As some of you will already know from a previous post that my family and I visited the Butlins resort at Bognor Regis recently and having had time to reflect on what made the holiday so good for us, my conclusion has been the activities on offer.
With having a toddler and a teen (age 3 and 13 years) we very often struggle with places that can cater for both ages and it often causes conflict and upset, so why no upset this time?
We were pleasantly surprised with the amount of different activities that were on offer on site, from; Family activity sessions, live shows, sports coaching and character session we were soon full of ideas to plan our days.
Joshua who is 3 was totally overwhelmed with what was on offer, we started with the character breakfast on the first morning and he continued to fall in love with Butlins from their onwards, with the traditional fairground and the merry do round which he thought was fantastic (so did Mummy!) along with the helter skelter!
He loved the puppet shows and the inside play area too but the little tots indoor rides really where his most enjoyable experiences, along with such great staff that knew just how to make my tot laugh while he was riding a yellow ladybird!
It seems that we were not the only ones to fall in love with the traditional fairgrounds and the tots fairgrounds as Laura from Max & Mummy fell in love with it too on their trip (you can read that review HERE)
Flexipass
Beth aged 13 was not more difficult as such to please as there was loads for her to do, however most of the older activities were the paid for versions and with some of them being £5 a ride it was not the cheapest. However we discovered the flexipass early on and in fact they cost £12 per 3 activities making a saving. But having looked after the holiday it seems you may get better discounts if you book your passes at the time you book your holiday (although I didn’t do it that way round so I can’t say if thats true or not)
We bought 2 flexipasses so she could do 2 special activities each day and it was great! she tackled climbing walls, zorbing on water, go carts, hamster wheels in the pool (can’t remember the name) zip wires and that was just the tip of the iceberg as there were lots of things she didn’t get chance to go and so she already has a list in her head for next time!
B-Line Passes
With there being so much going off at Butlins and the fact we had never been before we decided to purchase the B-Line passes for the family as they are used to queue jump things like Centre Stage and Splash Waterworld. There were the biggest waste for our family (not to say they will be for others)
With having so much to do on site, we only went swimming once and we picked the day that our hotel had a dedicated time slot so we didn’t need to queue (although how much of this was down to it being terms time in June I don’t know) we also loved the entertainment around the campus throughout the day and evening but were not enthralled with the Centre Stage. I was a little disappointed with the room and the stale beer smell (Sorry *cringes*) the skyline pavilions shows were so much better for us as we don’t really drink, there also seemed to be more space and it was great to sit under that iconic skyline and look up! but that being said that is our own personal opinion and it was very busy every night from the queues we saw.
General Activities On Site
Obviously there are lots and I mean lots of general activities going off that in fairness we just could not tackle them all and if you would like a more detailed review of the Splash Waterworld complex the lovely Helen from The Princess & The Pickle goes into far more detail than me on her review which you can read HERE
We totally loved what was on offer onsite and I really think we missed out lots of things that if we had chance to go again would be top of our list list the bedtime with Billy, the making session in the reception of The Shoreline hotel. I know for a fact we should have gone to see the scooby doo show that was on but we got distracted and missed it altogether! (thankfully Jenny from Mummy Mishaps caught the show and made me feel worse about missing that one with her review you can find HERE, We did however love the on site bowling as a family and also the mini golf, along with the beach being directly across the road!
My only other wish this holiday )although not Butlins related) was that we visited Hotham Park, I had heard so many lovely things about the Park that it had been on our list but again we got waylaid on other things so missed it completely. If you are thinking of taking a wonder across the road Mich from Mummy From The Heart did visit and her review is HERE.
Overall we had a fantastic stay and would love to go back! (to do the things we didn’t have time for the first time round!) next time however we would certainly book our flexipasses at the time of booking and get more passes for our money ..
Disclaimer: This hotel stay was a complimentary visit as part of our Butlins Ambassadors role, however all views and opinions where those of member of The Oliver’s Madhouse.
