Parcs

A MULTI-MILLION upgrade is set to transform a popular Center Parcs resort.

The family-favourite holiday park has announced it is building brand-new lodges as well as adding thrilling activities to its roster – including an aerial ride.

The Center Parcs in Co. Longford is set in 400 acres of forest with over 100 attractions – and it’s undergoing a €100million expansion (£87million).

The holiday park has announced that it is adding even more activities to its site including an aerial zipline.

It will be called the Forest Glider which is expected to open in autumn – and it’s described as “a continuous-loop, gravity-fed ride”.

It was also announced in August 2025, that it would be adding a lakeside restaurant to its site.

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And even more guests will be able to book a stay there too as it is constructing a further 83 new lodges.

In the planning phase are treehouses which will be a top of the range stay across two storeys with hot tubs and gaming dens.

Currently, there are 466 lodges, but the expansion will bring that number up to 693 and the capacity of guests up to 3,500.

Some other lodges are already being built with bookings available to make between December 2026 and April 2027.

These were announced last year, it said “we’re introducing new Forest Lodges with Hot Tubs for the ultimate relaxing break and spacious 6-Bedroom Woodland Lodges for larger groups“.

The Forest Lodges with hot tubs are the ones you’ll want to book for the ultimate “relaxing break”.

Each bedroom has an additional en-suite bathroom – and inside the main lodge is also a wine cooler, hydrobath and even a private sauna in some three-bedroom Forest Lodges.

Most of its four-bedroom Forest Lodges have games rooms with pool tables.

Meanwhile, six-bedroom Woodland Lodges are also being built which are ideal for larger groups as they sleep up to 12.

Inside are spacious bedrooms, family bathrooms, shower rooms and a generous open plan living space along with a fully-fitted kitchen.

The Irish Independent reported that one of the new six-bedroom lodges for up to 12 was priced from €1,899 (£1,660.58) for a four-night midweek stay early next year.

The price rises to €5,099 (£4,458.82) for the same period over the February midterm.

The Irish Center Parcs site officially opened on July 29, 2019 and since then has welcomed over one million guests.

It’s built around a man-made lake which is used for watersports like canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and even sessions on an inflatable obstacle course.

All Center Parcs sites come with a Subtropical Swimming Paradise, and this one is Ireland‘s largest indoor water park.

It’s included in the price for guests who can take advantage of its indoor and outdoor pools, along with kids’ splash zones and whirlpools, along with its Canopy Café.

Some of the most popular activities are its adventure golf, aerial adventure and laser combat.

A recent addition at the site are two escape rooms, The Plant Room and Forest Laboratory.

For more on Center Parcs, here’s the latest on the new holiday park set to open in Scotland.

And here are the nine most popular Hols From £9.50 holiday parks of last year.

IF you love wandering through woodland, spotting wildlife round every corner and then heading back to base to cosy up in a log cabin – this staycay is for you.

There is a hidden network of locations across the country that give Center Parcs vibes but without the price tag.

It’s easy to overlook the amazing forestry centres we have across the UK as only good for a woodland walk and to while away a few hours beneath the trees.

But some offer accommodation options as well, so you can enjoy the forest fun for even longer. 

I was wowed by how much there was to do when I went to visit Rosliston Forestry Centre in the heart of the National Forest on the border of Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

Within moments of setting off down the tree-lined path, I had spotted six different species of birds and a huge cheeky squirrel hanging upside down from a feeder right in front of a hide where you can get up close to nature without the animals being scared off by your presence. 

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On site, there are loads of facilities that wouldn’t be out of place on an upmarket holiday park, like bike hire, a small soft play for under sevens opposite the cafe and lots of fun play equipment, including a striking sparrowhawk play frame installed last year to replace a much-loved earlier version that was known to all as the Owl.

You’ll also find the real thing here as there’s a birds of prey centre on site which is often open to the public. Over Easter, visitors will be able to hold a bird for £5.

You can visit for the day or for a stay, as lodges for up to 12 guests are tucked away down a little lane, so it’s perfect for a secluded staycation.

And a half-term break for a family of four is only £479 for the week, compared to £2500 for the same seven nights at the nearest Center Parcs at Sherwood Forest.

Every school holidays, there are themed trails and extra activities on offer, so for February half-term, kids can take on a space trail to find all the planets hidden in the trees for £3.

One thing you won’t find here is a subtropical swimming dome, but if you want to recreate that element of a Center Parcs break, you’re spoilt for choice in this part of the world as you’ve got four of the UK’s best waterparks less than an hour’s drive away.

The closest and cheapest is Moorways Sports Village in Derby, where 90 minutes in the waterpark costs £10.25 per person or just £2.10 for three to five-year-olds.

As well as flumes, slides and a wave pool, there’s often an aqua inflatable obstacle course at no extra cost in the school holidays and it’s only half an hour from Rosliston.

Further afield, entry to the waterpark at Alton Towers starts at £18 a person, the Wave in Coventry costs £56 for two adults and two children during school holidays or a family ticket for four at Waterworld in Stoke is £92. They are all about an hour away.

Even if you splash out on a waterpark trip or two, you’ll still be quids in if you choose this Center Parcs alternative for your half-term break. 

And Rosliston isn’t the only Forestry England site where you can stay overnight as well as visit for the day. 

Forest Holidays offer hot tub lodges on 13 sites leased from Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland and Natural Resources Wales.

You can get a midweek stay for a family of four from £860 over February half-term.

Some sites are near the coast and others have outdoor adventures like archery or zipwires. 

Don’t forget to check cashback sites and membership schemes before you book as you may get an upfront discount code or money back after your stay.

Blue Light Card members can get up to £70 off Forest Holidays.

So why not head to the forest this February and be wowed by the wonders of the woodland all around us?

Plus, check out the 9 most popular Hols From £9.50 holiday parks of last year – as booking opens for 2026.

And travel expert reveal best cheap UK holiday parks with lazy rivers & fairgrounds from £13 a night – and a Center Parcs dupe.