Walking In A Centre Parcs’ Winter Wonderland

After a busy Halloween season, I had the pleasure of taking a mid-week break with my sister, brother-in-law and nephew at Centre Parcs’ Sherwood holiday village for their festive Winter Wonderland breaks.

From Monday 8th November to 24th December 2021, Centre Parcs villages up and down the country are transformed into a magical oasis packed full of Christmas magic ready for families to enjoy. Having experienced Elveden’s festive offering in 2019, I wasn’t disappointed with Sherwood either which also provided an abundance of twinkling lights and festive decorations across the resort!

Driving into Centre Parcs residents are greeted with a snow-covered entrance sign surrounded by snow-covered Christmas trees and sparkling lights; setting the scene for what is in store. Approaching the security hut down the long entrance road, the lights continued to adorn lampposts where residents can see even more in the distance. Each lodge features a wreath on its door and main walkways to and from the Village Square are lit up by even more decorations.

The Village Square and surrounding shops and restaurants are also tastefully decorated with Christmas trees, lights, and decorations, and dotted around the village are various light sculptures which provide an ideal selfie opportunity that Centre Parcs encourages you to share with your family and friends on social media using the hashtag #MyCP. My nephew was absolutely fascinated with the large light-up bauble and enjoyed running in and out of the sculpture. It also proved popular with several other guests, especially in the evening, who captured those special moments together. In addition, children and adults alike can visit the singing reindeer singing festive favourites!

At the heart of Centre Parcs’ Winter Wonderland is Santa’s Woodland Village which features new Toadstool Cabins along with elves in festive scenes, and the Forest Festive Fayre which offers a range of festive treats from mulled wine and hot chocolates to gingerbread figures and cakes. In addition, Santa’s Woodland Workshop can be pre-booked for children to visit Santa, with various elves wandering in and around the area too! The hot chocolate was honestly one of the best I’ve tasted especially as the temperature dropped. Drinking my hot chocolate, I absolutely loved exploring the area including the ‘Enchanted Light Trail’ which sees residents walk through thousands of twinkling lights nestled between the trees and the forest floor, accompanied by captivating festive tunes! One thing I wasn’t aware of was the light-up wristbands (available from Parc Market for £5) that interact with the trail and Woodland Village… so be aware of that as I would have taken up the offer for my nephew had I known! Children also get the chance to post their letters to Santa on the card provided upon arrival, with the big man himself sending a reply whilst you are on your break.

Winter Wonderland breaks also offer on selected nights a tour of the village by Santa. Unfortunately, we were swimming when Santa passed our lodge, but once again it is something to look out for! In addition, residents can opt for a ride on a horse-drawn carriage.

In addition to the usual activities offered throughout the year, Centre Parcs’ Winter Wonderland is undoubtedly an event not to be missed. It truly is a magical experience that we will all remember for a long time to come!