Staying at Center Parcs Ireland in Winter (Review of Winter Wonderland Experience)

We visited Center Parcs Ireland in mid-December, and we absolutely loved our stay. It was so Christmassy, the Winter Wonderland section was magical with fake snow and lots of festive entertainment on offer. It was like a mini Santa’s Village there. And our daughters loved the free activities they offered in this area, like the Elf’s Playtime and the short Santa Parade.

💡 Center Parcs Longford Forest is a 394-acre resort set within a gorgeous forest and features no less than 466 lodges. There’s a lake, a village centre where you’ll find the restaurants, stores, and supermarket, and loads of fun things to do. It’s also filled with lots of wildlife like deer, badgers, foxes, hedgehogs, and more. We actually saw several deer from our bedroom window every morning during our stay. It’s easily one of the most family-friendly places to stay in Ireland!

We stayed in a 4-bedroom Woodland Lodge, and that cost us €2,100 for 3 nights in the middle of December. And we drove here from Cork City, it took us just under 3 hours (243 km). From Dublin, it’s around a 1.5-hour drive.

Anyway, in this blog post, I’ll tell you all about our stay at Center Parcs in winter and why the magical Winter Wonderland experience is worth seeing.

Explaining the different lodge types at Center Parcs:

• Woodland Lodge - This is probably the most popular lodge type, and it's what we stayed in. They come in 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom units. They boast a private patio and an open-plan living area.
• Executive Lodge - A more luxurious version of the Woodland Lodge, the Executive Lodges come with en-suites in all rooms and some boast a games room, sauna, or hot tub.
• Exclusive Lodges - These are 4-bedroom super-luxurious lodges that come with a sauna, steam room, games room, and outdoor hot tub. There's an ensuite in every bedroom. As you can guess, these lodges are the most expensive.
• Lakeside Apartments - These one-bedroom apartments overlook the lake and are perfect for couples. They come with a small balcony.

How long did we stay at Center Parcs Ireland for?

We spent 3 nights here (from Friday to Monday). Our daughters were only 4 years and 2 years old at the time, so they were limited to the number of activities they could do. So, 3 nights were enough for us.

But if you have older kids, then a 4-night stay will be ideal. As that way, you'll be able to do all the activities you want and have some chilled-out time relaxing at your lodge or in the Subtropical Swimming Pool. And because the 4-night package is during the week (Monday to Friday), it's less busy.

What age were our kids when we visited? (And recommended age for Center Parcs)

As I said, we stayed here with our two young daughters (aged 4 and 2) and had an absolutely fabulous time. However, they were limited in what they could do - the only extra activities we booked for them were the Off-Road Explorers for our 4-year-old and the Pottery Painting for the two of them. But, in saying that, they were happy playing in the swimming pool and the two playgrounds.

We traveled here with my sister and her children, who are all older (ranging from ages 6 to 15), and they did loads, including ziplining (which looked like so much fun). So, if you're keen to do lots of adventure activities and you're traveling with young kids, keep in mind that they may be too young for them.

Center Parcs is expensive, but you have to consider all it includes!

With the average price of a 3-night stay in a 3-bedroom lodge costing over €1,500, you could say that staying at Center Parcs is an expensive vacation. But, when you consider you can access the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, the walks, the playgrounds, etc., free of charge, it's not so bad. Also, if you stay between November 6th and January 4th, you have free access to all the Winter Wonderland activities (I explain all of these below!)

Also, because all the lodges have kitchens, you can cook in them and save money. We stocked up on food supplies at Tesco in Tullamore, but honestly, the prices in the Mini Supermarket on-site weren't too bad. And they even offer free delivery to your lodge if you spend over a certain amount.

As I said, my daughters were more than happy doing the free activities on offer here - like the swimming pool, playgrounds, and walks. Although we did book two additional activities for them, it wasn't necessary.

