Center Parcs has changed. Two years ago the welcome pack was white sliced bread and Daddies brown sauce; now it’s organic wholemeal and cold-pressed olive oil. Despite the changes, most people still think of it as a holiday camp under a glass dome; an Eden Project full of screaming children.

In under three hours from London, we arrived at our Longleat cabin, nestled in the forest with open-plan rooms, a well decked-out kitchen, plasma screens and gorgeous beds with nice sheets that weren’t nylon. A far cry from our last visit where we stayed in a slightly weird swingerfeel cabin.

The recycling manual was the size of a phone book – I only wanted to throw away some newspaper. But after giving up until later we headed straight to the pool. The girls emerged full of stories of waterslides so huge ‘you just won’t believe it’ and apart from the wave machine nearly killing my husband by rhythmically tossing him against the rockeffect rocks (I’m sure he wasn’t exaggerating!), we all loved it. Afterwards a shopping fix. We didn’t need the boot full of food that we had lugged from London.

There were so many activities; if I had boys of 5–15 I think I would just go and live there. We weren’t impressed with the sulky carers in the children’s club but the kids loved every minute. In the evening, the restaurant was a mere 5-minute cycle away, leaving a babysitter (CRB checked) with the children. The food was ok (book before you go).

We spent the rest of the long weekend cycling, walking and catching the train (which was a bus.) The children loved the feeling of nature and having a back door opening onto the woods. They didn’t want to leave after three days and I think we could have stayed on longer too. Center Parcs has smartened up its act and we will definitely be going back to get another welcome pack.

Neris Johnson and family stayed at Center Parcs, Longleat: 3-bedroom comfort villa for up to 6 people from £379 for a 3-nightweekend break (prices per villa).
Tel 08705 200 300
www.centerparcs.co.uk