Waited almost an hour to check in on arrival at Whinfell Forest, Penrith, after 5pm,Which created a very negative first impression. With 2 young children in the car. Seems to be a very antiquated system for checking in. We tried to check in on line as suggested but found this to be problematic too. Can't see the point of this anyway as there is only one entrance and everyone has to queue to check in anyway. The market closes at 4pm on Sundays, activities close at 5pm too. Limited activities on Mondays and Fridays due to change over. What is that about!!!!!!!!!!! Family facilities are excessively expensive, bike hire etc, and hike up the cost. Pool is excellent, children's play facilities are too. Accommodation is good, furniture, bedding is good quality and comfortable. Overall not a good first impression as the waiting to check in was a nightmare and should be improved/updated

Booked a holiday few weeks ago and now price gone down by more than £ 500. So disappointing.

We have been regular visitors to Center Parcs, Whinfell Forest, for many, many years and have enjoyed some great breaks there. However, things have drifted on a number of levels and they have got overly greedy. It is time Center Parcs had a wake-up call. We went again this year for a 4 night stay at half term (24-28 October) and paid over £900 for a 3 bed semi detached lodge in Badger Wood. Prices have been going through the roof and all you get included is the swimming facility. Center Parcs offer many activities and shows etc all at extra cost. However, prices are so inflated and really hammer your budget. We would have booked more but simply could not afford it. If you book similar activities elsewhere you can get them for about half the price. Our lodge was typical of what we have stayed in for the last 10-15 years. They are roomy and comfortable BUT they have do not appear to have been upgraded or refurbished in all the years we have been going. Carpets and furnishings are worn and stained and the lodges look tired and in desperate need of some TLC. Even the Televisions are the very old box type with the basic channels. For the kind of money they are charging you should get better than this. It just strikes of Greediness – how much can we get away with attitude! Finally, I need to mention the PRICE PROMISE GUARANTEE as we believe it is very misleading. The guarantee states and I quote “Our lowest price guarantee gives you the satisfaction of knowing you have paid the best price for your break. If you see the same break, accommodation type and size advertised for less please call us on 08448 266 266 and we will adjust your booking accordingly”. My gripe with the price promise is this. Before we went on holiday Center Parcs were selling off the exact same holiday for just over £600 (we paid about £900). The offer holiday was at Whinfell Forest on exactly the same date. The lodge was a 3 bed like ours. The only difference was that the lodge on offer was the level above ours, being detached. We mentioned this to customer services and sent an E mail about it expecting them to honour their guarantee. They refused to act on our comments because the accommodation on offer was not identical to ours. Technically they are correct BUT the fact is that the offer accommodation was a slight upgrade (it was detached and included a couple of extras e.g. DVD player) to ours. They tried to sweeten things with a few vouchers but point blank refused to implement the price guarantee. Very disappointed. Quality down, customer service down, prices through the roof. What a shame! Also, before I finish a word about the swimming facility. The changing area is being worked on at the moment leaving insufficient cubicles. Access to the remaining cubicles is from either side and the result is chaos. At busy times (which are most of the time) it is basically a free for all and we personally witnessed arguments over cubicles that were close to getting violent. This work will take some months and then they will start refurbishing the pool area. My advice is to check before you book and give it a wide berth until the work is done. This recent visit has left a sour taste with us. Customer services all stuck to the same line when we voiced our concerns and we got nowhere. I think that as bookings are still high they can treat the little man in this manner. Keep doing this and more people will vote with their feet and, like us, choose better value breaks with companies who value loyal customers.

We have just returned from a short break at Centre Parcs, we were a large group but we found the short break excellent, alright it was quiet expensive but this was because we were a group of 11 and we felt some of the major activities were a lot of money however, once you did the activities and the time you were doing the activities it was good value for money. The accommodation was fab and clean, all the staff were friendly and very helpful. A good family break had by all and the kids loved it. In fact we went to Winfell a couple of years ago with our grandson and when we asked him this year where he would like to go away on holiday he said he would like to go to Centre Parcs again ( and he has been to Tenerife, Disney land Paris etc)

Over all impressed with Center Parcs. If you want an action packed holiday and are happy to leave the car parked up all week and travel around the site by bike or walking then you will enjoy your break. Lots of nature, Red Squirrels, birds etc. Fab activities for the kids and adults. Staff fantastic very helpful. Not a cheap holiday option though. But overall depends what you want.....I can't stand the thought of being stuck on a plane for hours!! Take supplies with you to save a few pennies. If you can take your own bike then this will also save some money.

