The seaside holiday parks that cost hundreds of pounds less than Center Parcs
Holiday parks in the UK offer everything you need for a break away with friends and family, and while no two venues are the same, the concept rarely changes.
Swimming pools offer watery fun for everyone and fishing lakes, arcade games, go-karts and live entertainment all add to the overall experience.
What does differ though is the price and location and with the cheapest break we found starting at £69 compared to the most expensive at £595, there really is a huge amount of difference.
High-end destinations like Center Parcs offer luxury lodges nestled away in pine-scented forests, while more traditional holiday parks like Haven's Allhallows holiday park in Kent pin their USP on proximity to beaches and seaside towns.
Center Parcs may be highly regarded as the UK's premier holiday village but with prices soaring into the thousands in high season, it can be a bit rich for families on a tighter budget.
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The iconic subtropical swimming dome is at the heart of every UK Centre Parcs (Getty)Another costly concern with Center Parcs is that while some activities are free, guests need to pay extra to take part in any of the really fun stuff.
With activities costing from just a few pounds to as much as £50 per person, ramping up the fun could quickly max out your budget.
At Haven, access to swimming pools, activity villages and entertainment areas comes for free with all but the most basic caravan breaks and although there may be additional paid-for activities on offer, most are included in the price you pay.
All of their 38 coastal locations offer swimming pools, activity villages, on-site restaurants and live entertainment - pretty much the same as Center Parcs if you decide not to pay for the optional extras.
While directly comparing the two companies would be a bit like comparing apples with oranges, sometimes a family holiday really does come down to budget, and we think Haven is an affordable staycation option that the kids will love just as much.
A caravan holiday may not have the cache of a week in a Scandinavian lodge hidden in the forest, but it will still be tons of fun for you and your little ones.
Narin Flanders, mum-of-two and regular visitor to Center Parcs took her brood on a weekend break to a Haven and came away delighted with her stay.
Narin's family had a great time at Haven (My London)Writing for MyLondon, Narin explained she was almost as worried about the ever-increasing costs of a stay at Center Parcs as she was about the cliches of staying in a cramped caravan. She put her preconceptions aside and ended up having a blast, saying making the swap felt like a 'no-brainer' when she realised the possible savings.
She added: "What’s more the difference in price in terms of meals and activities was considerable and we were pleased to come home without feeling like we’d been rinsed for money at every turn - a low point of our last Center Parcs trip being paying just shy of £7 for two Fruit Shoots which, ironically, felt like the final straw.
"As grown ups we expected the kids would enjoy a Haven break more than us but we all came away having had a blast. It was, without doubt, the best holiday in terms of how much everyone in the family enjoyed it, no matter their age. There was a great mixture of activities to do and opportunities for chill time and the accommodation was lovely - with plenty of space for everyone to spread out."
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We've compared some of all six UK Center Parcs villages with their closest geographical Haven counterparts to show you what you can expect to pay for a short stay from Monday, September 18 to Friday, September 22, 2023.
Lake District breaks compared
Whinfell Forest, Lake District
The tranquil lake at Centre Parcs Whinfell (Centre Parcs)Nestled on the edge of the Lake District, Whinfell offers acres of tall trees, go-karting and a golf driving range. The holiday village is also home to the Centre Parcs' signature subtropical swimming paradise with its water park, rides, slides and splash pools and a watersports lake and beach.
Price for a four-day break in September:£579
Haven Lakeland
The stunning scenery at Haven Lakeland (Haven)On the other side of the Lake District, surrounded by stunning lakes and peaks, Haven Lakeland is a caravan park with its very own water sports centre with kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding and pedalos for guests to enjoy. There is also an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, an entertainment venue and a lakeside bay restaurant.
Price for a four-day break in September: £152
Price difference between the two: £427 saving with Haven
East Midlands breaks compared
Sherwood Forest, Nottingham
A four-bedroom treehouse lodge costs over £3000 (Centre Parcs)Deep in the historic Nottinghamshire Forest, the original Sherwood Forest Centre Parcs holiday village remains as popular now as when it opened in 1987. With over 400 acres of forest to explore, the park offers a refurbished Aqua Sana Forest Spa with luxury lodges and a Treetop Sauna, the Grand Cascade water ride, racket ball courts, a virtual reality experience and shops and restaurants in the open-air village.
Price for a four-day break in September: is £579, but if you want to upgrade to a tree house you would be looking at over £3000
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Mablethorpe
The beach at Golden Sands in Mablethorpe (Haven)Away from the forest and out on the coast, Golden Sands Holiday Park has a huge indoor swimming pool with a fun flume, an adventure village with aerial activities and huge jumps, an entertainment arcade, live entertainment and onsite eateries.
Price for a four-day break in September:£122
Price difference between the two: £457 saving with Haven
South West breaks compared
Longleat Forest, Wiltshire
Situated in the beautiful and historic Longleat Estate, the West Country holiday village offer all of the usual signature Centre Parcs attractions, as well as a free land train, adventure golf, an escape room and a spa.
Price for a four-day break in September: £599
Burnham-on-Sea Holiday Village, Somerset
The fishing lake at Burnham (Haven)Situated by the seaside in Somerset, Burnham-on-Sea has two panoramic lakes, an indoor pool with a water flume and an outdoor pool for sunny days. Guests can hire their own kart to explore the park, enjoy entertainment in the lounge or have a tasty meal in the Mash and Barrel restaurant.
Price for a four-day break in September: £135
Price difference between the two: £464 saving with Haven
East of England breaks
Elvedon Forest, Suffolk
The zip wire at Elvedon Forest (Centre Parcs)Elveden Forest is ideal for those who love spending time in the great outdoors. It offers miles of forest cycle paths, watersports on the lake and the longest Centre Parcs zip wire in the UK. This park is also home to waterside lodges that are unique to the Suffolk location.
Price for a four-day break in September: £529
Caister on Sea, Great Yarmouth
As one of Havens best loved holiday parks, Caister is located right on the beach and offers traditional caravan fun in Suffolk. The park offers a new adventure village complete with new activities and play areas, an indoor pool with slides and its very own Burger King!
Price for a four-day break in September: £138
Price difference between the two: £391 saving with Haven
Breaks easily accessible from London
Woburn Forest, Bedford
The Forest Pool at Woburn (Centre Parcs)Just an hour from central London, Woburn offers activities, restaurants and accommodation types within a compact 300-acre site with a subtropical swimming paradise, an onsite spa and secret picnic areas.
Price for a four-day break in September: £599
Allhallows Kent
The all-new adventure village at All Hallows (Haven)Also located about an hour from London, Allhallows is located near Rochester in Kent and the site has recently been updated to offer a brand new Marina Lounge entertainment area and activity village, as well as a fishing lake, two swimming pools and onsite eatery.
Price for a four-day break in September: £99
Price difference between the two: £500 saving with Haven
While Center Parcs offer a little more luxury, a weekend break at Haven could literally save you hundreds of pounds.
With hundreds of caravan parks with posh berths to choose from throughout the UK, if Haven doesn't suit your requirements, you could check out Hoseasons, Park Holidays or Parkdean, among others.
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