Behaviour
Please be mindful of your neighbours. Behaviour should not be excessive, noisy or disruptive, especially at night. Offensive or illegal behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in the police being involved. We may ask you and/or any member of your party to leave immediately if your conduct results in police attendance or is considered by us to be inappropriate, likely to cause harm, or impair the enjoyment, comfort or safety of anyone else. No refunds or compensation will be given in these circumstances and we reserve the right not to accept any future bookings from you or any member of your party.
For your own safety and wellbeing and that of other guests, please do not cycle, use a scooter or rollerblade if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Child safeguarding
It is our policy to investigate any incident or allegation of concern or assist any proper enquiries about a child in our care or staying at one of our villages and to refer the matter to an appropriate external organisation should we, in our sole discretion, deem it necessary. Please note that when our staff need to visit your accommodation (e.g. if you require a maintenance engineer) we will not enter the accommodation if children under the age of 16 years are present and are unaccompanied by an adult.
Children's safety and parental responsibility
Although on holiday, it is vital to know where your children are and to supervise them at all times, particularly in play areas, near water and on their cycles. Please supervise your children carefully on balconies and take particular care that they do not climb on chairs and tables. Please be aware that open water is present and exists throughout the village and close to most accommodation. Please note Center Parcs staff do not supervise children's play areas (indoor or outdoor), in licensed areas, close to lakes and waterways, whilst cycling and in the Subtropical Swimming Paradise - where specific supervision ratios apply. Please refer to the swimming safety section of this directory. Children’s activities are unsupervised unless otherwise stated.
Cycle safety
- If you haven’t cycled for a while, be sure to familiarise yourself with your cycle. Cycle Centre staff will be happy to help. If you’ve brought your own cycle you must make sure the gears, brakes, tyres and lights are in good working order.
- We strongly recommend wearing a helmet for your own safety. Helmets are included free of charge with every hire – please speak to one of our team who will be able to assist you.
- Please use your lights, but remember cycle lights are fitted to allow cyclists to be seen, as well as to see with, so during the hours of darkness, please cycle with caution. Cycle on the left at all times and with consideration to other guests. You can cycle on a number of path/road surfaces on the village.
- You are in a forest environment with an abundance of wildlife. To help us preserve this environment and reduce the risk of injury to you, please only use the allocated cycle paths.
- All villages have a number of hills which require caution and common sense whilst cycling (on some gradients, cycling is prohibited. Look out for signage in place). Please remember to cycle appropriately for the conditions and take particular care where surfaces change and note there are some roads which are not able to be used by cyclists.
- Control your speed, particularly on hills and in busy areas. Please use the cycleways to avoid steeper hills. To stop safely, ensure you apply both brakes together and be aware of longer braking time in wet weather conditions. Please don’t cycle around the village in hazardous conditions, such as strong winds, snow and ice.
- Be aware that children’s cycles have strong brake springs and ensure they are comfortable operating these before riding around the village. When placing a child in a child seat, ensure the cycle is stable. Do not use the cycle stand if a child is in the child seat.
- On arrival/departure days, please be aware that there will be more vehicles driving around, so take extra care when cycling around the village. Roads adjacent to the entrance to all villages are extremely busy and as such we do not advise anyone to cycle along them, particularly with trailers or child seats.
- Cycling is strictly prohibited in and around the main buildings and on certain busy routes. Please use the luggage rack or a backpack and do not hang bags on the handlebars. Do not ride pillion or carry children on the luggage racks.
- If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident and are in need of First Aid assistance please contact a member of staff. First Aid facilities are located in all main buildings. Please report any accident to the Cycle Centre to ensure that the bike has not been damaged and is still safe to use.
Driving safely
- With the exception of Monday and Friday, you are not permitted to drive onto the village without specific authorisation and a strict 10mph speed limit is enforced on all roadways.
- Whilst driving on the village, please be aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roadways. Be especially careful around young children, as at times their cycling capability can be unpredictable.
- Please use great care when driving. Sleepers, boulders, logs and posts are placed to prevent roadside damage and illegal parking. No liability is accepted for damage caused by these markers unless due to our negligence.
- Take care when parking your vehicle. Always use designated areas, being sure to observe any parking restrictions/road markings or double yellow lines. If your accommodation has an allocated parking bay, you may use this for the duration of your stay, however, you may not use your vehicle for travel around village.
- Please be aware that whilst we try to minimise traffic as much as possible, a certain amount of traffic is necessary, including Center Parcs contractors and suppliers’ vehicles, for the continued running of the village. Some of these are large vehicles, please take care if walking or cycling on village roads.
- Mobility scooters are treated as vehicles and as such must obey all vehicle restrictions. Instruction on the use of the mobility scooter is given on hire. Please ensure you are familiar with all controls before leaving the Cycle Centre.
- With the exception of essential medical supplies, delivery services from external suppliers are not permitted to enter the village for the purpose of deliveries to guests.
Drones
We do not allow the use of drones on any village due to privacy requirements.
Safety around lakes and ponds
For your safety, diving, swimming and paddling are forbidden in all lakes and waterways around the village. Please be aware that there are open waterways, lakes and ponds throughout the village. Please supervise children with this in mind. Please do not walk on frozen lakes or waterways or allow children to do so.
Security and safety on the village
In the interests of safety, our Security team patrol the village but it is impractical for Center Parcs to guarantee the security of your property. Do not leave property unattended or unsecured – use lockers and safety deposit boxes provided.