I am a huge fan of center parcs, and have been visiting since i was a child. I stayed in the Lakeside Apartments which was a studio. The sofa is comfy, the beds brilliant, the television and sound system good and the kitchen was absolutely fine, but at a place like this how much time are you actually going to spend in your room?! The only problem was no chopping board, but i went to guest services asked if there should be one, and we had one dropped off within 45 minutes. The forest is obviously well maintained, no litter anywhere. The activities are high prices, but what do you expect in a place like this, there are cheaper ones which will certainly keep you entertained though! We did horse riding, tennis, kayaking, bowling, and some inflatable run on water thing (sort of like zorbing). The swimming pool is full of things to do, my boyfriend and i easily spent 2 hours in there a day. Water slides (not just for kids!), jacuzzi, spa pool, outdoor pool, rapids, wave pool, lane pool. The only problem here is that there are some area which desperately need cleaning. They are in the same condition as two years ago, and some areas it was obvious people were avoiding. As for restaurants, i eat breakfast at cafe rouge, lunch at the lakeside inn (carvery which desperately needs improvements), lunch at refresh and tea at yang, which i highly recommend. All in all, beautiful place with a magical atmosphere which just needs a few tweaks.

We have been going to Whinfell for 3 years now with our son, daughter in law and grandchildren. We always have a lovely time We go for the New executive lodges but this year as previously stated getting a little tired now could do with an update. Facilities for little ones are great and the village centre is lovely. Lakeside Inn although just updated was a dissapointment this year menu not as good However there is something for everyone at Whinfell you will always have a great holiday A friend at work is going next month as I talk about it that much.

I am unable to get out very often and until last year had never been away with my family. Last year we came to center parcs for the first time and had a brilliant time it made us closer so much so we came back this year and although the weather was bad still had a brilliant time. This is the only break we have together and have already booked for next year.
There is so much for everyone to do and I look forward to the twilight sauna. My boys like outdoor activities and are never in.We always go for my birthday and make it special.Friends joined us for the day on a day pass which I only realised this year you could get and we had a good time.I would and have recommended to many people center parcs and a few have booked already.Cycling,highropes,zip wire,canoe and swimming have been favourites this year.

Accomadation could have done with a decent clean a lot of spider webs on the ceiling carpet, needed a good hoover and the dado rails were covered in dust but otherwise it was a great place brilliant facilites for kids and adults great staff and an amazing pool.; Shops a wee bit more expensive than usual. there is a morrisons in the local town which is slightly cheaper to do your shopping

This was our first visit to Whinfell Center parcs and we will definitely
be going back. The accomodation and all the facilities were excellent value
for money. There was a large variety of activities to do and you could make
your holiday as energetic or as relaxing as you wanted. Everybody was very
helpful and am looking forward to going back already.

Center parcs, whinfell forest was a great place for a holiday. You can chose what pace you want your holiday to go at. Lots of amenities and location is very relaxed if you don't want to indulge in loads of activities.

Having a BBQ and chilling out in front of a log fire with a glass of wine was one of my favourite bits.

Swimming in the pool was great.

One thing which would have been helpful was knowing that you could relax with a cup of herbal tea in the aqua sana prior to treatment, as I turned up in just enough time for treatment. I would also like to have know that the half hour treatment time included waiting to be seen and wasn't really half an hour hands on.

If going to the golf driving range, don't do as we did and follow the golf signs, as you need to stop at the reception which we didn't realise so had to go back to hire clubs.

centre parcs is amazing i have been going for 14 years everyone is so helpful every were you go there are facilities for feeding and heating up babies bottles and free food you just feel you are in another country its clean and as cheap or as expencive as you want to make it swimming all day if you want free with lots of activities fom £3 up depending on age they are disabled friendly all over the village you carnt help but enjoy this place i would reccommend this place highly

Amazing place,lots for all to do of all ages.Staff are extremely helpful and obliging in all departments of the parc.Acomadation very spacious comfortable and clean.

Comfortable & clean accomidation which needs modernising, good value for the comfort lodge sleeps 6 near to the centre. Aqua Sauna was lovely for 3hrs peace, quite & relaxation. Supermarket shop good fresh quality food, swimming centre great fun for adults & children, Staff friendly & helpful. would recommend to all age groups. will go again with my Husband & grandchild.

I have been coming back to Winfell again and again more than a few times. I have brought my family and friends and had some good times here.
Although there have been a few bad experiances with various staff members in the past, I will come back again because those pale when compared to the good memories that have been collected over time.
Of course there is room for improvement in every establishment and that holds true for Winfell too but it has a charm that cannot be denied.
And one day I actually hope to see a beaver on that beaver-cam channel!!!