A new wave of family indoor water and adventure park hotels, that have been dubbed the ‘American Center Parcs’, are set to open in the UK for a fun-packed adventure
15:44, 19 Sep 2025Updated 16:27, 19 Sep 2025
The American resort brand, Great Wolf Lodge, is set to come to the UK(Image: Getty Images)
We’re all familiar with Center Parcs, the popular forest retreats dotted across the UK, offering a fun-packed getaway for families – but there could be a competitor on the way, offering a new indoor water and adventure park resort.
Great Wolf Lodge is essentially the US version of Center Parcs, with family accommodation, huge indoor waterparks with slides, various swimming pools, a wave machine and enough activities to keep the whole family entertained, from mini golf to arcade games.
With 23 locations across the United States and Canada, Great Wolf Lodge is now planning to expand to the UK with three resorts.
The water parks at Great Wolf Lodge have various slides and a wave pool(Image: Getty Images)
The Telegraph reports that the North American brand, with the “largest family of indoor waterpark resorts,” is planning to build three lodges in Hampshire, Oxfordshire, and Derbyshire.
The overhaul of Great Wolf Lodge in the UK is said to bring a “world-class leisure facility to the region” while attracting tourists and providing “hundreds of job opportunities.”
According to the publication, construction for the first £200 million hotel complex has already begun and is being built on a former golf course in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
It will boast the famed adventure and waterpark, and offer family accommodation, along with various additional activities.
The family parks have additional activities available, including mini golf and arcade games(Image: Getty Images)
While there isn’t a planned opening date yet, it is thought that the new family getaway will boast similar features to the Great Wolf Lodge’s across the pond.
In America, it has what you’d expect to see at a family camp, with red cabin buildings, wooden structures, colourful interiors, grand fireplaces and even a mascot known as Wiley the Wolf.
Compared to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise at Center Parcs with its fake palm trees and cabanas, the waterparks at Great Wolf Lodge boast totem poles and wooden beams.
What’s more, it’s designed to be well-used during the colder months, with the temperature said to be set at around 29C in the indoor pools.
The water parks have lazy rivers and wooden beam features (Image: Getty Images)
According to the Telegraph, a family of four can stay at Great Wolf Lodge for around £150 per night.
This isn’t too different from Center Parcs, which can charge around £659 for a family of four for four nights midweek and off-peak.
However, during peak times midweek, such as the October half-term, this could set a family back around £1,899.
A survey of 1,700 holidaymakers has revealed some of the best and worst of British holiday park breaks
04:00, 12 Jul 2025Updated 10:39, 12 Jul 2025
Pontins – who were bottom of the list – have closed locations including Camber Sands in East Sussex(Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
A survey by Which? has revealed some of the best and worst holiday parks in the UK for 2025, with well-known brands such as Haven and Center Parcs losing out to lesser-known providers.
The survey was completed by 1,700 Which? members who were asked to rate their experiences in UK holiday parks and resorts. Respondents were asked to rank details from the cleanliness of the park to the quality of their accommodation, variety of free activities on offer, and the overall value for money of their holiday.
Topping the chart for “customer score” was Potters Resorts, which offer all-inclusive holidays at two resorts based in Essex and Norfolk. While it’s an adults-only resort most of the year, children are allowed during the summer holidays in Norfolk. Potters scored an impressive 87%, with an impressive five-stars for quality of facilities and accommodation, and a perfect score for the variety of free activities on offer.
Potters Resorts have two locations including the beautiful Hopton-on-Sea in Norfolk(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Although Potters is the most expensive of the parks included in the Which? survey, the price includes all food and drink, activities that range from pickleball to archery and evening entertainment which is described as ‘West End’ quality, netting the parks a four-star rating for value for money.
Forest Holidays came in second, with an overall customer score of 80%. The brand has eight parks in England, three in Scotland, and two in Wales, with rural locations and accommodation such as log cabins and treehouses. Customers gave positive feedback for the quality of the accommodation and cleanliness, although they only got three-stars for value for money.
