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Which? Recently revealed its ranking of UK holiday park brands and UK resorts from best to worst, based on a survey of its members. This was obviously of great interest to us, and prompted Mrs Guru to interrupt Netflix and tell me that I needed to look at it immediately. I obliged and spent the next 10 minutes making noises and saying things like "ooooh, that's interesting", "well, that doesn't surprise me" and "why have they included that one?". The ranking is a bit of an odd mixture as it compares family caravan parks such as Haven, Parkdean Resorts and Away Resorts with some adults only resorts such as Warner Leisure. There are also some notable emissions, including Darwin Escapes. Of course, they also couldn't include all the excellent independent holiday parks that are included in our guides. The headline - from my point of view - was how the big family holiday park companies compared. Here's a selection of the ones that we tend to choose between when planning a holiday:
Anyway, the full results are worth a bit of disecting so here's Which's ranking, plus our advice on each one: 1. Potters Resorts - 87% (two resorts, mostly adults only, expensive)The overall winner was Potters Resorts, which is a brand we've not written anything about - as it's a bit of an anomaly. It is also a very small company compared to the likes of Haven. Potters has just two resorts, one of which is entirely for adults (Five Lakes in Essex) and one of which is adults-only most of the year but allows children during school holidays (Hopton in Norfolk). As well as being mostly for adults, Potters isn't really a holiday park, in my opinion. You could argue it's a bit strange to include it in a survey along with Haven, Parkdean and Away Resorts but let's not worry about that. The accommodation is a mix of hotel rooms and village accommodation, much like adults-only Warner Leisure Hotels. Potters Resorts are also not exactly convenient for a holiday unless you live in London, the South East or East Anglia. Potters Resorts are quite expensive, in our price comparison. We looked for a three night stay in August 2024 for a family of four and were quoted £2336. That includes full board and entertainment, but it's four or five times what I would expect to pay for a Haven or Parkdean Resorts for a short break in summer. Anyway, congratulations to Potters Resorts on the outstanding rating, it's nice to see a smaller business doing so well! 2. Forest Holidays - 80% (13 locations, woodland lodges with hot tubs but limited entertainment)Forest Holidays came second overall with Which? readers. They feature in a few of our guides, including holiday parks near Nottingham and Derby and Holiday Parks With Treehouses. They also get a mention in our guide to cheap alternatives to Center Parcs because they offer posh lodges in woodland with hot tubs. Forest Holidays is relatively expensive, but usually slightly cheaper per head than Center Parcs. However, the very notable difference from Center Parcs is that Forest Holidays don't offer a big range of activities onsite. You can hire bikes and do a bit of archery, but most activities (kayaking, Go-Ape etc.) require a drive off site, which you may not fancy once you've sat in the hot tub with a glass of Cava and a packet of Haribo Starmix (Ed: sorry, what?). Forest Holidays sites don't have swimming pools, which is what draws a lot of people to Center Parcs. I would see Forest Holidays as more of a self catering holiday than a resort holiday where everything is laid on for you. You can do lots of activities, but it requires a bit of a DIY attitude rather than having everything within walking distance.  Forest Holidays has lodges with hot tubs at 13 locations in England, Wales and Scotland 3. Bluestone National Park Resort -77% (one large resort, alternative to Center Parcs)We think of Bluestone as the Welsh equivalent of Center Parcs. It operates on a similar scale, with about 300 lodges over 500 acres. In fact, we've written a looooong comparison of Center Parcs and Bluestone. It features in our guide to cheap alternatives to Center Parcs, but honestly I don't think it is significantly cheaper. Much like Center Parcs, you get nice lodges and access to a great swimming pool - called the Blue Lagoon - which has slides and flumes to mess around in. You then pay-as-you-go for lots of activities. These are very nicely done, but the cost stacks up over a week if you don't reign in the children. My advice is to book some activities early and budget before you go - otherwise it can be an expensive week!  Bluestone's swimming pool is a big part of the appeal 4. John Fowler Holiday Parks - 77% (13 caravan holiday parks)Well, well well...! We always knew John Fowler was a popular holiday park brand, but it has beaten all the other big name caravan parks by some distance. Yes, I know it is in fourth place in the Which? guide but it's the highest rated family holiday park with caravans. The top three in this list are great, but John Fowler is much more affordable and is a direct competitor to Haven, Parkdean Resorts, Away Resorts and Park Holidays. With John Fowler, you usually get a swimming pool, a beach nearby and some family friendly activities. John Fowler is certainly a great choice if you want a cheap caravan holiday in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset or Wales. However, that's about as far as they spread. You won't find any of their resorts in the rest of England or Scotland. Consistency across their holiday parks is quite good, but some are certainly better and more well equipped than others. The best ones include Cardigan Bay Holiday Park in Wales, Killigarth Manor Holiday Park in Cornwall and South Bay Holiday Park in Devon. We've got a couple of thrilling guides to John Fowler, including a comparison of all their holiday parks as well as our top five John Fowler holiday parks.  