paradise even in the soggiest of British summers. It also earned praise for appealing to all ages, whether that’s with the treetop aerial adventure or the thermal spa (with a volcanic steam room and an igloo-inspired ice cave).”
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
The parks were also praised for their accommodation, with higher grades including facilities such as hot tubs, saunas, and games rooms, making it a solid “family favourite” according to Which?. But customers were particularly unhappy with one thing.
“However, it’s extraordinarily expensive, at more than twice the price of budget rival Haven. Activities cost even more on top, and you need to secure your preferred slots weeks in advance. The two-star rating for value for money is the joint lowest in our survey. You could save a fortune by choosing a better-rated rival,” the Which? survey noted.
In most aspects, Center Parcs performed well. It was awarded four stars for activities, entertainment and facilities, as well as quality of accommodation and cleanliness. It achieved three stars for customer service and food and drink. But its place in the rankings, fifth from the bottom, came due to its value for money score at just two stars. It was the third most expensive of all the holiday parks surveyed.
It’s not the first time the chain has been criticised for its high prices. In a viral social media post, one fed-up mum showed the difference in prices between a school holiday and September dates at the parks, commenting: “If anyone’s unsure when their kids return to school after the holidays, Center Parcs have this handy tool.” A four-night break in August was priced at £1,049, while the same holiday a week later, post-school holidays, was £529.
Even positive reviews of the parks often mention the price. One recent review of Center Parcs Woburn Forest said: “Amazing place to holiday. Personally, I felt the prices of things on-site were a little high, and that was even going outside of term-time; however, you cannot fault the fun and wonder of being at these parks.”
Another was more blunt: “Badly overpriced, we only paid £799 for a family of 4 and it still felt like a rip off. You get a good room, yes, but it’s nothing you can’t get at a hotel in the countryside for half the price. Every single other activity charged extra (except swimming which is decent but you can get a similar quality just slightly more warm out at Butlin’s for 1/10th of the price).”
Center Parcs has been contacted for comment.
The UK’s best and worst holiday parks
(Name of resort, overall customer score)
- Potters Resorts – 83%
- Hoburne Holidays – 81%
- Darwin Escapes – 80%
- Landal Parks – 80%
- Waterside Holiday Group – 80%
- Shorefield Holidays – 76%
- Away Resorts – 75%
- Bluestone Wales – 75%
- Park Leisure UK – 75%
- Highland Holidays – 74%
- Lyons Holiday Parks – 74%
- Largo Leisure – 73%
- Park Holidays UK – 73%
- Warner Coastal Villages – 73%
- Forest Holidays – 72%
- John Fowler Holidays – 72%
- Center Parcs – 69%
- Haven Holidays – 68%
- Parkdean Resorts – 68%
- Butlin’s – 63%
- Pontins – 61%
Based on a survey of 2,221 Which? Connect panel members and general public conducted in February and March 2026.