Another winner was Bluestone Wales, which is set in picturesque Pembrokeshire. Bluestone offers luxury lodges and cottages, also scoring highly for the quality of accommodation on offer. While they scored well for the variety of children’s activities on offer and the entertainment, they also scored three-stars for value for money, giving them an overall score of 77%.
Forest Holidays clinched second place(Image: Leicester Mercury)
Pontins are yet again at the bottom of the chart, having also come bottom in 2024. The brand only has one holiday park that’s currently open to guests, the adults-only Sand Bay Holiday Village in Weston-Super-Mare. Their other two parks in Burnham on Sea, Somerset and Pakefield, Suffolk are temporarily closed in order to house construction workers.
Scoring just 56% for customer satisfaction, Pontins scored just two-stars in most areas and, despite being the cheapest option, customers still felt they received poor value for money.
Sand Bay near Weston-Super-Mare is the only Pontins currently open to the public(Image: Rowan Griffiths)
In a Tripadvisor review of their Pakefield park, one customer said: “Worst place I have ever visited, chalet was old unkempt and dirty, holes in sheets, beds pushed together with terrible matress and pillows, to shower you had to keep pushing a button in, it leaked all over the floor”.
Another complained: “Rooms are shabby and quite dirty. Dirt on the baseboards, cobwebs in the corners and behind doors, our shower curtain had pink mold growing along the bottom seam, clearly not laundered between guests.”
However, there were positive reviews of the Pontins experience. One said: “We went beginning of October had a brilliant week! Food was great, swimming pool was really good and for the price you really can’t get any better!”
And many reviews praised the entertainment on offer, with one saying: “The Bluecoats show Vegas was amazing! They are all so talented and are always doing some activity or joining in on the dance floor and having a laugh or chatting with people.”
Away Resorts have 25 family-friendly resorts including one in Newquay(Image: William Dax / SWNS)
The bottom of the list also included Largo Leisure Parks, a chain of six parks in Scotland, who scored 64%. However, it’s worth noting they had a small sample size of just 30 respondents who had visited their parks.
A spokesperson for Largo Leisure said: “Whilst this is of course disappointing, this relates to only 30 people who were surveyed about Largo Leisure over 12 months ago. On both TripAdvisor and Google Reviews, where we have thousands of reviews for each of our six Scotland holiday parks, all of them are rated 4.3 or above out of 5.
“We regularly get 5 star reviews on both TripAdvisor and Google reviews and we would encourage people to take a look on both to see a true reflection of the guest experiences at our parks. We are very proud of our track record for providing exceptional holidays for our guests but we never stop trying to improve. We are enjoying a busy year across all our parks and if people read the online reviews they will see why.”
Away Resorts had the same score. They have 25 parks across the UK, including the popular south-west of England area and the Isle of Wight.
Away Resorts got just two stars for value for money, despite offering a wide range of accommodation from caravans and glamping to luxury lodges. They also scored poorly for customer service, but received three-stars for cleanliness and quality of accommodation.
The most popular holiday park provider in the survey was Center Parcs, which scored 69%, putting it neck and neck with Haven. While it scored well for the quality of its facilities and accommodation, it received low scores for the variety of free activities on offer and overall value for money. It was the third most expensive on the list, coming in after Potters and Warner Leisure Villages, who offer adults-only breaks.
Center Parcs in Elveden Forest – their parks received high scores for quality but were described as ‘expensive’(Image: Publicity Picture)
One Which? member wrote: “Very expensive for what it is. Accomodation excellent, apart from the oasis pool, everything was extra. Staff were very helpful and the children enjoyed their stay. I will not be going back.”
Haven, who have 38 parks across the UK, scored the same percentage as Center Parcs, although they did get three stars for value for money. Which? readers gave them two star scores for food and drink and the variety of free activities on offer.
