scraps

FAMILIES have been left gutted after Center Parcs confirmed they were scrapping a popular service at the resorts.

The company previously offered a creche service for kids between three months and three years, for up to three hours.

Costing around £30 a session, it has since confirmed that this will no longer be offered at any of the resorts by the end of next month.

Customers with upcoming bookings have discovered they can no longer book their kids in if their holiday is after the end of May, with the option removed across all of Center Parcs’ UK sites.

One frustrated parent said on a Facebook Center Parcs group: “I had planned to book a much needed child free trip to the spa with my husband and planned to put the children in the kids clubs and our 2 year old in the crèche so we could go together. 

“However the crèche is unavailable for booking? I could cry.”

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Others explained why they had found the creche so helpful.

One said: “We used the crèche for my youngest who wasn’t old enough for any activities so us parents and the older two could do the treetop adventure together.”

Another added: ” We used the crèche whilst my husband and I did a couples hour in the spa.

“If we have the money for the holiday, we can choose to spend it on the crèche and have an hour to ourselves.”

A third said: “It’s only three hours and provides the adults of the holiday with maybe just a lunch of hot uninterrupted food together as it’s their holiday too. 

“We all need a break sometimes.”

The creche was the only activity where parents could leave children aged under three, although they had to stay on-site.

Activities for older children that do not require a parent to accompany them are still on offer, such as Wizard Academy (3+) and Chocolate Chef’s Academy (3+).

Center Parcs said it is developing new activities for children of all ages to be enjoyed by families together.

A spokesperson told The Sun: “At Center Parcs, we’re always looking to review and evolve the guest experience. 

“We have made the decision to remove the crèche activity from our breaks, to reflect guest feedback and limited demand for this particular activity. 

“Crèche sessions are one of more than 20 activities available within our Activity Den and our other activities will continue to run as normal. 

“We’re developing new activities for children of all ages, with the aim of creating even more engaging experiences for families to enjoy together at Center Parcs.”

It’s not the only changes at the parks in recent years.

Last summer, changes to the pools revealed opening times were 9am instead of 10am, as well as new Quiet hours on select days.

However, it also confirmed that the pools would be closing at 8pm rather than 10pm.

And in September 2025, they introduced new staggered check in times.

Treehouse access guests can check in from 1pm, while Forest Lodges, Hotels and Apartments check in is from 3pm.

Exclusive Lodges check in times stay at 2pm, as well as Woodland Lodges from 4pm.

And here is everything to know about the new £450million Center Parcs resort opening in the UK.

HEADING to a seaside pier during the summer is a staple part of a UK staycation – and one popular pier will have free entry for the next three years.

Bournemouth Pier has announced that it is scrapping its entry fees until at least the end of October 2029.

The announcement is part of a move to encourage people to visit the pier, supporting the local economy and tourism in the region.

In a post on Instagram, the pier commented: “No toll. No barriers. Just the pier, as it should be.

“We’ve teamed up with BCP [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole] Council to keep Bournemouth Pier open and accessible for everyone, indefinitely.

“After a hugely positive first year, the toll suspension isn’t just staying… it’s becoming part of the future.

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“More visitors, more energy, more reasons to spend time by the sea.”

The post added that there will be “pop-ups landing throughout the year” as well.

The pier can be found on Bournemouth Beach, which features golden sand and stretches for seven miles.

On the pier, there are a number of different attractions including RockReef – an indoor climbing centre at the end of the pier, that has 28 themed walls of different difficulties, costing from £20 per session.

There’s also PierZip – the world’s first pier-to-shore zip line – which costs £27 per person.

These aren’t the only adrenaline-based activities visitors can get stuck into…

Kids can have a go at the aerial course, suspended six metres above the ground, costing £11.50 per person.

And they can venture into the Piercave, which features three tunnels to crawl through and a large ball pit.

It also costs £11.50 per person.

