The best UK holiday parks – and the worst-rated

The best UK holiday park isn’t popular Center Parcs or heavyweights Butlin’s or Haven, according to our latest survey. Instead, lesser-known names took the top spots.

Some of the best resorts offer a range of luxuries and entertainment – from safari lodges with hot tubs to elaborate water slides and spas.

But if you prefer a more traditional break with static caravans and 2p slot machines, there are some great budget options, too, if you know which brand to choose.

More than 1,700 Which? members rated their visits to holiday parks and resorts and the results suggest you should avoid some of the big-name brands.

Get more of the latest deals and recommendations you can trust from the experts with our Travel newsletter – it's free

Where to next?

Discover the best destinations and holiday providers, independently researched and recommended by us & save 30% only £34.30.

Join Which? Travel

Offer ends 16 Jun 25. Cancel anytime.

Best and worst UK holiday parks and resorts rated

Brand	Indicative price per night	Customer score	Value for money	Overall customer service	Cleanliness	Quality of accommodation	Food and drink	Quality of facilities/activities	Variety of free facilities	Quality of entertainment	Communication	Quality/variety of children's activities	Dog-friendliness
Potters Resorts	£110	87%	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	-	-
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Forest Holidays	£63	80%	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	-	-
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Bluestone Wales	£64	77%	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	-
John Fowler Holiday Parks	-	77%	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	-	★★★☆☆	-	-	★★★★☆	-	-
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Hoburne Holidays	£47	75%	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	-	★★★☆☆	-	-
Hoseasons	£46	74%	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆	★★★☆☆
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Waterside Holiday Group	£69	74%	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	-	★★★★☆	-	-

Show all rows

Based on 2,255 responses from 1,717 Which? members and the general public. The survey was carried out in Feb and March 2024.  The more stars the better. Customer score combine likelihood of recommending with overall satisfaction. A (—) means there were not enough responses to generate a rating in this category. WRPs not only gained high ratings but also met requirements, including having good cancellation policies.

The best holiday park in the UK: Potters Resorts, 87%

Beating household names to the top of the table is Potters Resorts. Operating for more than 100 years, Potters has two resorts, in Essex and Norfolk. Guests stay in bungalows, hotel rooms or suites, while facilities include a boating lake and a rifle-shooting range. Activities and West End-inspired entertainment are also part of the package – both rated five stars by visitors.

Although expensive, with guests telling us they paid £110 per person per night (pppn) on average, they thought it was a good deal, awarding Potters four stars for value for money. This sense of value is likely due to both resorts being all-inclusive, and that covers alcoholic drinks too.

It narrowly missed out on WRP status due to its cancellation terms, which did not align with those of other WRPs.

Which? verdict: Potters is an upscale affair with absolutely everything included.

What our members think of Potters Resorts

' Facilities are excellen[t]. Activities varied and well organised. Entertainment outstanding. All inclusive deal was very good value. Food superb and plentiful'

'I have been many times and find a consistently good standard.'

Book a holiday at Potters Resorts

Well-rated UK holiday park: Forest Holidays, 80%

• Which? Recommended Provider

With log cabins and treehouses to choose from, this Which? Recommended Provider offers forest escapes in 13 scenic woodland locations across the UK.

Food, drinks and activities aren’t included in its self-catering parks. Despite that, Forest Holidays’ accommodation will still set you back £63pppn, but that’s probably because every lodge comes with a hot tub. 

The cleanliness and quality of the accommodation were big hits, securing four out of five stars, but value for money scored a middling three.

Activities are low-key and include nature walks, kayaking and cycling. This pared-back approach explains the three-star rating Forest Holidays got for entertainment, although it scored four for the quality of its cabins, cleanliness and customer service.

Which? Verdict: Perfect for a relaxing break in nature, but the hot tub lodgings ramp up the cost

What our members think of Forest Holidays

'We had no complaints and the price for a weekend is fair and the cabins suit our needs perfectly. They are well distanced so you are not disturbed and the quietness and beauty of the forest make it feel very tranquil!'

'It's possibly not a holiday for anyone looking for constant entertainment and activities like Center Parcs, however if you like long walks with your dog through forests and quiet paths, hillwalking, cycling or just a bit of peace and quiet, it's ideal.'

Book with Forest Holidays

Top-rated holiday park in Wales: Bluestone Wales, 77%

• Which? Recommended Provider

Founder William McNamara originally opened his dairy farm to guests in the 1980s when milk quotas threatened his livelihood. Today, this single five-star resort has expanded to a sprawling 500 acres within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Choose from spa, family or adventure breaks with a climbing wall, high ropes course and a range of watersports. There’s a Serendome with sand pits, skywalks and wacky races under a giant transparent roof, catering for kids.

You’ll pay for most activities, but a few are thrown in, such as the water splash area and play park. It gained four stars for the variety of facilities on offer but just three for the amount that are free, which perhaps contributed to its three-star value-for-money rating. Still, its range of woodland lodges and colourful terrace cottages garnered four stars, as did its customer service and cleanliness. 

Which? verdict: There may be just one resort, but families needn’t venture anywhere else.

