A recent survey by Which? has ranked the UK’s holiday parks for 2025, spotlighting smaller, lesser-known brands that have outperformed household names such as Haven and Center Parcs in customer satisfaction. Notably, one of the top performers includes a park located in Gloucestershire.
The survey, which gathered feedback from 1,700 Which? members, assessed holiday parks across the UK based on cleanliness, accommodation quality, variety of free activities, and overall value for money.
Forest Holidays, which has a site in the Forest of Dean, secured second place with an 80% customer satisfaction score. Operating eight parks in England, three in Scotland, and two in Wales, Forest Holidays offers rural escapes featuring unique lodging options like log cabins and treehouses. Guests praised the excellent accommodation and cleanliness, though value for money was rated at three stars.
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Topping the list was Potters Resorts, renowned for its all-inclusive experience at locations in Essex and Norfolk. While generally adults-only, the Norfolk resort opens to families during summer holidays. Potters achieved an impressive 87% satisfaction score, earning five stars for both facilities and accommodations, as well as leading in complimentary activity variety. Despite higher prices, guests felt the inclusive meals, drinks, diverse activities such as pickleball and archery, and high-quality evening entertainment justified the cost, rewarding it with a four-star value rating.
Bluestone Wales, set in scenic Pembrokeshire, also featured among the top performers. Known for luxury lodges and cottages, Bluestone scored highly for accommodation quality and children’s activities, although its value-for-money rating stood at three stars, resulting in an overall 77% score.
At the lower end of the spectrum, Pontins ranked last once again, with only its adults-only Sand Bay Holiday Village in Weston-Super-Mare currently open. The other two parks in Burnham on Sea and Pakefield remain closed for refurbishment. Scoring just 56%, Pontins received two stars across most categories. While it offers the most affordable option, many customers felt the value did not match their expectations. Negative reviews on TripAdvisor cited cleanliness issues and outdated accommodations, though some guests praised the entertainment and facilities.
Largo Leisure Parks, a Scottish chain with six sites, scored 64%, though this was based on a small sample size of 30 respondents. The company highlighted their strong online ratings on platforms such as TripAdvisor and Google Reviews, emphasizing ongoing improvements and guest satisfaction.
Away Resorts, managing 25 parks including those in the south-west and the Isle of Wight, shared the same 64% satisfaction score. While accommodations range from caravans and glamping to luxury lodges, the group scored low for customer service and value for money but received three stars for cleanliness and accommodation quality.
Center Parcs, the most popular holiday park operator in the survey, earned a 69% customer score. Despite excellent facilities and accommodations, it lagged in free activity options and value for money. Customers noted the high cost and additional charges for extras. Haven matched Center Parcs’ overall rating and value-for-money score but received only two stars for food, drink, and free activity variety.
Major holiday park groups including Pontins, Away Resorts, Park Holidays, Butlins, Center Parcs, and Haven were approached for comment.