Center Parcs Whinfell Forest Review - What You Need To Know

Last Updated on 10th July 2023

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Center Parcs Whinfell Forest - Everything You Need To Know

Some of my favourite childhood memories are the weekends that I spent visiting Center Parcs Whinfell Forest with my family, both during the summer holidays and at Christmastime.

I’ve been going to Center Parcs with my family for as long as I can remember and even as a 24-year-old “adult”, I’m still gatecrashing the yearly visit to our favourite UK family holiday destination!

I can’t believe that it’s taken me this long to write about Center Parcs, but I’m finally doing it today by sharing my ultimate guide to visiting Center Parcs Whinfell Forest!

After more than a dozen visits over the years, I’ve accumulated a wealth of knowledge about visiting this magical woodland in the heart of Cumbria and in the post below, I’m sharing absolutely everything you need to know about Whinfell Forest.

You’ll find all my top tips and advice on how to visit on a budget, the best Center Parcs locations, the best activities to enjoy at Whinfell Forest, where to eat, accommodation options and so much more! Here’s my fully detailed guide on what you need to know about visiting Center Parcs Whinfell Forest!

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Is it worth going to Center Parcs?

While Center Parcs is undoubtedly one of the most expensive holiday destinations in the UK, I do think that it’s worth it as there are so many wonderful activities to enjoy as a family, as a couple or even as a group of friends.

I have so many happy memories of visiting Center Parcs over the years, so I think it’s worth the money!

What’s included with your stay at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest

When you book a trip to Center Parcs, there are tonnes of things that are included as part of the cost of your stay.

As well as your accommodation for the duration of your stay, the following list of things are also included as part of your booking at Center Parcs:

Free entry into the Subtropical Swimming Paradise
Adventure playgrounds
If you’re visiting with baby/babies you can enjoy a selection of free Ella’s Kitchen baby food in certain on-site restaurants
400 acres of beautiful forest to explore
Watersports Lake – you will need to pre-book any water-based activities
Sandy beach
Plenty of cycle-friendly and walking paths to explore and enjoy

Plus much more!

Accommodation at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest – Woodland Lodges

There are several accommodation options to choose from at Whinfell Forest (more on that below) and while I’ve been over a dozen times, I’ve only ever experienced the beautiful wooden lodges, so while I can’t personally recommend any of the other options, I can certainly vouch for the lodges!

As I have quite a big immediate family and because we usually visit Center Parcs with my extended family as well (such as my grandma, aunties, uncles and cousins etc), we usually opt for the 3 or 4 bedroom lodges.

Each bedroom inside the lodges comes with two single beds or one double bed, meaning that two guests can fit into each room.

Depending on the size of your lodge, it will also have a very sizeable living area, complete with a huge corner sofa, a dining table and even a few extra seating areas in the larger lodges. The dining area usually has plenty of seats for everyone in the lodge, plus a few extra seats depending on how many people are staying in each lodge.

There’s also a decent-sized TV and DVD system and most lodges also have a log burner which is very much needed during the winter months at Center Parcs!

The bedrooms are very resemblant to caravan bedrooms, but they’re much warmer, cosier and often much bigger as well! Depending on the size of the lodge you go for will depend on how many bathrooms there are. Some smaller lodges will only have one bathroom with either a shower cubicle or a shower over a bath, whereas some of the larger lodges will have two or three bathrooms.

The 4 bedroom lodges are usually two-storey and some even come equipped with their very own indoor sauna room!

