In December, we embarked on our first family trip to Center Parcs Sherwood Forest, keeping it a complete surprise for the kids. It had been years since our last visit, and we were genuinely excited to return. What followed was an unforgettable, magical long weekend—a true winter wonderland experience for the whole family.
From the moment we arrived, the festive atmosphere was palpable. The kids were thrilled, and with so many activities on offer, we couldn’t wait to explore and create lasting memories together.
First Impressions of Sherwood Forest Center Parcs
We arrived at Sherwood Forest Center Parcs around lunchtime and immediately understood the rave reviews. The park is stunning, teeming with wildlife, beautifully landscaped, and seamlessly integrated into its natural surroundings. The check-in process was efficient, taking approximately fifteen minutes. Wristbands, our lodge pack, and a winter wonderland pack for the kids were provided, and we were informed we could access our lodge at 3 PM.
After checking in, we drove around the park to locate our accommodation. While we were somewhat distant from the main Village Centre, the flat terrain, interconnected walkways, and shortcuts made getting around easy. We had brought bikes, which proved invaluable for keeping the kids happy.
Our adventure began at Santa’s Winter Workshop, where we wandered through festive lights, discovered our elf names, and prepared to meet the man in red himself. While we wished we had visited later in the evening for a more magical ambiance, the children were delighted, enjoying the hour-long experience complete with numerous photo opportunities.
Afterward, we returned to our lodge to escape the rain and warm up.
The Woodland Lodges
We stayed in a Woodland Lodge with two bedrooms on Cedar View. The lodge was compact yet spacious, with an open-plan living area featuring a TV, a children’s blackboard, and doors opening onto a screened patio with a barbecue and table. From the windows, we could watch wildlife roam freely which the kids loved.
Our lodge, number 262, featured bright and airy bedrooms with ample storage and dressing areas. The beds were exceptionally comfortable. The lodge also included a bathroom, a separate WC, and a convenient entrance area for coats, shoes, and a pushchair complete with a radiator to dry wet items. A highchair and cot were provided, making it family friendly and well thought out in every detail.
Each of the bedrooms were bright and airy with plenty of storage space as well as a dressing area and the beds were extremely comfy. The lodge had a bathroom, and an additional separate WC . There was also a entrance area to keep the pushchair, coats and shoes, bonus right next to a radiator seeing as it was wet during our stay. On top of that there was a highchair and cot included in the lodge if needed. The whole lodge seemed really well thought out and we were happy with our Lodge. The beds were extremely comfy.
Saturday we had arranged Brunch with Santa at Huck’s American Bar and Grill, and it did not disappoint. There was entertainment the whole time we were there waiting for Santa to visit our table, with magicians and comedians. The kids were beyond excited to meet Father Christmas himself, while we enjoyed a delicious festive brunch—think waffles, pastries, cakes and all the holiday treats you could imagine. Santa took the time to chat with everyone and even posed for pictures. It was the perfect way to start the day.
After brunch, the adventure continued with some thrilling Junior Quad Bikes! Freddie had a blast racing around the track, and we all got to watch him zooming off with a huge smile. The staff were fantastic, ensuring everyone had a safe and fun experience. Freddie was a natural at it.
What are the swimming facilities like at Sherwood Forest?
No Center Parcs trip is complete without visiting the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, which offers a variety of pools for all ages and abilities. We spent hours enjoying the wave pool, lazy river, outdoor jacuzzi, and cold plunge pool. The kids loved the smaller children’s pool with slides and a splash zone, while older children and adults could enjoy water slides and a jacuzzi.
The facilities are excellent, with ample seating, a café, complimentary swimming aids, and spacious family changing rooms. While it’s a fantastic place to spend a few hours, we felt a whole day in the pools might be too much for us, but it’s ideal for families who want a full aquatic adventure.
What dining facilities are available at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest?
Over the course of the 4 days we were there at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest we ate out a few times. There are a lot of restaurants on offer from burger restaurants, to pub lunches, pancakes and chain restaurants such as Las Iguanas. There is food for every appetite. We did take some food with us mainly breakfast items and then treated us to eating out. List of places to eat can be found here
Finally, Monday before we left and headed home we took the kids to the pancake house, it was extremely busy but we had prebooked in advance so no waiting around for a table. The selection of options for pancakes was great as there was something for everyone.
What were our overall thoughts of Center Parcs Sherwood Forest?
We went to the Sherwood Forest Centre Parcs to have a break away and hoped we would be able to have a great family holiday. If you are looking for a break where you don’t have to pay for much else once you’re there then Center Parcs could be it.
They have play areas and swimming to keep children entertained but they also make sure that you have to walk past every other activity to get to the inclusive ones. If you have older children they will see the different activities and will no doubt want to do them – and they’re not the cheapest.
We paid around £900 for a 3 night break but it was peak season being close to Christmas. It is expensive but the kids had an amazing time and so many memories were made which is all that matters. We had a really lovely family break, kids were shattered and slept so well every night.
I would definitely stay at Center Parcs again in the future but visit a different one. For us though, it was a great use of a weekend and fantastic quality time as a family.
Sherwood Forest truly is the perfect place for a family getaway, especially during the festive season. Between the magical atmosphere, exciting activities, and a chance to make memories, it’s the ideal destination for a Christmas adventure. The kids are already asking when we can go back again, best get savings!
You can find out more about Sherwood Forest Nottingham Centre Parcs and discover Centre Parcs villages for short breaks, like Elveden Forest Suffolk, Longleat Forest Wiltshire, Woburn Forest Bedfordshire and County Longford Forest Ireland,over on their website and you can see the Sherwood Forest map here.