As frustrating as it is for parents of school-age children, the cheapest time to go to Center Parcs will always be during term time, and during the week (rather than weekends).
Not only are the weekdays usually cheaper (except possibly during the school holidays!), you also get a longer trip for your money (5 days, Mon-Fri vs 4 days for Fri-Mon).
Weather also plays a big part – Center Parcs breaks are generally cheaper in the colder, winter months (although, realistically, you can never guarantee good weather, even in the summer!)
There can be a plus-side to this though: in November-December, Center Parcs runs its Winter Wonderland, followed by its Winter Forest Lights in January-February, which can turn a cold, dark, damp trip into a much more magical experience.
If you time it right, you can book a mid-week, term-time trip in January for as little as £429 for a 2-bedroom lodge, compared to £1449 for the same trip in the middle of August!
(Prices correct as of 23/05/2024)
Read more: How much do Center Parcs activities cost?