Center Parcs is set to axe its creche services across all UK resorts due to 'limited demand', sparking fury among parents 'in need of a recharge'.
Families at six resorts are facing a last-minute rethink of their itineraries following the company's decision to discontinue the service after the end of May.
The creche service was previously offered to parents of children between three months and three years old for 'structured' and 'colourful' sessions of up to three hours, costing around £30.
Guests with bookings beyond May have learned they can no longer register their children, as the company appears to have disabled this feature across all sites, indicating a permanent closure rather than a suspension.
Taking to a Center Parcs community page on Facebook in March, one disheartened parent, who goes by Gill, wrote: 'We go to Longleat for a week in June and bookings opened today for our break. We're going with our three children.
'I had planned to book a much needed child-free trip to the spa with my husband and planned to put the children in the kids clubs and our 2-year-old in the creche so we could go together.'
However, Gill revealed the 'godsent' service was 'unavailable for booking' on the website, adding: 'I could cry.'
She further noted how, when she flagged the issue to a customer service agent and asked to stay at an alternative resort, she was informed that the creche service was no longer available at the Elveden site.
Frustrated families are scrambling to rethink their itineraries for upcoming Center Parcs breaks after the company announced it will discontinue creche services across all sites after May.
The service was a 'godsend' for parents in need of a break, with £30, three-hour sessions catering to children aged between 3 months and 3-years-old.
Replying on Gill's post, a second parent said: 'We had exactly the same question for that same week. I messaged guest services yesterday. The creche has told us that they are closing in April across all sites...'
A third added: 'They are changing some of their activities, so wonder if getting rid of the creche is one of them.'
In another post, other members of the group said they found the service particularly beneficial for their child-free visits to Aqua Sana, an award-winning spa that's become a hit with adult guests across all resorts.
One person wrote: 'It was amazing. Facilities for children lovely and staff lovely. No need to justify having time to yourself!'
A second shared: 'To make the most of it I book mine and my husbands 3 hour spa start times half an hour apart. One does drop off, one does pickup...you both get most of your 3 hours then. The spa experience is blissful... Parents need a recharge!!!'
A spokesperson for Center Parcs told the Daily Mail: 'At Center Parcs, we're always looking to review and evolve the guest experience.
'We have made the decision to remove the crèche activity from our breaks, to reflect guest feedback and limited demand for this particular activity.
'Crèche sessions are one of more than 20 activities available within our Activity Den and our other activities will continue to run as normal.
'We're developing new activities for children of all ages, with the aim of creating even more engaging experiences for families to enjoy together at Center Parcs.'
Led by Ofsted-registered team members, Activity Dens provide a range of activities and classes aimed at keeping young guests of all ages engaged and entertained, with popular sessions including Chocolate Chefs Academy, Go Karts and Pony Rides.
Individual children under 9 years of age can only spend up to four hours unaccompanied in the Activity Den, and parents must stay on site during this time.
The company's decision to axe creche services comes amid a range of changes at resorts over the years.
In 2025, it announced it would reduce pool opening hours from 10am-10pm, to 9am-8pm. Later that year, staggered check-in hours were introduced to avoid the 4pm rush, when the majority of guests would drive their lodges.