Center Parcs Sherwood Forest

1 reader found this review helpful

We have holidayed at centre parcs for the last 12 years and have always had fantastic holidays. This year however we were most distressed at the standard of hygiene in our villa - basically it was filthy. Since returning we have all suffered from sickness and diarrhoea. We have been offered an insulting amount of money in compensation from centre parcs which doesn't even cover loss of earnings as we were off work because of our illness. We have sent photographic evidence to the management team showing dirty toilets/floors etc but they still seem to think that they are offering adequate compensation. I seriously doubt we will visit again which is a great shame as we have fond memories of our times there. We stayed in Woodland accommodation and paid over £600 for the privilege.

We have been to all the center parcs' since I can remember and have had a brilliant time every time. Although, the last time we went to Sherwood Forest, the accomodation was brilliant apart from the fact we had an ants nest right outside the kids' bedroom. We contacted someone to help and they apologised and said they would sort everything out, they tried but the next day we had ants again, the ants had gotten into the jam tarts we left out on the counter and we were not very happy, we contacted the people again and they said they were incredibly sorry, they replaced ALL the food, gave the kids a box of chocolates and gave us a bottle of their most expensive wine. My youngest son had also been upset that there were cigarettes outside so we told them aswell, went out for about an hour and came back and they were all gone. We were incredibly pleased with the service even with the ants and were made to feel like royal guests, we are going again on Friday :)

3 readers found this review helpful

I have just returned from a weekend stay in an executive lodge in sherwood forest. I highly recommend everything about this holiday.
I travelled in a group of 5 adults with no children and was initially concerned that there would be no activities that we could enjoy together. I was very wrong! In the course of 3 days we played badminton, squash and table tennis (each £6 for 45 mins), swam (free), climbed trees (£25 each, and the only part of the holiday that I'd recommend you going down the road to go ape for instead), canoed and walked. mum and I also went to the spa for a joint treatment (£120) which helped us recharge our batteries! We took our own food which helped keep costs down (take pancake mix, because otherwise you'll really want to pay £6 for one in the restaurant!) the shop onsite is well stocked incase you forget something, but not cheap.
The villa was fairly simple but clean, and we had a sauna and a jacuzzi bath which came in useful after all the sport! We were on the other side of the lake to the pool, but it is very flat and a nice walk, so it wasn't inconvenient. We didn't need to hire bikes to get around.
We also were right next to a huge rabbit warren which was lovely to watch during our meals, there's a lot of wildlife on the site which I think young children would really have enjoyed (as well as us).
We have booked for the same time next year, but for a whole week. We are going to try out the winfell forest one, and maybe take a day off from all the activities to see some of the local area next time.

1 reader found this review helpful

It is overpriced, especially the activities and extras but all in all it is brilliant family fun. The staff are helpful and friendly. It is a nice atmoshpere. I feel safe letting the children go off by themselves there. 9/10!

10 readers found this review helpful

I have just returned home from a short off season break to Centerparcs, Sherwood Forest. Having being to the oasis centre in Cumbria a few years ago I was looking forward to a similar experience nearer to home.
I was to be disappointed.
The sinage for the site is appalling. At first I thought it was just me, but I soon became aware of a good number of mumblingly angry lost residents sliding around the untreated snowy pathways in and around the village centre. All joking aside, it must have taken a great deal of effort to make such a poor job of directional boards.
On our first night we were unable to light the cooker. A call for help was answered very quickly and an employee took a look. Out he scooped handfuls of old food which has taken up residence in and around the gas jets. He apologised, informed us that the last guests must have been responsible and told us that he would arrange for a deep clean the next morning. I must confess that the slop he had removed looked somewhat more mature than any left by recent occupants of the villa. But I decided to accept the explanation. The cleaners came next day whilst we were at the pool and left a nice note saying that the oven was now clean. Later on that evening it would appear that the previous residents had secretly returned and deposited more grime on the jets because before cooking we discovered they were still covered with greases and food debris. We had to clean it......
The accommodation could best be described as 'tired'. Very much 'cold war' in appearance. The interior was comfortable enough but the cracked floor tiles, the mini breakfast bowls, the cobweb infested skylights and heating (or lack of it) merely contributed towards the overall feel of the place.
The staff were extremely helpful apart from one or two rather bored lifeguards who seemed more interested in themselves and what they were up to then dealing with enquiries by guests.
In all I feel that what I paid was fair for the quality of facility and the standard of service I received. However there is no way I would go 'in season' and pay the prices asked.
I may have been unlucky and maybe the whole place and the staff within just needed a rest. But I suspect that for this place to come anywhere near the Cumbria site it will need more than a lick of paint and bit of a clean..