What’s included in your accommodation:

Free Wi-Fi
Hairdryer
Bedding
Pots, pans, utensils, cutlery, plates and bowls
Microwave, induction hob, kettle, toaster, oven (not included in some smaller lodges)
Towels – for use in the lodges only, you have to bring your own towels for swimming
Three dishwasher tablets, a tea towel and a small packet of washing-up liquid
Small fridge and freezer (some larger lodges have two fridges in the kitchen)
A small selection of tea and coffee (including a coffee machine in most lodges)
Cot and high chair for babies
Furnished private patio with brick-built barbeque stand – only in the lodges and not the hotels or apartments
Iron and ironing board
A safe
A sizeable TV in the living area – some lodges may have a TV in the master bedroom as well
Log burner – some lodges don’t have this feature

Other accommodation options at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest

As well as the traditional wooden cabins at Whinfell Forest, they also have plenty of other accommodation options to choose from, including:

Executive Lodges
Exclusive Lodges
Waterside Lodges
Treehouses
Hotels and Apartments
Dog-friendly lodges
Adapted lodges
6-bedroom Woodland Lodges
Luxury Spa Suites

I’ve always wanted to stay in one of the waterside lodges or one of the treehouses as they look so beautiful, especially with the wonderful views of the lake. Although to stay in one of the treehouses, you’ll be looking at thousands of pounds! I’ve just checked for New Year for 3 nights and it costs over £6,500 so perhaps I won’t be staying there for quite some time!

Activities at Whinfell Forest

With over 400 acres of forest to explore, it’s no surprise that there are a fair few activities to enjoy at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest; there are over 200 different activities to be exact!

Below, I’ve compiled a list of some of my very favourite activities to take part in at Whinfell Forest. Some of them I’ve never taken pictures of and I haven’t got pictures of inside the swimming area because I never take my phone with me, but it’ll be a nice surprise once you get there!

Subtropical Swimming Paradise

The Subtropical Swimming Paradise area located inside the Village Centre is undoubtedly the main attraction at Whinfell Forest.

With a wave pool, several water slides, including an epic outdoor waterslide that operates even in the winter months, plus a children’s water play area, an outdoor pool, numerous spa pools, several cabanas and even a café and bar area, the swimming facilities at Center Parcs are truly epic!

I have so many childhood memories of frequenting the Subtropical Swimming Paradise and while the novelty has worn off slightly now that I’m a “grown-up”, I still love revisiting it with my family and I know it’s a place that I’d happily return to for many years to come.

I also love that the swimming facilities are included in the price of your booking at Center Parcs, so it’s technically one of the few activities that you don’t have to pay for once you’re there.

Aerial Tree Trekking/Aerial Adventure at Whinfell Forest

I’d done the Aerial Tree Trekking on several different occasions on my visits to Center Parcs but it wasn’t until my most recent visit to Whinfell Forest in July 2022 that I finally did the Aerial Adventure course which is absolutely epic and definitely a must-do while you’re there!

It’s not one for the faint-hearted or those afraid of heights as it is very high up in the trees, but if you can conquer your fears (like my mum very bravely did on our recent visit!), then I guarantee you won’t regret this awesome adventure!

The high ropes course sees you tackling several obstacles that are suspended high up in the trees above and it finishes with an epic and thrilling 255m dual zip wire over the lake!

I’ve done the Aerial Tree Trekking course in all weather, even in the snow in December 2021 when temperatures were sub-zero, and while it was definitely much more enjoyable in the summer, I still had so much fun in the winter and I’d highly recommend pre-booking either the Aerial Tree Trekking (a slightly easier course that’s a bit lower in the trees) or the Aerial Adventure course (the one with the zip wire at the end) before your trip to Center Parcs.

Roller Skating

Located inside the Sports Plaza complex, roller skating has long been one of my favourite activities to take part in at Center Parcs and it’s something that we do on every single visit without exception.

I once fell over and really hurt my back while doing it, but it’s still never stopped me from doing it every time I go to Center Parcs and regardless of whether you’re an avid skater or an amateur, it’s so much fun and it caters to everyone.

There’s plenty of safety equipment that’s free to use, plus the roller “rink” has barriers and handles almost all the way around the entire thing so you can hold on for dear life if you need to!

