What to Pack for Center Parcs: The Ultimate Family Packing List

Whether you’ve got a baby in tow, tweens who think they’re too cool for forest walks, or some combination of ages in between, I’ve covered each stage separately so you can skip to what’s actually relevant for your family.

What Center Parcs actually provides (before you start packing anything)

This is the bit most packing lists skim over, and it matters because you can waste a lot of space bringing things that are already there. Here’s what you’ll find in your lodge on arrival:

• Beds made up with fresh linen
• Bath towels, roughly one large and one small per person
• A small amount of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel per person (enough for maybe two days)
• One bar of soap per sink
• A kitchen pack with a tea towel, dishcloth, sponge, oven glove, a sachet of washing up liquid and three dishwasher tablets
• A Tassimo coffee machine with a handful of pods
• A hairdryer in the main bedroom
• Basic cooking equipment, crockery and cutlery
• A highchair and travel cot (if requested in advance)
• Some toilet roll in each bathroom, but rarely enough for a full break

Note that the towels in your lodge are for the lodge only. You cannot take them to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise (or rather, you’re not supposed to). Bring separate swimming towels.

The things people almost always forget

Before we get into the full list, these are the items that come up again and again in those “wish I’d packed…” conversations:

• A torch or headlamp. The forest paths between lodges are genuinely dark at night. Even with phone torches, a proper head torch makes the walk back from the village so much easier, especially with younger kids.
• Extra toilet roll. What they provide isn’t enough for a longer break with a full family.
• Extra dishwasher tablets. Three tablets won’t cover you for four or five nights.
• A cool bag for the car journey. The drive can be long and fresh food needs to stay cold until you reach your lodge.
• A reusable bag. You’ll end up nipping to the ParcMarket more than once.
• A multi-plug extension lead. Lodge sockets are never where you need them to be, and with a family of five we’re always fighting over charging points.

Swimming kit: pack more than you think 

The Subtropical Swimming Paradise will eat your entire schedule, especially if you’ve got kids. Even if you think you’ll only go once or twice, you’ll end up there every single day. Pack accordingly.

• At least two sets of swimwear per person. You need one to wear while the other dries. This is non-negotiable if you’re staying more than a couple of nights.
• Separate swimming towels for everyone. Microfibre ones are great for this as they dry quickly and don’t take up much space in your bag.
• Flip flops or sliders. For the walk to and from the pool and the changing rooms.
• A waterproof bag. For wet swimwear on the walk back.
• Goggles. The pool has so many slides and features, and kids who aren’t confident swimming with their eyes open get a lot more out of it with goggles.
• Hair ties and a brush. Post-pool hair is a whole situation.

The lockers at the pool work with your accommodation wristband, which is a nice touch. No need to remember a code or bring a padlock. You can check your locker number at various scanners around the poolside if you forget.

Clothing and the British weather problem

I always try to pack for the weather forecast and then throw in one extra layer and a waterproof, because this is the UK and it will rain at some point even if it doesn’t when you check the forecast three days before. There are no laundry facilities at Center Parcs, so factor in how many days you’re staying and pack enough to cope without being able to wash anything.

• Comfortable walking shoes or trainers for getting around the site
• Wellies, because the forest paths get muddy even in summer
• Waterproof jackets for everyone (the packable kind that squash into a bag are ideal)
• Warmer layers for evenings, even in summer
• Activewear or sports kit if you’ve booked activities
• Something slightly nicer for an evening meal out if you’re planning it, though honestly most people are in casual clothes the whole time

If you’re visiting in autumn or winter, add thermal base layers to that list. The forest is beautiful in the colder months but it’s properly cold once the sun goes down.

Food, drink and the ParcMarket question

Here’s the honest answer: the ParcMarket is genuinely decent and not as expensive as its reputation suggests, but it’s not a full supermarket and you’ll pay a bit more for most things. If you’re on a budget or staying for a longer break, it makes sense to bring the bulk of your food from home.