If you have brought your own cycle, we recommend the use of a five-star D-Lock (available for a refundable deposit from the Cycle Centre). Do not attach locks to quick release wheels. Scooters, skateboards and rollerblades/skates are not permitted in and around main buildings or on some thoroughfares.
You may not bring or use any fireworks (including sparklers and Chinese lanterns), shotguns, knives, firearms, air weapons, archery equipment, illegal substances or similar items to the village under any circumstances.
Please be aware that electric scooters are not permitted on the village.
Please bear in mind:
- Your personal belongings are your responsibility during your break with us
- Vehicles parked on our property are subject to very limited security cover only
You must lock your vehicle securely and remove all valuable items and we suggest that you remove bike racks from vehicles whilst in the car park
- If you have brought your own cycle we strongly recommend that you follow the security measures listed in this guide and obtain adequate insurance
- The lockers provided in changing areas may only be used for clothing and nonvaluable items
- Safes are available in specific types of accommodation (safes are located in a wardrobe, in a bedroom or in the store cupboard by the front door)
- Appropriate insurance is strongly recommended
- We accept no liability for any accident, loss or damage to your property unless such loss, damage or accident is demonstrably due to our negligence or that of those for whom we are legally responsible
- We will offer reasonable help to assist you in tracing lost items
Swimming safety
The Subtropical Swimming Paradise is open from 10am - 9pm daily.
- A member of our friendly team will meet you at the entrance to the pool. Please follow their instructions carefully
- Swimwear must be worn by all. Other clothing and footwear may only be worn after agreement with Pool Management. Agreement will only be given on grounds of religion, disability or similar
- When using baby changing tables please ensure that the child is strapped in
- Please encourage children to use the toilet before swimming and ensure that all children under the age of 3 years wear a swim nappy. Disposable swim nappies are available to purchase from the ParcMarket and Pool Information Desk.
- All cuts and open wounds or contagious conditions must be covered with a waterproof dressing
- You must not enter the water if you have suffered from a gastro-intestinal upset involving diarrhoea within the last 48 hours. You may not enter the water if you have suffered from confirmed Cryptosporidium infection within the last 14 days
- Photography (still, digital and video, including GoPros) is not permitted in any changing area within our villages. Only non-intrusive photography of your own party and friends is permitted on our villages and particularly in the Subtropical
- Swimming Paradise. You may not carry out photography for commercial purposes, publication or similar purposes in any part of our villages
- Selfie sticks are not permitted on any flumes, slides or water rides. Other photography equipment/accessories will be prohibited in circumstances likely to cause injury to the user or other guests. Video equipment (such as GoPros) will be prohibited in circumstances where its use is likely to cause injury or is intrusive to other guests or the user
- Qualified lifeguards supervise our Subtropical Swimming Paradise at all times. Their instructions are for your safety and must be obeyed
Please take care around the pool and in changing rooms. Do not run. Floor surfaces can be slippery when wet
- Strict no diving and no jumping-in policies operate in all our pools. Large inflatable toys or boats are not permitted in the pool
- Always check the pool’s depth markings
- Glass objects are not allowed in the Subtropical Swimming Paradise
- Only food and drink purchased in the Subtropical Swimming Paradise may be consumed on the premises. This is in the interest of safety and hygiene. You may bring your own water bottle with you
- Snorkels/masks are allowed only in pools when waves are not in operation. Snorkels/masks are not permitted in Lazy Rivers
- Ultraviolet radiation is not excluded from natural sunlight in the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, therefore sun protection lotion is recommended
The following supervision ratio operates throughout most areas of the pool:
- Under 4 years: One child per responsible adult
- 4 to 7 years: Two children per responsible adult
- Responsible adults must be at least 16 years of age and in close contact with weak or non-swimmers at all times
- Parties not being supervised to these standards or who are not supervising their children responsibly may be asked to leave the pool
- In non-swimming areas, such as toddlers’ pools, lower levels of supervision are required. The requirements and the areas that apply are identified by notices in the relevant areas of the pool
- Swim jackets (children’s swimming aids) are available free of charge for use in the pool. These are not life jackets and all children using swimming aids must be supervised at all times. We advise you to bring your own swimming aids if required.
Changing rooms
- There are plenty of lockers available in the changing rooms. These can be accessed using your lodge wristband. After your swim, use our locker locater system to find the number of your locker.
Hot Whirlpools
(Please note that these are not available at Woburn Forest.)
- Children under 5 years should not use hot whirlpools. Children over 5 years may use the hot whirlpools for short times only, under strict adult supervision
- Health restrictions apply to the use of hot whirlpools. These are shown on notices by the hot whirlpools and should be followed. If necessary please contact the First Aid Centre for further advice
Wild Water Rapids
These are located at all villages except Whinfell Forest. This attraction is not suitable for young children, weak or non-swimmers. Children may not be carried down the rapids
- Some sections may only be ridden feet first – these are indicated clearly with warning notices
- Plaster casts are not permitted
- Snorkels/masks are not permitted
- Due to the uncontrollable nature of the Wild Water Rapids and the potential for collision with other riders, guests using prostheses may ride the rapids individually. Please speak to a member of the lifeguarding team who will arrange this for you.
- The Wild Water Rapids are unsuitable for guests with severely limited sight due to the need to anticipate collision
Rides and slides
- Do not use rides or slides if you have a heart condition, back injury, medical condition or are pregnant
- Traffic light systems on rides or slides must be obeyed
- Height/swim capability restrictions exist on certain rides and slides, signs in the vicinity will alert you to these
- Babies under 24 months must not be taken on adult flumes, slides or rides
- Plaster casts are not permitted on any rides or slides