Remember to pre-book activities in advance or head to the booking desk inside the Sports Plaza to secure a spot while you’re there. They have several sessions for most activities each day so you can usually choose a time that’s most suitable for you.

Adventure golf

It was my first time doing the adventure golf course at Whinfell Forest in July 2022, even though it’s been there for many years.

You can choose either the 9-hole or 18-hole course, both of which are super fun to do as a family, especially if you’re pretty competitive like my family is! The course is located just behind the Sports Plaza and it’s all outdoors so it’s definitely best enjoyed during the summer months but I believe that it’s open all year round, providing that the weather is good enough to be able to play.

Bicycle hire

We’ve only hired bikes at Center Parcs on a few occasions and while they’re great fun to have, I don’t think they’re always necessary.

They’re ideal if you’re a family or couple who prefers cycling to walking and they’re especially handy if your accommodation is further away from the Village Centre and Sports Plaza compared to other lodges (you can check out the Whinfell Forest map here to see where your accommodation is if you’ve already booked a trip).

You can pre-book bicycles before your trip and it’s especially recommended to do so in the summer months as they get booked up quickly. Alternatively, you can head to the Cycle Centre which is right next to the main car park to hire bikes while you’re there.

Badminton/tennis

There are many courts in the Sports Plaza that cater to badminton and tennis hire and you can book sessions online via your booking or while you’re there.

These activities are one of the cheaper things to do at Center Parcs and they’re something that the whole family can get involved in and take turns playing.

Aqua Sana Spa

Despite my many visits to Center Parcs over the years, I’ve still never spent any proper time at the Aqua Sana Spa! Throughout my visits as a kid, I was always too young to go to the spa as you have to be accompanied by an adult if you’re under 18 but older than 14 and none of my family ever wanted to go to the spa!

As an official adult, I’ve only been to Center Parcs a couple of times and yet I still haven’t quite made it to the spa! It’s something I’m hoping to prioritise on my next visit!

I have done plenty of research into the Aqua Sana Spa, and there are dozens of treatments to choose from, including full body massages, facial treatments, manicures, pedicures and more. As always, you should endeavour to pre-book a spa session before your visit so that you don’t miss out.

SUP/kayaking

During the summer months, Whinfell Forest Center Parcs is the perfect place to practice your watersports and with activities such as stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, katakanu hire, electric boat hire, pedalo hire and more, the lake at Whinfell is an awesome place to hang out!

These activities can be enjoyed as a whole family, individually or as a couple and while they’re not available during the winter months, if you have a trip planned to Center Parcs in the warmer seasons, you should definitely check the many watersports activities they have.

Indoor climbing adventure

The Indoor Climbing Adventure is a great activity for rainy days at Center Parcs or indeed, just for fun! It’s also not just for kids to enjoy as adults up to a weight of 23 stone/145kg are permitted to take part, so it can be an incredibly fun thing to do as a family.

Again, you can pre-book this in advance or just rock up to the bookings centre and book it while you’re there.

Football pool

Football pool is usually the activity that my parents and aunties and uncles send my grandma off to play with all the kids!

This is also located in the Sports Plaza, just next to the roller skating rink and the badminton/tennis courts.

Pottery painting

Pottery painting is another activity that I used to love doing as a kid at Center Parcs; fun fact, I actually still have a little dish that I painted there over 10 years ago!

You can choose from so many different things to paint, ranging from tea cups to teapots to dishes to plates to fruit bowls, plus so much more! They’ll also professionally glaze it and fire it overnight and it’s usually ready to collect the next day.

However, if you’re only going to Center Parcs for three nights, I’d recommend doing the pottery painting activity on your first or second day so that it’s definitely ready for you to collect by the time of your departure. If your creation isn’t ready by the time you’re ready to leave, you can arrange to have it delivered to your home.

Gym

I wasn’t going to include the gym in this main section about the best activities at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest as I’ve never actually used the gym facilities there (I’ve actually only ever stepped foot in a gym approximately three times in my life!), but I thought I’d include it anyway.

