May is a popular month for staycations, with many parents planning to take the kids away for half-term, or looking ahead to the summer when you have endless weeks to keep them entertained. It is easy to see why Center Parcs is a popular option. It offers cosy lodges, natural beauty, and plenty of activities to keep all ages entertained. But this relaxed holiday style comes with a hefty price tag. If you book a four-night midweek break at its Whinfell Forest venue in Sherwood Forest for two adults and two children for May half-term, this will set you back £1,399, although if you go a week before, the same break is £659.
Luckily, there are alternatives to Center Parcs across the UK, so here are some holiday parks with a similar vibe that you can enjoy on a tighter budget. All prices are subject to availability and may change.
Tattershall Lakes, Lincolnshire - from £225
In the heart of the Lincolnshire countryside is Tattershall Lakes, a 300-acre resort that sits around serene lakes. Its list of activities is impressive, both on water and dry land, and guests can tackle high ropes and zip wires, take on the inflatable aqua course, swim in the indoor pool or outside lido, or hire a bike and explore the park's many country trails. This holiday park offers both caravans and lodges, which you can book online via Away Resorts. Caravans tend to be cheaper than lodges, with prices from £225 for a three-night break, and there are also unique accommodation options such as the Rockstar, a rock and roll themed lodge with a hot tub, or the Esme, which comes with glowing pink neon lights.
Keldy, North Yorkshire - from £500
Keldy's lodges, cabins, and cottages are found deep in the forest for a peaceful, private escape. If you want to feel surrounded by nature, this is the place. Forest Holidays offer breaks at Keldy from £500 for three nights. All cabins have a private hot tub, and some also have log burners for that perfect cosy forest break. Set in the North Moors National Park close to the market town of Pickering, the park has a peaceful vibe, and part of the appeal is that it is not packed with amenities. You can relax on your deck, take a walk or cycle along tree-lined paths, or visit the on-site coffee lounge for a relaxed lunch. There is a children's play area, and the park offers some organised activities such as a zip wire and archery sessions.
Plassey Holiday Park, North Wales - from £499
Set amid 250 acres of Dee Valley woodland and parkland, Plassey Holiday Park, Retail Village and Golf Course has a number of indoor and outdoor facilities. Stay in a luxury lodge or upmarket safari tent, with some boasting their own private hot tubs. You can book Plassey via Hoseasons, with prices starting from £499 for a three-night short break in a two-bedroom studio lodge. Guests can enjoy access to a large indoor pool, a shopping village full of boutiques and unique shops, fishing ponds, walking trails, and a 9-hole golf course. There is a busy entertainment schedule, or you can simply enjoy quiet strolls through the surrounding farmland.
Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park, Northamptonshire - from £125
Are you the kind of person who cannot sit still on holiday? Then Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park might just be your perfect location. It has a full schedule of activities, especially during half-term and in the summer, when guests can enjoy sessions from axe throwing to slime-making. Many activities are included in the price, such as fitness classes, live stage shows, and family games. Facilities on the park include an indoor swimming pool, outdoor splash park, fishing lakes, and a soft play. You can book sessions in the lake's inflatable aqua park, or even do something completely off-the-wall like alpaca feeding. Short breaks can be booked online from just £125 off-peak, and accommodation options include caravans, glamping pods, and lodges. Upgrade to platinum and you will also find holiday homes with private hot tubs.
Landal Kenwick Woods, Lincolnshire - from £139
Landal Greenparks, a Dutch holiday park operator, has 24 branches across the UK, but is not as well known in the UK as on the Continent. Its parks focus on outdoor family time and enjoying nature, and have cosy accommodation options. Landal Kenwick Woods offers a heated indoor pool with hydrotherapy and a spa, an 18-hole golf course, and a gym, alongside other facilities. You are also close to the Lincolnshire Wolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known for its chalk hills, valleys, and miles of unspoiled greenery. You can book a short break online via Landal's website, with short break prices starting at £139 for two nights in a two-bedroom lodge. For bigger parties, there are eight-person lodges that have four bedrooms and three bathrooms, perfect for groups of friends or a multigenerational break.
