If you’re looking for a UK staycation, Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, which is on the edge of the Lake District. From flying through the trees on a zip line to relaxing in the Aqua Spa, there is something for everyone at Center Parcs.
I’ve just got back from a long weekend at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, and it’s safe to say I’ve been converted to being a Center Parcs person! We rocked up at 4pm on Friday to check in, and had a super calm and relaxing few days. I always thought Center Parcs was for big families (and it’s perfect for families, it really is), but it’s also great for adults as well.
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Lakeside Apartments at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest
We stayed at the new Lakeside Apartments; these are one-bed, studio-style apartments that are perfect for two people (and a little one as well!).
The location is perfect – The Village, The Sports Plaza, The Lakeside Inn, The Spa and The Wishlight Village are all a 5-10 min (max) walk away.
The kitchen has everything you need to cook some delicious meals – if you don’t fancy heading out to one of the many restaurants – including a dishwasher so there’s no arguments about who’s doing the washing up!
Oh, and let’s not forget the spa bath in the bathroom – turn your bath into a jacuzzi and relax and unwind!
Where to eat at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest
If you don’t fancy cooking, there are plenty of food options at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, and I tried as many of them as possible to let you know where to go!
Rajinda Pradesh @ Center Parcs Whinfell Forest
Let’s start with my favourite meal of the weekend. Rajinda Pradesh is the on-site Indian restaurant, which is up there with one of the best Indian meals I’ve had! We had incredible food and incredible service and it was a 10/10 evening.
Amy and David served us that evening, and were so so lovely and gave some brilliant recommendations!
For starters, we had Lamb Sheshkebab and Okra Fries which was delicious. Our mains were chicken tikka masala, paneer saag, bang bang potatoes, garlic and coriander rice, and peshwari naan. Honestly, I couldn’t fault this meal at all. It was full of flavour and the perfect portion sizes too. I got really excited for dessert because they had three different dairy free ice creams – including my favourite, chocolate orange! Mum tried the mango kulfi ice cream, made with condensed milk, and she said it was incredible!
Cafe Rouge
The first meal of the holiday was at Cafe Rouge, which is in The Village.
We shared calamari to start, and then I had the truffle camembert burger which was slightly disappointing. Mum had the mussels for her main, and they were tasty though!
The Pancake House
We had breakfast on Sunday at The Pancake House, and obviously I went for the New Yorker stack – bacon and maple syrup.
The service here was great, and so was the food. There’s a great selection of American pancakes, Dutch Pancakes and French Toast and there’s so much to choose from. We also had breakfast on the Monday, where I tried the french toast, and that was delicious as well.
Sports Plaza Cafe
We grabbed a quick lunch here before heading to Archery and I wasn’t expecting much to be honest!
The Sports Plaza Cafe is in the Sports Plaza, and is where you can play pool, grab a pint and watch the football. As you can imagine, a Saturday afternoon here is busy. The do sharing platters here, so we picked 5 items – BBQ cauliflower, Falafel, Calamari, grilled veggies and hummus.
The food tasted really good, and the service was really quick too! A great option if you’re doing an activity nearby!
Dexter’s Kitchen
Open 9-6pm daily, Dexter’s kitchen serves burgers and hot dogs. We ended up here after forgetting to book a meal for Sunday evening and everywhere else being full! Luckily we got in just before 6pm, and enjoyed a cheeseburger, sweet potato fries and onion rings.
Everything is made fresh, and the staff were so friendly here too. A great option if you too forget to book a meal!
Vitale Cafe Bar
Based in the Aqua Spa, Vitale Cafe Bar is a great option!
It carries on the calming feel of the spa, and offers a great selection of light lunches. We shared a veggie sharing platter and it was a lovely selection of delicious food.
The also have a great selection of cakes here – a perfect place for a sweet treat.
Everything else available at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest…
- Hucks American Bar + Grill
- Bella Italia
- The Lakeside Inn
- Restaurant Runner (food delivery option to your lodge)
- Canopy Cafe + Bar
- Starbucks
The best spa break? Everything you need to know about Aqua Spa at Center Parcs Lake District
I love a little spa break, and Center Parcs Whinfell Forest could potentially be on of the best in The Lake District. Yes, there are a lot of luxury spas in The Lake District, but Aqua Spa may be the best!
There are 14 indoor and outdoor spa experiences taking inspiration from ancient healing traditions, and they are incredible. My favourite steam room was the Greek herbal bath which smelt incredible and was a treat to the senses.
The hydro pool and outdoor pool were incredibly relaxing as well.
What was nice is that phones aren’t allowed in the spa, which gives a real calming atmosphere, and plenty of time to read your book as well!
It’s safe to say I’ll be heading back to the spa here, as they also offer day passes for non-residents!
Winter at The Wishlight Village
Open until the end of February (and back for Jan + Feb 2025!) is The Wishlight Village.
This is a magical, interactive woodland adventure – find the pixies who live there, watch the incredible light show, and don’t forget to toast marshmallows at the Forest Fayer Tipi cafe!
Walking through the lit up woodland was magical as an adult, so I can’t imagine how special it feels for a child here! And don’t forget to keep an eye out for the special woodland animals who turn up too!
Everything you need to know for your trip to Center Parcs Whinfell Forest
What time is check-in at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest
You can arrive from 10am on your check-in day and enjoy everything there is on offer at Center Parcs. However, you can only access your lodge from 4pm.
If you arrive before 4pm, leave your car at the car park and get your holiday started. Then, at 4pm, you can bring all your luggage to the lodge (you can drive it here, before taking your car back to the car park)
Enjoying the subtropical swimming paradise
Included in you lodge price is access to the subtropical swimming paradise.
Here you’ll find the main pool, wave pool, indoor and outdoor rapids and all of the slides!
Whinfell Forest is currently expanding the pool, and you can see that there’s even more slides and activities being added, ready for spring!
What activities are available at Center Parcs Winfell Forest
I couldn’t believe how many activities are on offer at Center Parcs! Whether it’s getting creative at the pottery studio, trying indoor sports like badminton, tennis and indoor climbing, or heading to the outdoor activity centre to try archery, paintballing and quad biking!
And that’s not even half of it!
We had a go at archery whilst we were here, and I had an absolute blast trying something new. The activity was an hour long, and our instructor, Ben, took us through how to do it, gave great advice and made sure we all felt like we’d achieved something!
What time is check-out at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest
You need to be out of your lodge for 10 am, and your car needs to be back in the car park for around 10:30 am. However, you can stay all day on your final day to really make the most of your time here!
I can’t recommend a break to Center Parcs enough! It’s perfect for all of the family, as there are activities for all ages. Whether it’s a mother-daughter weekend like I had, a big get together with all of the family, or your first time away with your new baby, it’s a great, stress free option. If you’re looking for more weekend getaway ideas, click here for inspo. If you’re planning a trip to The Lake District, you can find more Lake District recommendations here.
This article features a PR stay, however all views are the writers honest opinions