Unfortunately, the gym isn’t included in the price of your stay at Center Parcs, so you have to book a gym pass for the length of time that you want to use it.

The gym is also located in the Sports Plaza and you have a great view of all the other activities from its high vantage point and large window.

Bonus best things to do at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest

Winter Wonderland/Santa’s Grotto/Pantomime in November and December
Archery
Bollywood dancing
Squash
Zumba
Family quiz
Ten Pin Bowling
Table tennis
Snooker
Paintball
Go karting
Golf driving range

Plus SO much more!

Places to eat at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest

Bonus best things to do at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest

As well as a kitchen with all the cooking equipment you need to cook in your apartment or lodge, there are also lots of places to eat at Whinfell Forest Center Parcs.

Below, you can find a list of all the best places to eat at Whinfell Forest if you don’t fancy cooking!

Sports Plaza Bar

The Sports Plaza is one of the most popular places to eat at Center Parcs as it’s where many of the activities are housed, so it’s super convenient to grab a bite to eat there at lunchtime or on an evening after the day’s activities.

The menu isn’t quite as good as it used to be as there was always so much more choice than there is now, but it’s still got plenty of traditional pub grub options to choose from.

The Lakeside Inn

The Lakeside Inn is a great restaurant at Whinfell Forest if you want a slightly more sophisticated dining experience as the menu is a little fancier than the one at the Sports Plaza, for example.

However, the menu on my most recent visit was pretty limited and while there were some great things to choose from such as steak and yummy Cumberland sausage and mash, it wasn’t quite as extensive as I remember from previous visits.

Rajinda Pradesh

I’ve never actually eaten inside the Rajinda Pradesh restaurant, but I have ordered takeaway from there via the on-site delivery service and the food has always been exceptional.

My aunty and uncle have also dined in the restaurant numerous times and they always rave about the dining experience as well as the food, so it’s a great option for eating out at Center Parcs.

Café Rouge

Café Rouge is located inside the Village Centre and while it is indoors, it has a very lovely outdoor feel to it, especially in the summer months when it almost feels like you’re dining al fresco on holiday!

As Café Rouge is a chain restaurant, you can expect to find the usual dishes of french onion soup, salads, beef bourguignon, salmon, steak, chicken and more.

Bella Italia

Bella Italia is another chain restaurant that has a franchise at Whinfell Forest so if you’re a lover of Italian food, you know you can’t go too wrong when it comes to eating out at Center Parcs.

This is also located in the Village Centre and it’s a beautiful restaurant with awesome food!

The Pancake House

I haven’t eaten at The Pancake House in a number of years but you can obviously expect the classic American-style pancakes complete with all the lavish trimmings and toppings!

The restaurant is located right on the lake, so if you get a table near the window, you’ll be treated to lovely views as you eat.

Huck’s

Huck’s is also located in the Village Centre and I always remember it being pretty good but I wasn’t particularly overwhelmed by the chicken burger that I had there when I visited in December 2021.

However, most of the rest of my family had no complaints about the food at Huck’s, so perhaps I just had a bad dish.

ParcMarket

You can’t technically eat at the ParcMarket, but this is the only on-site supermarket where you can purchase a plethora of groceries to take back to your lodge for cooking purposes.

It’s a pretty sizeable store, so you’ll likely find everything you need to cook at your accommodation.

Whinfell Forest village map

You can check out the Center Parcs Whinfell Forest map on their website to see where everything is throughout the forest; it’s a pretty huge space, so you’ll likely need the map if you’re planning your first ever visit!

Top tips for visiting Center Parcs Whinfell Forest

Before you arrive at Whinfell Forest, there are a few things you should bear in mind to help ensure your visit is as smooth and as fun as possible.