What’s worth bringing:

• Breakfast things: cereal, bread, eggs, butter, fruit
• Snacks, especially if you’ve got kids who graze constantly (after the pool they will eat everything in sight)
• Tea, coffee and your preferred milk
• Any Tassimo pods if you have a favourite brand
• Ingredients for one or two easy dinners. A pasta bake or a chilli you’ve made ahead and frozen works brilliantly
• Condiments and basics: ketchup, oil, salt and pepper (the lodge doesn’t stock these)
• Wine, beer or whatever you like in the evenings

What you can happily buy at the ParcMarket when you get there: fresh meat, vegetables, any bits you’ve forgotten, snacks and treats. They also stock a nice range of local products if you fancy picking up something a bit different.

One thing not many people mention: you can order from Deliveroo and Uber Eats at Center Parcs. Delivery goes to the security gate and you collect it there. It’s not always the fastest option but it’s genuinely useful for a low-effort evening when everyone’s tired after a day of activities.

Making the lodge feel cosy in the evenings

Once the kids are in bed or the evening winds down, you’ll want the lodge to feel like a proper haven rather than a generic holiday rental (you can read my review on our Woodland Lodge experience here!). A few things make a real difference:

• Smokeless logs and matches if your lodge has a fireplace or wood burner. Check before you go, as not all lodges have one. You can buy logs at the ParcMarket but bringing your own works out cheaper.
• A Fire Stick or similar streaming device. Lodge TVs don’t always have the best streaming options and plugging in your own means you can watch exactly what you want.
• Board games and card games. No signal, cosy fire, kids who’ve worn themselves out. It’s the ideal board game scenario.
• Candles if you like them (just check the lodge rules, as some don’t allow open flames beyond the fireplace).

Packing for older kids and teens

This is the section that’s missing from almost every Center Parcs packing list I’ve ever read, all of which seem to be written for families with children under five. My lot are 14, 13 and 8, and packing for older kids is a completely different exercise.

The teenage reality is that they’re going to want their phones, and the phones are going to need charging constantly. A portable power bank is worth its weight in gold. My 13-year-old could drain a battery faster than the lodge sockets can keep up with, especially when she’s messaging her friends approximately every four minutes. Bring a power bank per teen if you can manage it.

• Portable phone chargers / power banks. One each is ideal
• Headphones. Over-ear ones for the evenings, earbuds for the bike rides
• A waterproof phone pouch for the pool, because they’ll want to take photos on the slides
• Their own toiletries. Teens have opinions about what they use on their skin and hair. My daughter’s skincare routine has more steps than most people’s entire packing lists, so we’ve stopped even trying to convince her to use what’s provided.
• Cash or card for the wristband. Center Parcs is fully cashless and the wristband links to your account for on-site spending. Talk to older kids about what’s going on theirs so there are no surprises.
• A bike lock if they’re cycling independently around the site. You can hire one at the Cycle Centre if you forget.
• A small backpack each for heading out on their own. It gives them a bit of independence and means you’re not carrying everyone’s stuff.

Honestly, teens at Center Parcs are brilliant because the site is safe enough that you can let them have a bit of freedom. My older two will happily cycle off to the village on their own and meet us back at the lodge, which is exactly the kind of independence that’s hard to get in London. That said, make sure everyone has a way to contact each other. The signal can be patchy depending on where you are on site, so agree a meeting point if needed.

Packing for babies and toddlers

Center Parcs is genuinely set up well for little ones. The lodge has a highchair and travel cot available if you’ve requested them in advance, and the restaurants offer free baby food pouches with a meal purchase. Still, there are a few things worth packing specifically for younger children.