What our members think of Bluestone Wales

''Excellent pool facilities & free soft play area.'

'We go every year and always look forward to it. It's become a home from home. Some of our family have been to Center Parcs and, while some things are better there, they prefer Bluestone overall and it is much less expensive.'

Book with Bluestone Wales 

Well-rated holiday parks in Cornwall, Dorset and Devon

Waterside Holiday Group, 74%

• Which? Recommend Provider

A small regional brand, Waterside Holiday Group has four parks in total – three in Dorset, one in Cornwall. Each park is a little bit different: for example, Osmington is grown-up, with a country club, gym and swimming pool, while Chesil Vista has a splash pool, soft play and lots of other kids’ facilities.

The caravans are as classy as they come – they're comfortably wide, with central heating and double glazing, plus fully equipped kitchens and widescreen TVs. You can also choose a lodge, an apartment, or even glamp in a safari lodge with a private hot tub.

At £69pppn on average, though, you pay for the privilege of more upscale accommodation – and that price doesn't include any food. There are on-site bars and restaurants, but not everyone was impressed. Members gave it three out of five stars for food.

Still, most were satisfied overall, which saw it land four out of five stars for value for money. 

Which? Verdict: A decently-rated caravan experience in beautiful coastal locations. 

What our members think of Waterside Holiday Group

'We did not experience any problems there and really our only complaint was the high cost and poor quality of the food in all the 'restaurants' we ate in.'

'It was the cleanest and best maintained holiday park we have been to. There were lots of facilities to keep you entertained.'

Book with Waterside Holiday Group

Prefer holiday cottages to holiday parks? Look at the best and worst-rated holiday let providers – as rated by members.

The most popular UK holiday park: Center Parcs, 69%

The most visited brand in Which?’s survey, Center Parcs has become famous for its ‘dependable’ and ‘consistent’ family-friendly forest holidays.

It has five UK parks: Elvedon Forest, Suffolk; Longleat Forest, Wiltshire; Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire; Whinfell Forest, Cumbria; and Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire, which provide a wide range of activities, from wildlife trails and zip lines to watersports and cycling. Rainy days are also well catered for with spa treatments, in-village shopping and free use of an indoor tropical pool.

The brand received largely favourable reviews but failed to deliver value for money – it received just two stars in this category. Survey respondents reported spending an average of £79pppn on accommodation, making it the most expensive option not to include food or drinks in the price.

It also only scored two stars for the variety of free facilities on offer. Still it received four stars in many other categories, including customer service, quality and variety of children’s activities and quality of accommodation.

Which? Verdict: Excellent facilities and lodgings, but it’s pricey, with only the pool and parks included.

What our members think of Center Parcs

'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.'

 ‘'We had a very memorable holiday for the whole family which could be enjoyed from the very youngest 2 year old to the oldest 74 year old and everyone in between with something for everyone.  The campus was well organised and always felt safe for children everywhere.'

Book with Center Parcs 

Center Parcs UK breaks too pricey? Book a trip with Center Parcs Europe and you could save more than £800

Best value for money holiday parks

• Hoburne Holidays, 75%, £47pppn (Which? Recommended Provider)

• Hoseasons, 74%, £46pppn

Hoburne Holidays and Hoseasons are the best options if you're on a budget. Both scored highly in our survey, were awarded four stars for value for money and weren't too pricey. 

Hoburne Holidays also passed checks to see it become a Which? Recommended Provider; it gained the same star ratings or better than Hoseasons in every category (where there were ratings available).

What our members thinks of Hoburne Holidays

'They were very helpful during booking and throughout our stay. It was nice and clean [and] tidy.'

'Park was immaculate and well manicured.'

Book with WRP Hoburne Holidays

What our members think of Hoseasons

'I liked the location and the pool on the park but the variety of activies was limited and the food was quite expensive. Staff where always friendly and helpful and evening entertainment was great.'

'Although our caravan was suited to our needs generally the cooking equipment was very limited[...] The caravan could have been cleaner. The booking system for activities meant that everything had been booked before our holiday was booked...'

Book with Hoseasons

Worst-rated holiday park: Pontins, 56%

You’ll get what you pay for at Pontins, which, despite being cheap (£38pppn), only scraped two stars for value for money.

The iconic holiday park, founded in 1946, was taken over by Britannia Hotels in 2011, the worst-rated firm in the Which? annual hotel chains survey for 11 years running.

After recent closures, Pontins now has just two remaining sites in Suffolk and Somerset.

It received the lowest score in our survey for its chalet-style accommodation – two stars – also falling down on its cleanliness and the quality of its food and drink.

Which? Verdict: Cheap but not cheerful

What our members think of Pontins

‘The furnishings were extremely tired, the chairs and beds were incredibly uncomfortable, and the grounds within the complex were mostly overgrown.’  

'It is cheap to book and entertain children[...]however the facilities available and prices were below par when actually at the resort.'

Discover more about Pontins

Where to next?

Discover the best destinations and holiday providers, independently researched and recommended by us & save 30% only £34.30.

Join Which? Travel

Offer ends 16 Jun 25. Cancel anytime.