7 readers found this review helpful

I booked our 4day break to the Sherwood Forest center Parcs In February as they had promotional offers on at that time and for a 3 bed 'comfort' accomodation, including the extra fee to take our dog the trip only cost us just over £300!
My return date to work is approaching after being of for almost a year on maternity leave so I felt a relaxing break would stand me in good stead before returning. Centre Parcs has always looked appealing when seen on tv e.t.c however after reading some of the reviews we were very hesitant of what we may find..damp lodges? dirty swimming area?...
However we were pleasently suprised:
Check in: This was smooth and not busy at all, we arrived at the holiday park at around 4pm and drove staright through, We pre-registered online so arrival was simple, we were handed our keys and guest information and drove straight to our lodge, which was easy to find folloing the sign posts.
Accomodation: This was lovely,spotlessly clean,comfy and had all facilities needed. We were only in a comfort lodge which is the most basic but there was no faults to be found, it had everything you needed.
Swimming: This was great for children, clean cubicles and locker areas, lifeguards visible all around, adequate seating area, lots of fun!!
On-site supermarket (Parc Market): More expensive than an average supermarket but fine for fresh food, bread, milk, butter e.t.c We took the majority of our food with us to center parcs and then just purchased fresh food whilst there.
Restaurants: We were going to eat out on the last night however everywhere was fully-booked so I would advise to pre-book. We did eat in the pancake house on 2 occasions and this was great service and lovely food.
Overall stay: This trip was lovely, The site was kept clean and well managed, staff friendly and helpfull. I would defintsly go again!

7 readers found this review helpful

We have just returned a day eary from the Sherwood Forest Center Parcs as we were that dissapointed.
We went to the Cumbria Center Parcs in November and had a fantastic time so were hoping here would be just as good, but sadly it was a very poor standard.
The "villas" were very tired to say the least, shabby, tatty and well in need of a re-furb, and to look at from the outside, i've seen prettier prisons.
It's set in huge grounds and unless you hire the bikes its a huge expedition if you want to go anywhere.
We found the Center Parcs in Cumbria brilliant, it was modern, clean, all the facilites and resteraunts etc under one roof and much more geared up for the children.
Sherwood Forest is just in need of modernising and a good clean up, the swimming pool is pretty dirty, such as unidentified floating things in the pool, my partner even witnesses a random tampon floating past. Which can only be described as un-exceptable.
The final straw for us, and the one that made us drive home early was we had a take away Indian meal for 2 people which cost £30 and made us both very ill, we cant accuse Centre Parcs but its a big coincident.....
To sum up, if you fancy Centre Parcs, go to Cumbria, its ace, laods to do, beautiful surroundings and nice modern pictur-esq accomodation, Sherwood is just a budget version.