You can arrive at Center Parcs from 10 AM on the day of your visit and head straight to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise or take part in any of the other available activities. However, you can’t check in to your accommodation until 4 PM. If you opt for early check-in (a paid-for add-on), you can get into your lodge from 3 PM.
You will need to leave your accommodation by 10 AM on the morning of your departure, but you can remain on-site all day, all the way up until midnight if you want to make the most of another full day.
Upon arrival, each guest (children excluded) will be presented with a wristband which acts as your accommodation key as well as a locker key for the swimming area.
Remember to check each guest in online before you arrive and have your booking reference number to hand when you get to the security desk upon arrival for a seamless check-in experience.
Pre-book any activities that you know you want to do in advance. This is an especially good idea during the busy seasons at Center Parcs as some things get booked up weeks in advance. If you want to book an activity when you arrive, you can do so at the booking desk located in the Sports Plaza or via your booking online.

FAQs about Center Parcs Whinfell Forest

If you’ve still got a few questions about visiting Whinfell Forest or just Center Parcs in general, I’ve put together a section below on the most frequently asked questions to help you out!

How to get to Center Parcs Whinfell Forest

Center Parcs Whinfell Forest is located just on the outskirts of Penrith in Cumbria. It’s actually directly opposite where my mum and dad used to live and you can see their old house over the fields from the entrance to Center Parcs!

When they first moved up to Penrith, I found it so cool that you could see Whinfell Forest as we used to visit Center Parcs almost every single year when I was a kid, so I loved being so close to it as an adult!

Address: Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, Penrith, CA10 2DW.

How many lodges does Center Parcs Whinfell Forest have?

Center Parcs at Whinfell Forest has approximately 860 lodges that accommodate more than 4,668 people, making it the largest Center Parcs location in the UK.

How big is Whinfell Forest Center Parcs?

Whinfell Forest spans an impressive 400-acre woodland and forest area and you can see from the map just how big it really is. Once you’re there and immersed in the forest, it feels like you’ve been transported to a magical fairytale wonderland; it really is one of my favourite places in the world.

Do you have to take your own toilet roll to Center Parcs?

Each bathroom in the Center Parcs lodges includes two toilet rolls, so if you have a lodge with two bathrooms, you’ll have a total of four loo rolls in your lodge.

However, once these run out, they won’t be replenished as you won’t receive room (or lodge!) service throughout the duration of your stay as lodges are only cleaned at the end of every stay. Therefore, depending on how long you’re going to Center Parcs for and how many people are in your lodge, I’d recommend taking a couple of rolls yourself.

Of course, there is also the on-site ParcMarket if you need to purchase any extras, such as toilet rolls, during your stay.

When is the best time to visit Center Parcs?

My favourite time to visit Whinfell Forest Center Parcs is at the start of December as the whole forest is transformed into a magical winter wonderland, complete with extravagant decorations, festive-themed activities and even their very own Santa!

The summer months are also brilliant as you get the chance to truly embrace and enjoy all the outdoor activities such as the Aerial Treetop Adventure (we did this in the middle of winter one year and it was absolutely freezing!), plus there are tonnes of water-based activities that aren’t available during the winter.

Of course, the summer and winter months also happen to be the most expensive times to visit Center Parcs, so if you’re looking to visit on a budget, I’d avoid the months between June and September and November and December.

To give you an idea of prices during the summer, a 3 bedroom lodge for 3 nights for 2 adults and 2 children costs £949 in August.

In the winter, at the beginning of December, a 3 bedroom lodge for 3 nights for 2 adults and 2 children costs £959.

Whereas a month during the shoulder season such as February, for example, a 3 bedroom lodge for 2 adults and 2 children only costs £519, so it’s almost half the price in off-peak months!

Therefore, it depends on your budget and whether you’re willing to pay almost twice the price to visit in the summer or winter months.

It’s also a good idea to note that you can only begin your Center Parcs break on a Monday or Friday and you can only book three nights (Friday to Monday), 4 nights (Monday to Friday) or one-week breaks starting and finishing on either a Monday or Friday.

