Want to save on Center Parcs? Go to Europe

Going to a Center Parcs Europe resort in the school holidays can cost less than half the price of the UK version, our snapshot research found.

We compared the costs of four-night stays for a family of four across 32 parks in the UK and Europe on five dates within the UK’s school holidays — May, July, August, and October — and the UK parks were significantly pricier every time.

The average price of a family stay for all five dates across the five UK parks was £1,435. You’ll pay a fraction of that in Germany (£857) and the Netherlands (£886). France and Belgium’s resorts were also cheaper, where a holiday was £1,098 and £1,121 respectively. 

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Cheapest Center Parcs for May, summer and October school holidays

The most significant price disparity we found between Center Parcs UK and Center Parcs Europe — two separate companies — was in the Netherlands during the October half term. This is likely due to differing school holiday calendars.

Between 28 October and 1 November this year, the average price across the Netherlands’ nine resorts was £645, a staggering £804 cheaper than in the UK (£1,449). After factoring in ferry costs from Harwich to the Hook of Holland (£188 return), it was still £616 cheaper than a UK break. Therefore, it may pay to head overseas in the October half-term. Families should bear in mind, though, that while you can take a direct ferry, it takes a minimum of six and a half hours, plus driving time on top.

Flying may be an easier option - with flights into major Netherlands airports taking around one hour. For a family of four the cheapest options we found were to fly into either Eindhoven (starting from £280) or Amsterdam (starting from £298). Even after adding flight costs, it still worked out cheaper than heading to UK parks - but you’ll need to consider taxi or car hire costs at the other end.

 Some of the parks in France and Belgium are easier to reach by ferry from the south of England - with connections to Calais and Dunkirk. France was the cheapest Center Parcs location to visit during the May half term (£597). Once we’d factored in £165 return ferry fees (Dover to Calais or Dunkirk), it was still £687 cheaper than the UK Center Parcs (£1,449) in the May half term (on average).

In the summer holidays, we found the best prices in Germany’s parks. Costs ranged from £803 to £1,175 on average over the three weeks checked, compared to the UK’s £1,409 - £1,439. However, it may not be quite as good a deal as you think. Most of Germany’s Center Parcs locations aren’t that close to airports. Your most convenient option is Bispinger Heide park which is 65km from Hamburg airport. Flight costs will add £368 to the total.

Visit the EU Center Parcs website.

Center Parcs UK vs Center Parcs Europe  

Center Parcs UK has five parks, from Longleat Forest in Wiltshire to Whinfell Forest in Cumbria. It was the most visited brand in our survey of UK holiday parks, but it scored just two out of five stars for value for money. 

Center Parcs Europe is a separate company with holiday parks in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Germany. When the UK and European operations split in 2001, Center Parcs agreed not to promote its holiday villages here, which is why even Center Parcs’ fans might not be aware of their existence.

Almost all Belgian, French, Dutch and German Center Parcs also have tropical-themed pools and lots of kid-friendly activities that cost extra – but prices aren’t as steep. For example, archery costs between £20.50 and £29 at Nottinghamshire’s Sherwood Forest, compared to £13 at Belgium’s De Vossemeren.

Cheap Center Parcs trips to Europe

The above price comparisons were made by comparing the UK Center Parcs site prices with Center Parcs Europe’s English-language site: Centerparcs.eu. However, we found even cheaper rates on the local domains during spot checks.

For instance, we found a saving of €820 (£704) for a trip to the Villages Nature Paris park in France for a trip between 29 July - 2 August when booking through Centerparcs.fr (€1459) instead of Centerparcs.eu (€2279).

If you’re thinking of booking a trip to a Center Parcs overseas, use Centerparcs.nl, Centerparcs.de, Centerparcs.fr and Centerparcs.be instead of the generic EU site.

• Visit Center Parcs Belgium
• Visit Center Parcs France
• Visit Center Parcs Germany
• Visit Center Parcs Netherlands

Which is the cheapest UK Center Parcs resort?

Still rather visit Center Parcs UK and avoid extra travelling time? Head to Whinfell Forest in Cumbria. Across the five school holiday dates checked, Whinfell Forest was the cheapest on average costing £1,299 for a four-night stay. Longleat Forest in Wiltshire was the priciest at £1,649.

Book a trip to Center Parcs in the UK.

Our research

Spot checks were carried out in April 2024 on centerparks.co.uk and centerparcs.eu for a four-night stay in a standard two-bedroom woodland cottage/lodge. We selected the cheapest comfort cottage, except when a premium cottage was cheaper and in the case of Terhills resort, which does not offer comfort accommodation. 

Center Parcs Europe is a separate company, with 26 parks operating across Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Travellers should check facilities at their chosen park to ensure it has the activities expected. Almost all Belgian, French, Dutch and German Center Parcs have tropical-themed pools and activities (some at extra charge).

Ferry prices (which are subject to change) based on a family of two adults and two children travelling in a Ford Fiesta, with no pets or additional roof luggage. Travellers may also want to factor in additional transport costs including petrol.

Flight prices are for a family of four and were correct at the time of checking on May 15 2024 but are likely to change due to dynamic pricing. We used the cheapest price found on Skyscanner. Families will need to factor in train, car hire or taxi prices in addition.