12 readers found this review helpful

CENTER PARCS GREAT FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN.
I have visited Center Parcs over 15 times when i was a child and always loved it. So with two young children off my own 2 1/2 years old and 18 months old it seemed like a good holiday destination. I had visited all four of the center parcs as a child but picked sherwood forest because it was always my favorite. So me my partner and 2 kids set off to center parcs for a midweek break in november.
Things to bring
Toilet roll, washing up liquid, hand washing powder, towels, swimwear, comfortable walking shoes, warm coat and if you can portable dvd player ( you can rent dvds from the parc market).
The travelling
I Travelled from near manchester to sherwood forest the journey was just shy of 2 hours. The drive is a pretty easy run down the motorway, when you come off the motorway the is a bit of a drive but generally very easy to find either with a sat nav or directions off the internet.
Arrival
We arrived just after 3.00pm and there was a bit of a que to get in. Check in was easy we prebooked online so we drove up to that cabin, got handed our keys etc then drove to the villa, ( didn't even need to leave the car ). Having unloaded the luggage the car was dropped off a holiday began!!!
Accomadation.
We had booked a 3 bedroom comfort villa as we were suppossed have extra guests coming that couldn't make it. Generally though there is not that much different in price between the 2 bed and three bed. The holiday cost around £300. As you walk in there are two rooms a store room which holds a cot, highchair hoover etc. and a small toilet. There is a big open space containing a dinning area, sitting area with tv (15 channels including music, kids news etc) cd player, large corner couch and log fire, and kitchen with fridge small freezer, cooker, microwave, kettle, toaster and all pans, plates,
utensils etc. Three bedrooms 1x double bedroom, 1x twin bedroom and 1x bunkbeds. Bathroom also has a shower complimentary toilet roll but NO TOWELS ( these can be ordered as an extra). The accomadation was clean and up to date with a nice white bedding and very comfy beds!!.
Outside our villa was a large pond, so in the morning me and the kids would wake up and feed the swans and ducks on the patio and have a walk down to the pound the kids loved it.
Activities
On the first day we got there we went for a quick bite in the leisure bowl and the kids played in the small play area which was set up in there.
On the second we went for a walk by the lake and to several adventure playgrounds nearby the kids thought these were amazing as they are nothing like your local park. There are rope bridges sand play areas and tyre swings with a difference. After this is was time for the kids to go to bumblebees the time out club. The staff here were very friendly and make a diary of what they had done with there time there. We went to the Subtropical swimming paradise, this was great there are flume slides, rapids, wave machine jacuzzis, grand cascade ride and loads more. There is also a bar in there that serves food too. We were able to check with information every 20 mins to see if the kids were ok.
On the third day we took the kids swimming there are small life belts avalible to borrow and they spent most of the time in the toddler area or kids pirate area which had smaller flume slides and a sand pit and looked very adventurous with all the trees and bridges.
On the fourth day we took the kids too a show with a clown its wasnt brill but it was free and they seemend to enjoy it. Then we had a walk out the the nature center and country club where the kids played in the indoor play area.
Shopping
Center parcs has its own supermarket but it can be expensive we took food with us as we didnt eat out while we were there. Theres a toy store were my two managed to get spoilt. A sweet shop, gift shop, swimwear shop and clothes shop. In the jardin des sports there is also a bigger clothes shop.
On the whole we had a brill holiday and have booked to go whifell forest in march. You also feel like you have had a holiday as with young children you can come back more tired than when you went. Also you dont have to spend a fortune you can pay for activities or look for the free things and bring your own food. I would definatly recommend Center parcs sherwood forest!!!!

7 readers found this review helpful

Well its the best holiday experience ever!!!! Loved it!! Used to go when i was a kid an loved it then went back this year an its still as gud now as it was then infact better!!!! The staff r friendly you feel really welcomed from the minute u arrive at the arrival lodge. The views u get everywhere you go are amazing and im not really what you'd call at one with nature but i couldn't get enough of it. If you get on the old internet and have a look for offers and deals a family of six can go away Monday to Monday for around the £500 mark and trust me its worth every penny. Activities are booked at extra cost which in some peoples minds are expensive but they're well worth it an if you dont want to spend alot on your holiday thats no problem just go to the massive swimming pool that you could easily spend the entire week in with its water slides an jucuzzi's and not forgetting the amazing outdoor rapids an its all FREE just a pound 4 your locker which you get back! Got back three days ago and we've already booked for next year when i have my 1st niece can't bloody wait. You don't have to be worried about wanting a quite or energetic holiday because you can do both here.
If your looking for an amazing holiday experience especially with children try here its really good!!!

5 readers found this review helpful

Booked for Sherwood forest, been there whn I was 12, kids are now that age and wondered if it would live up to the great time I had had when I was younger, well it did got there around dinner and just drove through check in and got keys, cant go into room till 3 so parked up and had a wander, went to villa, we had a four bedroom, that slept 8 for £270 we were really impressed. We did plenty of activities while there the kids loved the tree treking and we all loved the laser combat and fencing, there is so much to do and the swimming pool is still really good, lost count of the number of times we went down the rapids, if you do some activities and love trying new things and the outdoor life you will love it