Every post I read about Butlins makes me want to go. Our little ones are 11 months and two and a half – and it sounds perfect. Great that it works for all ages! x
it certainly would have lots for your little tots to do. they also do just for tots breaks these days too which have set weeks for purely little ones 🙂
thank you for linking back to my review 🙂
I think that is the great thing about Butins in that it caters for kids of all ages which suits your chuildren perfectly. And i loved the Shoreline Hotel – the room, the view and the staff made our stay very comfortable and pleasant x
thanks for allowing me too honey, to cover entertainment there was so much that i just couldnt go into detail for everything so it was really helpful to get other areas covered by reviews people had already done x
It sounds like you had a fantastic time and great that they cater for teens and toddlers so well. I find it hard enough trying to please an 8yo and a 13yo, so I can imagine it must be much harder with 10 years between them! It’s good that you’re honest about the aspects which didn’t work so well for you too.
aww thanks Sarah i always feel i need to be honest and every family is different
Looks like a lot of fun. Lovely that you’ve found somewhere that all the family is happy with for holidays.
thanks Erica, we finally have found that UK holiday that seems to work for us x
I’ve seen so many posts about the fun families are having at Butlins Jaime. It’s cool you found somewhere that caters for both a preschooler and teenager! It sounds like on the whole the holiday was fab, it certainly looks so! x
thanks Jo, it certainly was amazing from start to finish!!
I can’t believe how much there is to at Butlins these days! I’m tempted xx
we were initially shocked at how much there was too
I think the B line passes are definitely dependent on when you go and what you want to see. I wish that we had had them for seeing Dick n Dom and Scooby Doo to just mean we got in easily but we were in term time so would have been much more busy. I do wonder how easy it would be to juggle the boys now that big man is just that little bit older. He loved all the shows this year, but I can’t see him wanting to do the same again. Climbing walls and zorbs though – he would like that x
totally Louise, i think if the entertainment in the centre stage is on your must do they are certainly worth considering xx
It does look great from families, with kids of any age. My two would love it, I think!
i think they would love it honey there is so much to do x
Oh how I love Butlins! we go a couple of times a year and it makes us so happy. It is perfect for little kids isn’t it? And big kids too. And adults for that matter! Glad you had a lovely time xxx
totally totally agree with you!! its a real hit with us!
I love the giant deck chair, looks like you had plenty of family fun there
we loved that too! 😉
There seems so much to do. I want to go just to sit on the giant deckchair! x
lol lol those giant deckchairs are fantastic!!
It does look really good – I;ve always been a bit hesitant about Butlins but I’ve read so many good things about it from other bloggers. I think I sat in that ladybird ride when I was about 5!! 🙂
we thought the same thing honey but have done a complete U turn now x
Great review, I do think Butlins has something for everyone. Thanks so much for the link to my review 🙂
thanks for allowing me to link Helen, initially we were concerned about not being able to entertain both but getting there it blew that one out the water! x
Wow! It sounds like there is so much to do for all ages….
it was super and in fairness us adults were happy folk too with what there was to do .. i still love the dodgems!
I can’t believe there is so much to do, it all sounds wonderful and great there is something for all ages. We may have to venture to a Butlins one year, looks like you all had lots of fun 🙂
it certainly blew us away with the amount of things to do x
Looks so much fun. I had my honeymoon at Butlins in Clacton on sea lol
The minute we leave Butlins my kids want to be back there agian, there really is so much to do. Cheers for the link love, Mich x
thanks for allowing me to link we were the same and now have a list of where and what we want to go to if we get the chance again
We struggle having little ones and a teenager but Butlins sounds like a real option!
it sure is! .. the flaxipasses were a brill option to keep ours happy Zena x
Looks like you had a great holiday! One of the first things I look at when booking a holiday is the activities on offer, because that’s so important with kids.
your so right and if they are bored you might as well not bother!
Sounds like you had a great time. I’m quite keen to go, but my husband is not so. I think he has ‘Hi-de-hi’ in his mind!
in honesty this was in my mind too and i have done a total about turn x
It looks so wonderful, perfect for kids of all ages. I’d love Monkey to be able to experience something like this one day.
have you applied for an ambassador role this year Mary? its been an amazing experience and a steep learning curve for me …. serves me right for presuming
Zorbing on water looks like a lot of fun! 🙂 Glad you had a good time. xx
thanks lovely it was fantastic fun x
I’ve never been to Butlins but this certainly makes me re-evaluate what we’re missing out on. It looks fantastic and great for all ages, although ours are 6 & 3yrs so still do most things together, and there is some quality adult time thrown in. Sounds like you had a great time – and I love that photo of the oversided deckchair!