What's included at Winter Wonderland at Center Parcs Ireland:

Winter Wonderland runs from November 6th until January 4th. Would you believe the whole area is lit up with close to 60,000 fairy lights, and there are around 100 Christmas trees set up and decorated across the grounds. And there are heaps of magical events and activities offered for free during these dates, such as -

• Santa's Woodland Village: Enjoy charming Toadstool displays, new photo spots like The Nest, and enchanting festive decorations.
• Enchanted Light Garden: We loved strolling through this mesmerizing display of twinkling lights and vibrant colors. It's open daily from 4 pm to 9 pm.
• Santa's Parade: Every Wednesday and Saturday from 5 pm, you can watch the Santa Parade go past the village area. Santa's sleigh glides by, accompanied by a lively troupe of entertainers - dancers, playful elves, twinkling stars, and a festive saxophonist.
• Letters to Santa: Children can pen letters to Santa and receive a magical response during their stay!
• Festive Entertainment: Get into the holiday spirit with live choir performances.
• Storytime with Nutmeg and Friends: Cuddle up and follow Nutmeg and friends on their adventures as you watch animated bedtime stories on your lodge TV each evening.

Activities at Center Parcs Ireland:

There is loads to do at Center Parcs Ireland, and would you believe there are over 100 activities on offer here? Activities like ziplining, archery, and kayaking tend to be the most popular things to do. While for younger kids, the Off Road Explorers is a fun thing to do.

I've listed my favorite Center Parcs Ireland activities below (we tried all of them during our stay) -

Subtropical Swimming Paradise

Easily our favorite thing to do at Center Parcs Ireland is the huge indoor swimming area, called the Subtropical Swimming Paradise. It's the biggest indoor waterpark in Ireland, and you could easily spend a couple of hours here. There are slides (I loved the Tropical Cyclone), rapids, a lazy river, two kids' areas (like small water playgrounds), two hot tubs, and an outdoor pool - which is extra cozy when it's cold outside.

There's also a Cafe inside here, so you can grab food and drinks without having to leave.

I was concerned about how warm it'd be in the swimming area, but I needn't have worried as it's a toasty 29.5 degrees Celsius.

You can visit the pool 7 days a week, between 10 am and 9 pm. From time to time, entry may be restricted if they reach capacity.

Entry to the subtropical swimming paradise at Center Parcs is included in the overall price of your stay.

Ziplining

Suitable for anyone over 1.22 meters tall, this aerial adventure involves 15 different sections, like the floating stairs and a 170-metre-long zipline at the end. It's a must-do for thrill-seekers, and it's completely safe as you'll be attached to a safety harness and have an instructor on hand at all times.

Laser Combat

For this activity, you'll have a laser gun and be wearing a target as you make your way through the forest, shooting at targets and being shot at. You'll have to make your way over obstacles and hide behind trees to save yourself from being shot (with a laser gun). This activity is suitable for anyone over 6 years.

Off Road Explorers

Suitable for anyone over 1.2 meters tall, this activity involves your little one getting behind the wheel in a mini electric Land Rover. Which they must steer through a forest track complete with bumps and twists. You (the adult) have a safety button to stop the vehicle at any time.

Other fun things to do in Center Parcs include:

• Archery
• Kayaking
• Laser Clay Shooting
• Segway Experience
• Teddy Bear Making
• Roller skating
• Pottery Making

💡Travel Tip: To book any activities and see the prices of activities, you will need to download the Center Parcs Ireland app. You can log in to the

Is Center Parcs Ireland in the winter worth it?

I honestly think that Center Parcs Ireland is worth it! Initially, I felt a bit uncertain about how enjoyable the experience would be, especially given the cost. Although everyone we talked to who had visited spoke highly of it, I still had my doubts. However, after our visit this December, I'm convinced we will return. My daughters, despite being quite young, had an incredible time and keep asking to go back to the “holiday house,” as they affectionately call it.

We really loved the Winter Wonderland experience - it was so magical and festive. And we were lucky with the weather during our stay (it wasn't too cold and only rained on and off).

Thanks for Reading!

While you're here, you might also like to read about what to do in Cork for free and my guide to renting a car in Ireland.