Center Parcs must have been invented by a woman. Actually it wasn’t – it was a Dutch guy called Piet Derksen. But Piet clearly knew what women want.

I know this because I recently spent a long weekend at Center Parcs Longleat and not once did I see a stressed woman.

I saw women splashing around with their children in the pool – but no women crossly looking for a pool locker that actually locked.

I saw women cycling with excited children on the back of their hire bikes – but not one trying to strap a dagger-stiff toddler into a car seat.

I even saw women watching as their children left plates of food to play on a computer or to dive into a ball pit – but not a single mother trying to force-feed her toddler peas.

I arrived at Center Parcs feeling frazzled, stressed and a little bit irritable.

I left three days later with the serene expression of a Stepford Wife. So how did this happen?

There’s not one thing I especially liked about Center Parcs.

It was more that I liked... everything.

For a start the accommodation was like a home from home, but without the cleaning.

Comfy beds, all mod cons, and slap-bang in the middle of a forest, surrounded by nature.

Eating out, which we did on our first night at Huck’s Diner, was organised so the girls ate fast and lots, then scampered away to play on the computers or adventure play within sight, while we spent time eating very fattening but delicious American food.

On Saturday night a vetted babysitter came to our little cabin in the woods so we could go and spend several hours eating gorgeous Italian food at Strada. Bliss!

Our days were spent as a foursome in the amazing, domed pool, with large changing rooms, lockers that work and even a dryer we could all stand in.

When we weren’t swimming in the tropical paradise we were cycling through the woods with the wind in our hair.

And there are dozens of sports and activities to enjoy at Center Parcs, like beating your indignant children and husband at 10-pin bowling.

The Time Out Club – apparently the most amazing kids club everrrr!!! – entertained both our girls with a pirates and princesses party for several hours while we spent time in the Roman spa.

Ah, did I say the spa?

I could wax lyrical about the spa – the steam, the fragrant smells, the bubbles and those thick, fluffy robes – and did I mention the dual facial?

Suffice to say I left Center Parcs de-frazzled, de-stressed and smiley.

Nice work Piet!

Wanting to linger as long as we could in the beautiful surroundings of Longleat Forest we took a trip, literally across the road, into Longleat House and Gardens – and were amazed.

The Safari Park has everything from lions to wolves, flamingos to monkeys (which might just leave you with a car repair bill).

We hand-fed reindeer and marvelled at giraffes.

From here we drove into the house and gardens and spent many hours enjoying a wealth of attractions, from feeding parrots with nectar to a huge castle of bridges and slides, and our favourite, the river boat cruise, which took us past wallowing hippos, a gorilla with his own satellite television and sea lions, who swam alongside us and accepted fish thrown by the children.

There was also a butterfly house, Postman Pat Village, beautiful gardens and of course the house itself, the seat of the Lord of Bath and home to a fascinating collection of furniture and artefacts. And even a ghost!

We were sad to leave and could have spent many more hours enjoying all this attraction had to offer.

But we will return.

Getaway

  • Short breaks at Longleat Forest in 2013 start from £319.
  •  Short breaks in a three-bedroom Woodland Lodge (sleeping six) at Longleat Forest in 2013 start from £379.
  •  For more information or to book a short break at Center Parcs call 08448 267 723 or visit www.centerparcs.co.uk.