When imagining celebrity vacations, luxurious Dubai hotels or exotic tropical islands might spring to mind first. However, a surprising number of Britain's most famous faces are opting for a rather different getaway: Center Parcs. Despite numerous complaints in recent years about the holiday park's "criminal" prices, "tacky" food options, and occasional disruptions to its serene atmosphere, stars from reality TV to football are packing their bags for these UK forest retreats.
Celebrity Endorsements and Family Fun
The latest high-profile visitor is former Love Island winner Dani Dyer, who recently returned from a week at the Woburn, Bedfordshire, resort with her five-year-old son Santiago and two-year-old twins, Summer and Star. Married to West Ham football captain Jarrod Bowen, Dyer was seen enjoying the indoor tropical swimming pool, cycling around the park, and indulging in pancakes. On Instagram, she described the holiday as "soooo fun!" and confirmed she would "definitely go back."
I'm A Celebrity star Scarlett Moffatt also experienced Center Parcs for the first time, choosing the Whinfell Forest park in the Lake District with her two-year-old son, Jude. In a video posted to Instagram, Jude enjoyed the Barn Owl experience, which Moffatt labeled "100 per cent worth it," along with Mini Golf and Mini Trek. She praised the "amazing" swimming pool but advised followers against booking cabanas to save money, noting they are "not worth the money in my opinion."
Mixed Reviews on Value and Experience
Not all celebrity experiences have been uniformly positive. Geordie Shore star Gaz Beadle visited in August last year with his two children and girlfriend, expecting it to be "cheap and tacky" but instead found activities and food to be "pricey." He revealed spending £100 on a pottery session and advised others to limit activities to one or two per day, bring their own bikes, and eat in their cabin to cut costs.
Similarly, Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury, who visited with their daughter Bambi in 2024, had a different complaint. Accustomed to luxury hotels in Dubai, Hague expressed frustration at having to "fend for themselves," even joking about running out of toilet roll. Despite this, she is unlikely to return without ample supplies.
Returning Customers and Family Traditions
Some celebrities have become loyal patrons. Kate and Rio Ferdinand have visited multiple times, first in 2023 with their daughter Shae and son Cree, along with Rio's older children. They returned post-lockdown for a family treat, enjoying cycling and matching pyjamas. Kate shared on Instagram, "We haven't been since Pre lockdown, forgot how much fun it is....(& how tiring)."
Britain's biggest family, the Radfords, have also made Center Parcs a tradition, enjoying festive outings in 2021 and 2023. Parents Sue and Noel took some of their 22 children to the Winter Wonderland experience, sharing clips of Christmas decorations and family fun on social media.
Cost Concerns and Alternative Options
The high prices of UK Center Parcs have sparked backlash, with some families calling inflation during school holidays "criminal." A one-week holiday in October half-term for a family of four at Longleat Forest can cost around £3,148, with additional expenses for activities and dining pushing totals over £5,000. Even self-catering can be expensive, as highlighted by a TikToker shocked at paying £40 for two lasagnes at Whinfell Forest.
In response, some have sought alternatives. The One Show presenter Alex Jones chose a Center Parcs in Belgium for five nights in 2023, noting it was cheaper even with travel costs. She said on Instagram, "The European Center Parcs are quite a lot cheaper than the UK ones (even with the travel) so definitely a good option if you want to give it a go."
Brand Challenges and Historical Context
Center Parcs, which opened its first UK village in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire in 1987, was once a status symbol for the well-heeled, offering a man-made nirvana with futuristic pools and diverse activities. Nearly 40 years later, with five UK villages and a sixth set to open in the Scottish Borders in 2029, the brand faces criticism for being "a bit tacky and out-of-date."
Branding expert Chad Teixeira has warned that Center Parcs risks becoming "a Wetherspoons experience at Mayfair prices," citing mainstream dining options like Starbucks, Café Rouge, and Bella Italia as undermining the sense of escape. He noted, "Customers paying luxury-level prices don’t want a dining experience that feels identical to their local retail park."
A spokesperson for Center Parcs responded, stating they offer a wide choice of food and beverage options and are constantly enhancing their offerings, such as introducing the premium gastropub The Dozing Duck at Sherwood Forest.
Despite these challenges, the influx of celebrities may help revive Center Parcs' image, reminding the public of its early 90s heyday as a wholesome, aspirational destination. With two million visitors annually, the debate over value and experience continues, but for stars like Dani Dyer and Kate Ferdinand, it remains a beloved family getaway.