Best and worst holiday parks in the UK ranked by customer score
Potters Resorts 87%
Forest Holidays 80%
Bluestone Wales 77%
John Fowler Holiday Parks 77%
Hoburne Holidays 75%
Hoseasons 74%
Waterside Holiday Group 74%
Warner Leisure Villages 71%
Center Parcs 69%
Haven Holiday Parks 69%
Parkdean Resorts 68%
Butlins 67%
Park Holidays UK 66%
Away Resorts 64%
Largo Leisure Parks 64%
Pontins 56%
Pontins, Away Resorts, Park Holidays, Butlins, Center Parcs, and Haven have been approached for comment.
Within the first six months of 2025 I have visited Center Parcs’ Longleat Forest and Butlin’s Minehead parks – and the contrasts couldn’t be more stark
Center Parcs is completely different to Butlin’s but they both compete in one area – for British holidaymakers to book them up every year(Image: Getty)
Two of the leading UK holiday brands have a lot to offer, but it’s exactly what they serve up to unassuming holidaymakers that makes them worlds apart.
When I told my husband I wanted to compare Center Parcs with Butlin’s, he told me it was impossible to compare apples with pears. In other words, their concepts are very different.
But after a long-weekend at Center Parcs Longleat Forest in March, and then an additional four days at Butlin’s in Minehead, there’s a lot to be said for both and what they bring to the table in terms of staycations.
Butlin’s serves the British seaside culture, whereas Center Parcs plunges its guests into the middle of the countryside where urban life feels a million miles away. So yes, of course, they are going to be different and have their own appeals. And they don’t promise to be like each other, either.
Rocking up at Center Parcs in March, the wooden-clad lodges, towering trees, and abundant cyclists told me that this park is for the adventuring family. The ones who like to explore, walk, cycle and stay as active as possible. Let’s be honest, you often need a holiday to recover from an action-packed stay at Center Parcs.
Then, in the height of spring arriving at Minehead’s Butlin’s, the sea breeze, the far-away buzz of fairground rides and loud laughter of children told me this break was all about the simple concept of making children feel as included and entertained as possible. It’s kids first and adults a close second.
For anyone who hasn’t yet been to either and could be looking to book a break to Butlin’s or Center Parcs, I’ve done all the hard comparisons for you.
(Image: Publicity Picture)
Center Parcs vs. Butlins: Budgets
The first obvious thing to mention is Center Parcs is way more expensive than Butlin’s. Not only have I been to Longleat, but also to its Elveden Forest branch in Suffolk where the branding and concept is identical.
You’d easily spend well over £600 for a basic family lodge at any of its locations, whereas Butlin’s could set you back just over £100 for a basic apartment at either Minehead, Skegness or Bognor Regis.
Butlin’s offers smaller apartments, hotel-like rooms or self-catering complexes which all vary in cost. Center Parcs also has some variety but its price point starts much higher, with some of its luxurious lodges coming with hot-tubs, saunas and enclosed gardens. It also has designated lodges for people with dogs, which comes at an additional cost.
But it’s not just the price of staying over you’d need to be aware of. At Butlin’s shows are free, as are the indoor and outdoor fairgrounds, something I found incredibly good value for money. We paid an additional £15 per person for VIP wristbands which enabled us to queue jump and get seated first for the performances. Swimming is also free and the indoor and outdoor pools can be used as often as you’d like.
At Center Parcs swimming is also free, but any other activity such as quad biking, pottery painting, seeing owls, and hiring bikes come at an extra cost. But you are not pressured into buying into any of this – you can visit a Center Parcs site and bring your own bikes, explore the on-site parks and walking trails and not spend much money at all. If you are wanting to immerse yourself in the full CP experience, it is going to cost you.
So to conclude – a budget-friendly break is far simpler to complete at Butlin’s than it is at Center Parcs, but it’s not impossible at either.
Center Parcs vs. Butlins: Entertainment day and night
One striking similarity at both parks is, by around 10pm, most of the noise and buzz dies down. After-all these are family-orientated complexes. Butlin’s does, however, offer big weekenders for adults and these types of events go on well into the night.
Guests are reminded of others who are in bed much earlier, and are asked to keep the noise down as they filter back to their accommodation. There’s no doubt entertainment is Butlin’s middle name, with organised shows, character meet-and-greets and fairground attractions taking centre stage.
