Best holiday parks for families and when to book them
Caravan holidays have always been a big hit with us Brits, and during the school holidays, thousands of holidaymakers will take to the road to enjoy some family-sized fun.
Tucked away in idyllic locations, comfortable caravans close to swimming pools and amusement arcades will entice children to play together, while parents relax and enjoy a bite to eat and a bit of peace. Representing excellent value for money, caravan holidays can cost as little as £479 for a week even in the summer, or just £11.40 per person, per night for a family of six.
With Parkdean and Haven offering money off selected park bookings throughout the year, as well as independent parks like Ribby Hall Village offering guests the chance to have their holiday paid for, booking early could save you money that you can enjoy spending when you get there.
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From swimming to abseiling, splash parks to arts and crafts, all of the very best family-friendly holiday parks come complete with a full range of activities and entertainment, whatever the weather.
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Going away during the school summer holidays always costs a little bit more, but there are good value deals to be found. We've looked at some of the highest rated Caravan parks and villages, and given an idea of the cost of a seven-night family holiday in July to compare.
Ribby Hall Village
The lake at Ribby Hall Village (Ribby Hall)Set in 130 acres of Lancashire countryside, this five-star holiday village offers a mix of cottages and lodges and has lots of outdoor and indoor activities for visitors to enjoy during their stay.
During their stay guests are invited to go fishing, scale a climbing wall, paint some pottery, take on some archery or swim in the pool, before enjoying living entertainment, bingo and family-friendly shows.
For a seven-night stay in a dog-friendly cottage, two adults and two children (and the dog, of course) can expect to pay £1491 on July, 29. The cost includes free entertainment, swimming, indoor soft play areas, outdoor playgrounds and woodland trails.
The resort is currently giving guests who book before February, 4 the chance to be automatically entered into a holiday prize draw to win a free holiday.
Whitemead Forest Park
The wide open spaces at Whitemead (Whitemead Forest Park)Located just outside the town of Lydney, in Gloucestershire, Whitemead is a compact, low-key forest resort with forest cabins, a swimming pool and play areas.
There is also the Foresters Bar and Restaurant close by, as well as a gym, steam room and jacuzzi for adults, underwater scooters, giant floating inflatable water walking balls and arts and crafts.
For a seven-night stay, arriving on July, 28 the total price for two adults and two children would be £1429.
Sandy Balls Holiday Village
The Sandy Balls holiday park is very popular with families (Away Resorts)The Sandy Balls Holiday Village is set in 120 acres of woods and parklands and offers lodges with hot tubs, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, restaurants and bars and a range of activities including bush tucker trials, Nerf Challenges and daily entertainment.
It is also home to a family of resident alpacas who are a big hit with younger visitors, as well as wild ponies who roam around the open spaces.
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With lots of five-star reviews, the resort which is part of the Away Resorts group, offers a seven-night stay from July, 28 for £1076 in a pet-friendly caravan that sleeps up to six visitors.
Bluestone, Wales
The Blue Lagoon at the Bluestone Resort in Pembrokeshire (Bluestone Resort)The 500-acre Bluestone Resort is an all-weather luxury resort nestled amongst the trees of the Bluestone National Park in Pembrokeshire that offers well-equipped lodges.
Set around a private Welsh village with restaurants, shops, a pub and a Well Spa with holistic treatments and thermal rooms, there are plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy as well as a subtropical indoor water park called the Blue Lagoon that offers all of the watery fun and frolics Brits expect to see when they visit a holiday village.
The price for two adults and two children staying in a two-bedroom lodge for seven nights on July, 28 starts at £1915. The price includes free access to the Lagoon Water Park and the Serendome, seasonal entertainment, outdoor trials and nature parks and free WiFi.
Tattershall Lakes
Take in the views at Tattershall Lakes (Away Resorts)The stunning holiday resort at Tattershall Park has eight lakes in total with one for water skiing, another for jet-skiing and two for fishing.
There is also a man-made beach with outdoor entertainment areas, an adventure golf course, a spa, a gym and a sauna as well as play areas, bars and a selection of eateries.
A seven-night stay for four on July, 28 would currently cost £714, although towels, upgrades and certain activities will cost you more.
Warmwell Holiday Park
The all-weather ski slope at Warmwell (Parkdean Resorts)Located in Weymouth, Warmwell Holiday Park has a 110m all-weather ski slope, fishing lakes and its very own Sports Dome, as well as an indoor swimming pool with a flume and wave machine.