John Fowler is the highest rated caravan holiday park in the UK for 2024 (according to Which) 5. Hoburne Holidays - 75% (nine holiday parks in the Westcountry)Hoburne Holidays is quite similar to John Fowler Holiday Parks in terms of scale. There are nine Hoburne holiday parks and they are mostly around the Westcountry (Cornwall, Devon and Dorset), as well having a few in Hampshire and Gloucestershire. Hoburne Park in Dorset is one of their better ones, and gets a mention in our guide to Dorset's best holiday parks. Hoburne has tended to be slightly more expensive than other big name holiday parks in most of our price comparisons over the years. 6. Hoseasons - 74% (booking agent, but not really a holiday park provider)Eh? Hoseasons is a strange one to include in Which's guide to the best holiday parks. Honestly, I've been scratching my head for the last 10 minutes. Hoseasons has a great website and provides a useful service of pulling together prices from lots of different holiday parks...but they don't own the holiday parks (feel free to correct me if I've got this wrong, but I've been obsessed with holiday parks for many years now!). There's a small clue on the Hoseasons website where it says "Hoseasons does not own the holiday accommodation". They are a booking agent where you can book breaks at various holiday parks including Parkdean Resorts and loads of independent caravan parks. A lot of people might think they are booking a Hoseasons holiday park, but they aren't. There are some holiday park companies - such as Darwin Escapes - which will send you through to Hoseasons for booking but the site is still owned by Darwin Escapes. Anyway, I'll stop scratching my head and move along.  Hoseasons manage bookings for Darwin Escapes but they don't own the holiday park (this one is Woodside Coastal on the Isle of Wight) 7. Waterside Holiday Group - 74% (four parks, Dorset and Cornwall only)Waterside is a small holiday park company. They've got four holiday parks, including three in close proximity to each in Dorset, plus another in Cornwall. They've all got a swimming pool of some sort, though they are more of standard pool rather than a waterpark that you get at big resorts like Haven's Hafan y Môr Holiday Park in Wales or Haven Craig Tara in Scotland. All four resorts get good reviews and they are mid-priced, so they are all good options if you are looking in Dorset or Cornwall (see our full guides to holiday parks in Dorset and Cornwall). 8. Warner Leisure Hotels and Villages - 71% (adults only, 15 locations)Warner Leisure is a big name and has the same owners as Haven. Their resorts are well spread throughout England and they've also got one in Wales (Bodelwyddan Castle). However, they are just for adults and tend to be particularly popular with older adults. You are unlikely to find many stag dos or families on a Warner Leisure break. It is mostly couples, coach trips and single visitors. Warner offers a completely different holiday to Haven or Parkdean Resorts, so I can't help feeling that bundling them into the same ranking is like comparing apples and oranges or Nirvana and Mozart (for the record, I prefer oranges and Nirvana). We've got a full guide that compares all the Warner Leisure Hotels and Coastal Villages but the best ones include Sinah Warren Hotel in Hampshire and Studley Castle in Warwickshire. There are also two Warner Leisure resorts on my beloved Isle of Wight (Bembridge Coast and Norton Grange). Warner Leisure do a really good deal where you get the Isle of Wight ferry at a bargain price if you book a holiday with them. As you may be aware, the Isle of Wight ferry can be expensive but this makes it a much cheaper way to visit.  Warner Leisure's hotels and villages are popular - but they are for adults only (this one is Bembridge) Joint 9th: Haven - 69% (about 40 holiday parks around the UK, great for families)Now we're getting to a solid run of the big name caravan holiday parks that feature throughout this website. We are big fans of Haven and aren't surprised that it has snuck in above most of its rivals. Yes, it's ninth overall in Which's comparison, but most of the resorts above offer a very different type of holiday. If you want a family-friendly caravan park with swimming pools, activities, restaurants and lots of entertainment then Haven should be on your shortlist. You can come and go easily at Haven resorts, so it's a good base for exploring a county rather than feeling obliged to stay within the perimeter (which is the case with Center Parcs). We have written various Haven comparisons over the years, including Haven v Butlins and Haven v Parkdean Resorts - as well as picking our top 10 Haven holiday parks and the best beaches near Haven resorts. The vast majority of Haven's accommodation is caravans, although there are some lodges as well. They don't do hot tubs, apart from at Haven Golden Sands in Lincolnshire. Each caravan is graded, and the price difference between the cheapest Saver caravans and the Signature caravans can be massive at peak times (see our guide to Haven's grades). Are all Haven resorts the same?Haven is quite consistent in terms of the quality of its resorts. Most of them score 4/5 on Trip Advisor, with a small number either at 3.5/5 or 4.5/5. However, it's worth explaining that Haven is certainly not consistent in terms of the scale and facilities at its holiday parks. Some of the smaller Haven resorts have 200-300 caravans, whilst there are a handful with more than 1000 caravans. There isn't a good or bad choice based on size, and some of the highest rated ones are amongst the smallest (e.g. Haven Lydstep Beach Holiday Park in Wales). Go for a large resort if you prefer to spend a lot of time onsite. Go for a smaller resort if you want affordable accommodation in a good location near a beach. The largest and best equipped Haven resorts include:
