insideKENT Magazine Issue 32 - November 2014 | Page 112

GETAWAYS

THE ULTIMATE FAMILY SHORT BREAK

Center Parcs

BY DONNA MARTIN

Start with a leisurely cycle ride, throw in some fun-filled afternoons splashing in the Subtropical
Swimming Paradise, add a dash of pottery painting and aerial tree trekking, then top it all
off with delicious meals out and some ‘me’ time at the spa, and what do you have? The
ultimate family short break at Center Parcs, of course.

I’m not one to be tricked by clever holiday adverts.
You know the ones – they paint a perfect picture
of a weekend with the precise balance of
relaxation and adventure, kids and parents getting
along, spa treatments, good food, endless
laughter, you know what I mean. That’s the kind
of picture I had in my head of Center Parcs, and
I wasn’t falling for it.
But now that I’ve been, I can say for certain – in
the case of Center Parcs at least – the clever
holiday adverts are real!
Set in 365 acres of woodland and only an hour
from London, Center Parcs Woburn Forest is
truly any family’s perfect weekend escape. I know
it sounds cliché, but it really does cater for
everyone. Mums, dads, kids, grandparents,
friends, couples, singles – even dogs will have a
whale of a time at Center Parcs.
We arrived on a sunny Friday afternoon and were
checked in, directed to our villa and unpacked
without a hitch. Our three-bedroom Woodland
Lodge incorporates the very latest in modern
interior design with new furnishings, features and
appliances. It was more than equipped with all
the bells and whistles you’d expect including a
full kitchen (even a dishwasher!), family bathroom
and master en suite, TV & DVD player, fireplace
and our own private patio with BBQ area.
With over 200 activities to choose from, you
would find it quite hard to run out of things to do
at Center Parcs. Whether you’re an adventure
junkie or fancy some R&R on your holiday, you
will (and I mean will) find something you’ll love.

On our break, we chose to try our hand at pottery
painting, test our aim at archery, race for the
prize on the surprisingly challenging treasure trail,
and of course spend much of our time in the
Subtropical Swimming Paradise or just leisurely
exploring the paths and woodland on our bikes.
Woburn Forest is a pleasant mix of flat and hilly
roads, so we were able to burn off all the extra
calories we consumed over the weekend. The
Village Square and The Plaza (the two main areas
where most of the activities are, including the
swimming pool), are easily accessible from all
lodges and the hotel, but far enough away to
feel like when you’re at your lodge, you’re truly
in the woods.
Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to
dining. Center Parcs Woburn Forest has over 10
restaurants including Strada, Café Rouge,
Starbucks, a supermarket for meals at home and
a variety of take away options for lazy nights in.
You can even pre-order a Welcome or Family
Grocery Pack which includes essentials such as
butter, croissants, eggs, bacon, bread and milk
– all waiting for you in your kitchen on arrival.
Our top choice was Huck’s American Bar & Grill,
not only because it offers a menu bursting with
naughty, yummy, diet-killing treats, but also
because it has a special children’s buffet where
kids can help themselves to their favourite foods
without the need to wait. And what’s more, when
the kids are done (in our case before our meal
was even served), they can go have a ball in the
indoor play area or on Huck’s collection of Apple
Macs while parents enjoy a little alone time.

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I was lucky enough to escape for a morning and
visit Aqua Sana – the on-site luxurious spa nestled
next to the woods on the Woburn Forest estate.
Aqua Sana boasts a spectacular menu of
indulgent treatments and relaxation options
including six unique spas to journey through,
each with a selection of multi-sensory rooms. I
enjoyed the Elemis Signature Pro Collagen Quartz
Lift Facial after spending some time in each area
of Aqua Sana. It was just what I needed to unwind
and de-stress before heading off to another
Center Parcs adventure.
By the way, for all you parents out there, Center
Parcs offers a childcare service at the Activity
Den, where your little ones will be looked after
and entertained while you enjoy some time at
the spa, a meal out at your own pace (no food
fights involved) or to just chill out.
Center Parcs was, like I said, just like those
dreamy holiday adverts you see so often on the
telly. It was the anti-stress holiday (yes, there is
such a thing), and it left our whole family feeling
just plain happy with life and each other. We
were planning a larger and longer family holiday
to Spain this year, but after our weekend at
Woburn Forest, we’ll be skipping Spain and
visiting Center Parcs Longleat Forest next year
instead. It was just that good!

For more information or to book your own Center
Parcs break, visit www.centerparcs.co.uk