Can you bring your own food to Center Parcs Whinfell Forest?

This is one thing that I’d very much recommend doing so yes, you definitely can bring your own food to Center Parcs!

As I mentioned above, there is the ParcMarket supermarket located in the Village Centre, but I usually find the products there to be more expensive than in regular supermarkets, so I’d advise going shopping before you get to Center Parcs to stock up on the essentials while you’re there. Of course, there are so many places to eat in Whinfell Forest while you’re there, but if you don’t want to eat out for every single meal, I’d recommend stocking up on the following items before you get there:

Bread
Milk
Butter
Teabags/coffee – there is a coffee machine in every lodge, but if you prefer instant coffee, you’ll need to bring your own
Sugar
Washing up liquid – there is one sachet of washing up liquid in the kitchen but it doesn’t go very far)
Hand soap – there are small bars of soap in each bathroom, but if you prefer liquid soap, you’ll need to bring your own
Snacks
Breakfast items – we usually eat breakfast at the lodge and then have lunch and dinner at either the Sports Plaza or one of the on-site restaurants
Toilet roll
Kitchen roll
Your own towels for swimming – of course, you can just bring these from home. There are plenty of towels for every guest to use in the lodges, but you’ll need to bring your own for swimming.

Can I bring my dog to Center Parcs?

Dogs are permitted at Whinfell Forest Center Parcs, but you will have to pay an additional fee of £69 for one dog or £95 for two dogs.

Is Center Parcs Whinfell Forest suitable for couples?

While I’ve never actually visited Center Parcs as just a couple, I do think that it’s suitable for couples on their own, as well as families.

Most of the activities are very family-orientated, but there are still plenty of things that couples can enjoy together without kids in tow, including the Aqua Sana Spa, tennis, badminton, squash, roller skating and even the swimming area. The restaurants are also suitable for couples, so I’d definitely say it’s a place you can enjoy as a couple – just be prepared for all the screaming kids around!

Can you leave Center Parcs for the day?

You can leave Center Parcs for the day if you want to head off and explore the nearby Lake District. When my family and I used to go to Whinfell Forest for five days at Christmastime, we’d usually have one full day away from the Center Parcs complex and we’d visit places like Bowness-on-Windermere.

Can you park your car next to your lodge at Center Parcs?

You can’t leave your car next to the lodge for the duration of your stay as you have to unpack your car at your lodge on the day you arrive and then drive it to the main car park. You can then drive it back to your lodge on the day of your departure to pack everything up again.

You may be able to leave your car next to your lodge in extreme circumstances, but you will have to check with on-site security to do so.

Which is better – Whinfell or Sherwood Center Parcs?

I’ve been lucky enough to visit both Whinfell Forest and Sherwood Forest numerous times over the years and while I very much enjoy the Sherwood Forest Center Parcs, I personally prefer Whinfell Forest more as I’ve just visited more times.

I think the layout of Whinfell Forest is better and the Subtropical Swimming Paradise has always had a special place in my heart, but some of my family much prefer the swimming facilities at Sherwood Forest, so it depends on what you’re looking for!

However, I’m very keen to head back to Sherwood Forest now that I’m older as they have a state-of-the-art Aqua Sana Forest Spa, complete with the UK’s first Treetop Spa which looks absolutely incredible. If I visit Sherwood Forest in the near future, I’ll be sure to write an update about it!

Center Parcs locations

As well as Whinfell Forest, Center Parcs also have numerous other locations across the UK and Ireland, including:

Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire – I’ve been to this Center Parcs several times but I still prefer the Whinfell Forest one!
Longleat Forest, Wiltshire
Elveden Forest, Suffolk
Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire
Longford Forest, Ireland

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Have you ever visited Center Parcs Whinfell Forest? Is it somewhere you’d like to go? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram at @imjustagirl_16.