Center Parcs holds things like quiz nights and has a bustling sports bar at each site which is where adults are seen spending much time. But its concept is less-imposing, and with the site way more sprawled out, I’ve never heard noise after-dark. If you’re looking for an upbeat break where bed-times don’t matter, Butlin’s should be your first choice. If you want to shut the noise away on your terms, it’s Center Parcs all the way.
Center Parcs vs Butlin’s: Things to do
Both holiday parks have more than enough to do – but I’d say Center Parcs has more of a variety than Butlin’s. This is because there’s a lot of activities for families and adults.
Butlin’s is very child-orientated if you are there for a standard week’s holiday. By the end of our fourth day I was more than ready to come home and felt as though we had done everything the park had to offer.
With Center Parcs, unless you have an unlimited bank account and an infinite amount of time, you’ll never get around all the activities in a single stay. This means you can keep returning and there will always be something new to do next time. But much of the activities are outdoors based, so if you’ve picked an unfortunate week weather wise, wellies and waterproofs are essential.
Plus, the sites are varied. At Longleat there’s a little road train which takes guests across the park due to its sheer size, but there’s nothing like this at Elveden as it’s much smaller and not so hilly. Some of CP’s sites also house some incredible spas, which are so sought after that people living nearby visit these alone. Of course, treatments and visiting all costs.
(Image: Press Association Images)
Butlin’s main event tents are dominated by arcade machines, which obviously require cash to operate. They also have a bowling alley and other small scale games for the family to participate in. At Center Parcs, they also have designated areas with arcade-like entertainment, pre-booked smaller scale activities such as teddy bear designing, hair braiding and face painting along with 10-pin bowling.
Both sites have great outdoor parks for children, with Butlin’s recently spending millions on a new interactive playground, with lights and sounds, for kids at Minehead. Center Parcs has wooden, rustic playgrounds – equally as fun – with around the same amount of facilities.
Center Parcs vs. Butlin’s: Eating arrangements
At Butlin’s you can pay for a half-board eating plan which requires you to go to one or two of its on-site restaurants and pick from a buffet-style choice.
This obviously means you can fill up at breakfast time, have a light snack at lunch and be ready for dinner. It’s by far the cheapest option on site, with food court dining priced at £24.95 per adult, per day, and under £7 per child, per day.
Premium dining is only a fraction more expensive at £32.95 per day for an adult and just under £10 for a child. There’s also fish and chips and Costa coffee outlets for anyone wanting to eat on-the-go. There are a number of restaurants scattered around the park for anyone wanting to eat-out and experience table service.
We brought some of our own food, and our apartment was set up with a microwave and oven if we wanted to cook our own, but we didn’t need to bother.
Center Parcs offers no such dining plans. We nearly always do a food shop before arriving and cook our own dinners in the apartment. Center Parcs houses big name restaurants such as Bella Italia, Pret-a-Manger and Las Iguanas to name a few. It also allows you to pre-book takeaways from their on-site restaurants delivered directly to your lodge.
Centre Parcs at Longleat Wiltshire(Image: Center Parcs Limited)
My verdict
My husband was right – directly comparing both parks is no easy feat. They both have their pros and cons, but ultimately, for me, Center Parcs wins my vote. I found the parks more modern, clean, and varied. And I came away with the ability to have stayed longer had the option been there. My four-year-old also fell in love with the pools, which had various flumes and areas designated for children.
We never go over-board when it comes to shelling out on endless activities, and I like the fact you don’t need to feel obliged to do so. Center Parcs had way more for adults to do, with kids in mind too.
Butlin’s was without a doubt a great break for my little one who was buzzing at the shows, the fairground rides and the arcade amusements. She loved the football ground, and the swimming. But as the pool’s flumes were too big for her to go on, she wasn’t itching to go back. I was also more than ready to go on our last day.
If you’re looking for a budget break by the sea, Butlin’s is where it’s at. But if you’re into the countryside and could walk and cycle for hours away from civilisation, Center Parcs is the holiday for you.