Guests can stay in a range of lodges, some of which even feature indoor hot tubs, and the accommodation is located a short distance away from the bar, restaurant and entertainment centre.
A seven-night stay for four from July, 27 costs £1369 in a one-bed lodge with an additional lounge sleeping area, and Parkdean has discounts available on certain dates throughout the summer.
White Cross Bay Holiday Park
The lakeside lodges at White Cross Holiday Park (Parkdean Resorts)Another great choice for water lovers, White Cross Bay Holiday Park is set on the shore of Lake Windermere and offers an indoor pool, a spa pool, a sauna and steam room, a children’s play area and a full schedule of activities during the school holidays.
White Cross Bay is also home to the Boathouse Bar & Restaurant and offers a takeaway service for lazy nights spent at home in one of the well-equipped lodges.
A seven-night stay for four starts at £919 on July, 29.
Nothing take your fancy? If you aren't sure when you want to visit or are looking for more choices, the UK is home to some incredible Holiday companies that offer superb on-site facilities at parks to suit all budgets.
Some of our favourites include:
Haven Holidays
Haven holiday parks offer family-friendly fun across the UK (Haven)With 38 holiday parks to choose from across the UK, Haven offers a wide range of deals throughout the year.
Haven Hideaway holidays start from as little as £49 for a long weekend stay. Designed to let guests explore the great British coast in all its glory, the low-price getaways don't include access to onsite facilities except for restaurants, but they do offer super cheap caravan stays in prime locations.
Stays with all the family-friendly entertainment included start from £69 in the spring, with seven-night summer stays available for under £500 at selected parks.
Parkdean Holidays
Parkdean offers some of the UK's best-loved caravan holidays (Parkdean)Parkdean Resorts offers family-sized fun with thousands of short breaks available from £79 and seven-night breaks available from £279 between now and the summer.
With 66 park locations across the UK, comfy caravans sleep between 4-6 people, and guests can enjoy the use of the swimming pool, and free family entertainment, as well as a wide range of activities from Football to bike hire, fishing lakes and more.
The much-loved holiday company is currently offering seven-night Easter holiday stays for £169, and some of their best-value summer deals include seven nights at the Todber Caravan Park in Lancashire for £479 on July, 26 or three nights at Summerfields in Norfolk from £279 on July, 27.
Center Parcs
Center Parcs is famous for its iconic indoor swimming paradise (Center Parcs)Centre Parcs is a popular British holiday institution that offers upscale accommodation, high-octane activities and picture-perfect surroundings.
With five UK holiday villages to choose from, visitors love the range of all-weather fun on offer, but high prices can make it an unpalatable stay for families on a budget.
As a guideline, a seven-night stay on July, 26 will cost £1118 at the Whinfell, Sherwood Forest Park for a family of four in a one-bedroom studio lodge.
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How to get a great deal on your next UK caravan holiday
If you are chomping at the bit to book your holiday park getaway, there are other tips and tricks to try to bring the cost down further.
- Look for dates outside of the school holidays if you can. Some half-term dates can vary by region, so you could get lucky and find prices fall on certain dates. Check for inset days too, as they could give you a long week or term time break for less.
- Book early where possible. At Christmas time and in the dead of winter, most families are dreaming of a week away in the sun, meaning there are better deals to be had a village resorts across the UK.
- All lodges are self-catering and you can bring food to save money. Certainly aim to bring snacks and drinks to keep hungry children out of the sweet shop all day, and plan to eat out a couple of nights and the rest in the comfort of your cabin.
- Look for free activities. Swimming pools, play areas and outdoor nature trails are usually free (or included in the price of your holiday) so take advantage of as much time enjoying them as you can. Check the costs of additional activities before you leave, and book before you arrive to prevent getting caught out when you get there.
- Take advantage of deals and discounts. Many parks will offer money off for early bookings, percentage discounts for traditionally quieter weekends and reduced prices for little ones during school holidays. Unless you need to visit a certain location, shop around before you commit.
- Go abroad. Hear us out on this one. Center Parcs is an international company with parks in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. Not only are prices usually lower, but often school holidays vary a bit so you could end up there at a quieter point in time. Mumsnet and Facebook in particular have groups with people offering advice on doing this. It's a different kind of holiday and needs to be fully investigated, but if you love the adventure of long road trips with the family it could work out cheaper, although you'll need to factor petrol and ferry costs into your calculations.
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