Center Parcs Sherwood Forest
Newark, Nottinghamshire
The original UK village and still a family favourite, with a recently refreshed water park and a proper Robin Hood backdrop. It is especially handy for families in the Midlands and North who want the full Center Parcs package without a long drive.
For the children
- Kids' activities
- Playground
- Pool
- Children's pool
- Outdoor play
- Games room
- Bikes
- Tennis
- Nature activities
- Watersports
- Family dining
- Children's menu
- Family rooms
- Cots
- Spa
- Best for
- All ages, especially toddlers to tweens
- Ages
- All ages
- Kids' club
- No traditional drop-off club; extensive bookable kids' activities from toddler sessions to teen sports
- Pool
- Subtropical Swimming Paradise: indoor pool complex with slides, rapids and toddler areas
- Family rooms
- Two- to four-bedroom lodges, plus Treehouses (up to 6) and four-bedroom Exclusive Lodges with games rooms
- Outdoors
- Cycling, lake watersports, archery, aerial adventure, nature walks, tennis
We only list facilities we could confirm on their website — something not listed may still be there.
Days out nearby
~24 miles · ~30 mins
Castle / historic · ideal day trip
A recreated period street where families ride vintage trams as often as they like, with a woodland walk, play areas and a sculpture trail. Unlimited rides make it a hit with transport-mad little ones.
~27 miles · ~45 mins
Adventure park · ideal day trip
A cable car ride up the hillside to woodland walks, play areas, show caverns and big views over the Derwent valley. The cable car itself is the highlight for most children.
Gulliver's Kingdom Matlock Bath ↗
~28 miles · ~45 mins
Theme park · ideal day trip
A hillside theme park designed for younger children, with gentle rides, play zones and dinosaur-themed fun built into the slopes above the Derwent gorge. Small enough that little ones can manage it without meltdowns.
Chatsworth Farmyard & Adventure Playground ↗
~30 miles · ~30 mins
Farm park · excellent toddler activity
Within the grounds of one of England's great houses, the farmyard lets children meet animals up close while a big woodland adventure playground with climbing frames and water play keeps them busy for hours.
~31 miles · ~30 mins
Wildlife park · ideal day trip
Walk-through reserves with the UK's only polar bears, plus lions, giraffes and lemurs you can walk among. Wide paths suit buggies and there are play areas throughout, making it an easy, joyful day out.
~43 miles · ~45 mins
Science centre · rainy day option
Real rockets standing in a glass tower, a planetarium dome show and hands-on galleries about astronauts and the planets. It sparks big questions in school-age children and is a great rainy-day plan in the Midlands.
~45 miles · ~1 hr
Theme park · ideal day trip
Britain's biggest theme park pairs record-breaking coasters for brave teenagers with a whole CBeebies Land for preschoolers, plus a waterpark and gardens. Big enough to fill two days, which makes it a natural anchor for a weekend.
~50 miles · ~1 hr
Zoo · ideal day trip
Famous for its apes, from gorillas to bonobos and orangutans, Twycross is a manageable size for little legs with indoor play and a woodland adventure playground. A relaxed zoo day without the scale of the giants.
Reviews from Tumble families
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Family facilities
- Kids' menu
- Play area
A guide, not a guarantee. Shown only where the venue or a trusted source has told us. Not listed doesn't mean not available — check with the venue if it matters for your visit.
Researched by Tumble in October 2026 from each place's own website. Tumble doesn't take these bookings — prices, availability and children's club details change, so check with them before you book. Distances and travel times are approximate.