Or they could try the Leap of Faith or drop down the Vertical Slide.

A two-hour session including the climbing, aerial course, Piercave, Vertical Slide and Leap of Faith costs £36 per person.

After burning energy at the different attractions, visitors can grab something to eat at Key West Restaurant where you can pizza costs as little as £14.95 or a cream tea will set you back £9.50.

If you just need a caffeine fix, then you can opt for Coffee Reef, where you can pick up a latte, cappuccino or flat white for £4.50.

There’s also a news and gift shop as well as a beach shop selling seaside essentials such as buckets and spades.

The pier is also a 10 to 15-minute walk from Bournemouth town centre.

Many people have taken to social media to express their excitement for the news.

One person said: “Love this! The right decision.”

The pier previously announced in April last year that it was temporarily suspending the entry fee for 2025, to make it more accessible to the local community.

Since the entry fee was scrapped, the pier has seen more visitors and engagement.

According to the Bournemouth Echo, Sarah Hunter, Managing Director of Adventure Attractions, said: “Increasing accessibility to the pier has always been our ambition, and the response over the past year has been incredibly positive.

“Continuing the toll suspension allows us to build on that momentum and ensure the pier remains a place everyone can enjoy, all year round.”

The entry fee will be suspended until the end of the current pier operator’s term, which includes 2026, 2027, 2028 and up to the end of October 2029.

In other UK seaside news, a popular English city has revealed a £750,000 makeover of its Victorian promenade, which has been closed for over a decade.

Plus, here are our favourite old-fashioned English seaside resorts – with quaint promenades and retro beach huts.

A POPULAR seaside attraction will reopen later this month with two big changes – a new ride and free entry.

Adventure Coast Southport, which used to be known as Southport Pleasureland, will reopen on March 28 with a free-entry model.

The new system will mean you can access the attraction – which is one of the UK’s oldest seaside amusement parks – for free and pay-as-you-go for each ride instead.

The park will also feature a new ride, and while little details about the attraction have been revealed, CEO Norman Wallis said that it is “something really big”.

The Adventure Coast Southport team added it will be a “spectacular new addition” that will be visible as part of Southport’s coastline.

Full details of the ride are expected in due course, but visitors can expect a “brand new BIG 50metre showstopper ride arriving from Easter”.

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Wallis added: “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors back for 2026 with a refreshed approach that puts flexibility for families first.

“By removing the entry fee, families can decide what works for them.

“They might come for a couple of rides, meet friends by the coast or make a full day of it.

“Guests often tell us they love coming back because every year it feels bigger and better.”

The park is split into four themed areas: Cartoon Boardwalk, Viking Landing, Steampunk Bay and Pirate Cove.

Across the different themed areas there are a number of different rides, starting from just £1 a ride.

For example, you can head on a ghost train, swing ride, flying chairs and dodgems.

There are also a number of arcades onsite to explore and gardens with waterfalls.

Visitors can grab food at the park, including new street food options like loaded fries – but you can also bring your own picnic.

Many locals have welcomed the news of free entry on social media with one person commenting: “So glad it’s gone back to free entry and just pay for what you want, better for people with only a certain amount to spend.

“Also grandparents can now join in and watch grandkids ride.”

The park is also dog-friendly, has onsite parking and will be open every weekend and daily during the school holidays, from 11am.

If you want to extend your stay and explore more of Southport, then there is a motorhome site that is part of the park where you can pitch your caravan or camper van for £24 a night.

Then, just across the road from Adventure Coast Southport is Splash World waterpark.

It costs £16.20 per person to visit and includes three slides and a lazy river.

You can also head for a stroll along Southport Beach and see the pier, which is the second longest in the UK but currently closed.

Though, the Victorian pier is due to undergo £20million repairs starting this year.

In other attraction news, a popular technology-free attraction with no loud rides is set to open a third site in the UK.

Plus, here are the 20 most-visited attractions in England that are completely free to enter.