Center Parcs, Elveden Forest Review

Overall Rating

Is a fantastic place to get away from hustle and bustle and relax for a few days, whether its chilling at the villa and enjoying being in the forest amongst the wildlife or trying out all the activities, or just swimming and lounging in the pool area. We have always come away from here feeling like we have had a relaxing break.

No correspondence before holiday informing us that rapids and slides would be out of action on our last day. Felt sorry for people arriving to find this out!!

Feel like lots is being spent on accommodation, more added and old ones updated, but pool area becoming a bit dated and crowded. Maybe an outside lazy river with rubber rings or something similar should be added now as a new experience to keep the guests returning.

The Rapids at Elveden Forest Center Parc are under repair for a month as from today!!! Luckily just got back today but was very annoyed that our last day was spoilt and no notice was given! Neither tunnel slide was working either so the pool area was really packed!

Moan over, and I have sent an email of complaint to center parcs so will be interesting to see their reply, we otherwise had a great weekend. Went with husband and two children ages 11 and 9 and another family group.

Arrived at about 1.30pm which was great because there was no queue to check in and we were allowed to drive straight to the villa which was actually ready for us, rather than the usual 3pm.

Stayed in a 2 bedroom executive lodge near to the country club. Had all the usual wildlife visits, ducks and babies, rabbits, squirrels. This was nice as it had spa bath and two ensuite bathrooms and maid service, but we preferred the new style woodland lodge that we stayed in last year. More modern decor and nicer location, on the edge of the woods with a pathway looping round through the woods for the kids to explore. But nice and clean and very spacious with everything we needed and dishwasher, microwave, cd player, dvd player, bbq etc.

It is best to take along basic foods although the mini supermarket is ok. It has a great reasonable priced bakery and their cakes are delicious!

Eating out places we tried this time included - Cafe Rouge, (French) we were really impressed, food and service was great and a good priced childrens menu. Pancake House, took a while to be seated but great food and service, resonably priced. Dining Out, a takeaway service, we ordered an indian meal and pizza for the kids and although they took ages to answer phone, this was 9pm, food was delivered by 10pm and it was fantastic! Starbucks was ok as should be. Also tried the new Lakeside Starbucks which had a lovely relaxing setting.



Have stayed at center parcs nearly every year for 11 years and never had any major problems, has always felt safe and villas have always been fine.

The main attraction for us has always been the pool area with the rapids and slides, salt pool and lazy river. The waves that come on every half hour used to be enormous ten years ago, but sadly like most health and safety issues have shrunken quite a bit since then. The bubbles to lie on in the salt pool hardly fizzle let alone bubble these days and one of the hot tubs out of the two didn't work. Hopefully this work on the rapids is the start of the badly needed updating this area requires! The rapids are great, taking you outside where in colder weather and dark nights is quite surreal steaming and lit up on the way.