Center Parcs Elveden Forest, in rural Suffolk, is often praised as a great option for families wanting a short break filled with activities, nature and easy entertainment. We stayed there at the end of November 2025 and came away with a really positive overall experience. Here’s what you can expect if you’re considering a stay.
The Accommodation
We stayed in a three-bedroom Forest Lodge in Maple, and space definitely wasn’t an issue. The lodge was roomy, clean and well-laid out (the child’s bedroom slightly away from the main living space, meaning we could enjoy our evenings when he’d gone to bed), and each bedroom had its own en suite.
The kitchen was well-equipped, with everything you’d expect for self-catering – plenty of crockery, cutlery and appliances (including a Tassimo coffee machine!) One thing worth remembering (I found out the hard way) was to make sure you don’t shut the sliding door to the patio behind you if you’re on your own…otherwise you’ll find yourself having to walk round the back of other people’s lodges to get back to your front door.
The door is opened via a wristband, you’ll receive one for every adult member of your party – and you’ll also need this to use the lockers in the swimming area, too.
Getting Around the Site
Center Parcs Elveden is one of their smaller sites, which worked really well for us. It didn’t take long to walk to the village (we didn’t hire or bring bikes), even with the seven-year-old, and we didn’t feel overwhelmed by distances. There are plenty of cycle paths, though, with signposting at various intervals.
I’ve put together a packing checklist here, and that checklist includes torches. At night, the site isn’t particularly well illuminated (which I understand, got to keep the wildlife happy), but it makes it a little hard to find your way around if you’re not equipped with lights of your own.
Facilities and Activities
One of the biggest draws of a Center Parcs break is the huge number of activities available to book, from sports to crafts and more. You can do this either before you arrive or when you’re there.
We only booked two: the climbing walls and the Treetop Glider experience for our son (see my video of the latter on TikTok here!), both of which he loved. The activities aren’t cheap, and the cost of your break can quickly build up – but there’s one activity we really made the most of that’s included in your holiday price…
The Subtropical Swimming Paradise
We spent a HUGE amount of time here! When we visited, the kids’ area was closed (which we weren’t told about when we booked – we only found out by chance via the website), and we thought this would be a big issue.
Turns out it wasn’t. The seven-year-old loved the wave pool and lazy river at Center Parcs Elveden, and he went down every single one of the flumes…including the Tropical Cyclone with its massive drop plus twists and turns! The outdoor pool was a big hit too – that sensation of cold air in your hair while you’re in a warm pool is bliss! The rapids? They were ok, but not the best I’ve ever been on.
The pool was always busy (unsurprisingly), but never so crowded that it felt uncomfortable or cramped.
Food, Drink and Shopping
There are plenty of restaurant and coffee shop options on-site at Center Parcs Elveden. We bought a few Starbucks coffees and hot chocolates while we were there (top tip: download the app and order that way to save time queuing!)
We only ate out once when we were there, choosing Bella Italia for lunch – full review here.
Shopping-wise, there’s a small on-site supermarket which is pretty well stocked: expect Co-Op prices rather than regular supermarket prices, though. There’s a toy shop, a gift shop, a sweet shop, a shop selling all sorts of swimming gear and more: if you love a bit of retail therapy, there are a fair few options!
Play Areas and Free Fun
One thing we really appreciated was how much there was to do without having to spend extra money. In addition to the swimming complex, there was an impressive playground, with apparatus for children of all ages.
We enjoyed a few walks around the site, as well as feeding the birds and ducks, and even managing to feed a muntjac by hand!
Our last day at Center Parcs Elveden was also the opening day of their Santa’s Woodland Village: plenty of photo opportunities, singing reindeer, a Christmas gift shop, light displays and more – Christmas truly is a magical time to visit.
Staff and Service
Every member of staff we encountered at Center Parcs Elveden was friendly, approachable and happy to help. From the cleaning team at the start of our stay to the activity leaders and team members working in the coffee shops and restaurants, they made us feel truly welcome.
Check-In and Departure
Check-in was straight-forward and well-organised. We did have to queue in our car for a while to reach the entrance booth, but once there, everything ran smoothly. We were given our wristbands and a map showing the location of our lodge, and headed to the car park to park up and enjoy the facilities before we could drive to our lodge to unload.
Leaving was just as easy. We vacated our lodge by 10am on the day of departure, moved the car back to the car park, and enjoyed the site for the rest of the day. When it was time to leave, we simply dropped our wristbands into the designated bins and headed towards the car park.
Pricing
We’ve all seen the posts on social media about how much Center Parcs pricing increases during school holidays – and it’s not untrue. Book outside of school holidays and peak times, though, and you can enjoy a short break from around £400 – school holiday breaks, though, can easily cost four figures, and that’s without factoring additional activities into your costs.
Is Center Parcs Elveden worth the cost?
If you’re after an action-packed family break where the kids are entertained for hours, you know you’re in a safe place and everything is contained in one car-free site, then yes, a Center Parcs Elveden break can definitely be worth it. The key is being realistic about the cost and planning your break to avoid the highest price points if you can.
For off-peak or midweek breaks the price feels much more reasonable, and offers great value, especially given what’s included. In the school holidays, it’s definitely a premium stay – but that doesn’t stop many families returning year after year because their enjoyment and the convenience outweigh the extra spend.