• Cot bedding. The travel cot is provided but the bedding isn’t, so bring a fitted sheet and a sleeping bag or blanket.
• Swim nappies for the pool, as ordinary nappies aren’t allowed.
• A baby monitor if you’re staying in a larger lodge and the little one’s room is far from where you’ll be spending the evening.
• A pushchair with a rain cover. The sites are big and small legs get tired quickly, especially after the pool. A pushchair is useful even for toddlers who normally walk everywhere.
• An inflatable swim seat or float for the pool. Center Parcs does have wearable swimming aids to borrow free of charge, but bringing your own means you’re not relying on availability.
• Their own plates, cups and cutlery if your child is particular about what they eat from, as some toddlers will simply refuse to eat from an unfamiliar bowl and it’s not a battle worth having on holiday.
• Preferred snacks and baby food. The ParcMarket does stock some baby products but not necessarily the exact brand your child is used to.
• A sling or carrier for smaller babies, especially for forest walks where a pushchair gets tricky.

Wildlife feed: the thing nobody tells you about

This feels like a small thing but it genuinely delights kids (and adults, if we’re honest). The wildlife at Center Parcs is remarkable: deer, ducks, squirrels and all sorts will wander right up to your lodge. Bring some proper duck feed or wildlife-appropriate food rather than bread, which isn’t good for them. The ParcMarket sells bags of it for around £3, or you can bring your own from home.

Things that aren’t worth packing

Almost as useful as knowing what to bring is knowing what to leave at home:

• Cash. The site is fully cashless now, so there’s no point bringing it.
• Anything electrical that requires a lot of setup. Slow cookers and air fryers sound appealing but do check the lodge terms and conditions before packing them, as not all lodges permit them.
• Formal or smart clothes. Nobody at Center Parcs is dressed up. Genuinely, nobody.
• More outdoor toys than your car can comfortably fit. The site has so many activities that you’ll barely be back at the lodge during the day anyway.
• A travel iron. I say this from experience.

A few things actually worth buying there

Despite my general “bring everything from home” approach, there are a few things where the ParcMarket or on-site shops are worth using:

• Fresh milk and perishables, as it’s much easier than packing fresh dairy for a long drive
• Smokeless logs if you don’t want the hassle of transporting them
• Local jams, honeys and gifts. The ParcMarket does stock some lovely local products
• Joules and Aquatique on-site stock good quality clothing and swimwear if you’ve forgotten something or the weather has caught you out

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to bring towels to Center Parcs?

You need to bring separate swimming towels for the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, as you can’t take lodge towels to the pool. The lodge itself provides bath towels, roughly one large and one small per person. If you prefer microfibre swimming towels, they’re worth packing as they dry much faster between sessions.

Is the ParcMarket expensive?

It’s pricier than your average supermarket but not outrageously so. You’ll pay a bit more for the convenience, but it’s well-stocked and you won’t struggle to find what you need. For a budget break, it makes sense to bring the bulk of your food and just top up there. For a more relaxed trip where cost isn’t the priority, it’s perfectly fine to do most of your shopping on-site.

Can you have food delivered to Center Parcs?

Yes, both Deliveroo and Uber Eats deliver to Center Parcs. Your order goes to the security gate and you collect it there. It’s a handy option for an evening when nobody can face cooking or cycling to the village.

What do you do about bikes at Center Parcs?

If you have bikes and roof or boot racks, bringing your own is much cheaper than hiring on-site. If you don’t have space in the car, bikes can be hired at the Cycle Centre. Pre-booking is recommended, especially in peak times. Scooters are also popular for children who aren’t confident cyclists yet. Helmets aren’t compulsory on-site but are sensible, especially for younger children.

Is Center Parcs suitable for older children and teenagers?

Genuinely, yes, and I say this as someone whose teenagers were initially sceptical. The range of activities is wide enough that there’s plenty to keep older kids engaged, from high ropes and archery to laser quest and watersports. The fact that older teens can move around the site independently makes a real difference too. It feels like proper freedom in a safe environment, which is increasingly rare.

If you’re in the planning stages of your trip, it’s worth booking activities as early as possible. The popular sessions fill up fast, especially in school holidays. With a bit of preparation, Center Parcs genuinely delivers on the promise of a break that works for every age at once, which is no small achievement when your family spans eight to forty-something.