See our full ranking of the five largest Haven resorts. We've also got some advice on how to save money with Haven and a guide to which Haven resorts offer camping and touring.  Hafan y Môr in Wales has one of the best swimming pools at any holiday park in the UK  Of course, you might just prefer a sea view and a beach nearby (this is Haven Lydstep Beach) Joint 9th: Center Parcs - 69% (five resorts, quite pricey)I've got a lot to say about Center Parcs, so buckle up (Ed: or you could just cut out the waffle?..). The first thing to say is that Center Parcs in the UK should be praised for its consistency. All of its resorts were built as Center Parcs, whereas most other holiday park brands have bought up various sites and refurbished them (with varying rates of success...). Whichever Center Parcs resort you choose in the UK, you will pay about the same price and have a similar experience. They've all got great swimming pools - called the Subtropical Paradise - and they've all got a big range of (quite expensive) activities. You can read our detailed comparison of all five Center Parcs in the UK, but the short summary is that you are probably best to visit whichever is closest to you. The second point I'd like to make is that Center Parcs is much more expensive than Haven, Parkdean Resorts, Away Resorts, John Fowler, Butlins and Park Holidays. In fairness, Center Parcs accommodation is lodges whilst the standard accommodation with other big name holiday parks is caravans or chalets. Stay onsite or get out and explore?Center Parcs is also a different kind of holiday as your car is confiscated and parked some distance from your accommodation. The surrounding woodland is nice, but I am a beach addict so I prefer holidays where we can get out and swim in the sea. Because you don't have your car nearby, you end up eating at Center Parcs' restaurants and paying for their activities rather than exploring the free stuff in the local area. The swimming pool at Center Parcs is free, but almost everything else will cost you money - and prices are usually higher than other holiday parks. Here are three examples:
Let's say two children and a dad decide to do those three activities, whilst mum 'watches the bags' (this is how it usually works in our house). You would spend £81 at Haven or £168-£207 at Center Parcs. (Those prices are from last year, so it's just a rough guide).  Center Parcs accommodation is more spacious than your average caravan A cheaper alternative to Center Parcs UK?Before we move on to the next holiday park in Which's comparison, let's mention a couple of cheap alternatives to Center Parcs. The first is Center Parcs in Europe. Despite the shared name, Center Parcs Europe is owned by a different company to Center Parcs UK. They use different pricing structures, so discounts and deals are common at Center Parcs Europe, whereas discounts on Center Parcs UK are rarer than a Conservative MP reading The Guardian. As an example, I found a week for four people in Center Parcs Het Meerdal in the Netherlands in August 2024 for £1141. The same dates at Center Parcs in the UK started from £2098. My word of caution here is that some Center Parcs Europe are - quite honestly - not very good. They lack the consistency of Center Parcs UK. Some of them are on a par with the UK resorts, but others had previous lives as a different holiday park brand, so they aren't up to the same standard. Some of the best Center Parcs in Europe include:
Your best bet is to drive to Folkestone in Kent, where you can take the car on the Eurotunnel/Le Shuttle and reach Calais in 40 minutes. You will need to add on about £200-£300 for this part of the journey. Top tip: book these Center Parcs via the French version of the Center Parcs Europe website. It is usually cheaper than centerparcs.eu and you are booking the same holiday. Your browser will translate the site for you, so you don't need to dust off your GCSE French textbooks. You might also like to read our detailed guides to Center Parcs in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. "Now with 10% more waffle!"  Some Center Parcs in Europe have excellent 'Aqua Mundo' swimming pools (this is Het Meerdal) 10th: Parkdean Resorts - 68% (66 caravan parks, great for families)Parkdean Resorts is the biggest holiday park company in the UK, based on its number of locations. It increased in size significantly a few years ago when it merged with Park Resorts. Haven and Parkdean Resorts are close rivals, and you'll note that there was only 1% between them in Which's survey. I would imagine they are currently punching the air in the Haven office, whilst Parkdean Resorts demand a second referendum (Ed: I don't think that's how it works). Parkdean Resorts typically offer you a swimming pool, entertainment and onsite activities. However, there is quite a range in how large and well-equipped their caravan sites are. The largest one is probably Parkdean Resorts Trecco Bay Holiday Park in Wales but you will find a good range of things to do at the ones described as Action Packed Parks. My opinion is that Parkdean Resorts is also not quite as consistent on quality as Haven and Center Parcs UK. Lots of Parkdean Resorts are excellent and get outstanding reviews from customers. However, there are some which are some way behind. Luckily, some loser with an obsessive interest in holiday parks has put together a ranking of every single Parkdean Resorts based on review scores and another ranking based on price. So, you can start from the top and work your way down until you find one you like the look of. Some of the best Parkdean Resorts include:
 Parkdean Resorts has lots of excellent holiday parks, including Crantock Beach Holiday Park in Cornwall 11th: Butlins - 67% (three resorts, great for families)Butlins is perhaps the UK's most famous holiday park brand, but they aren't quite the same as Haven, Parkdean Resorts, Park Holidays or Away Resorts. For a start, there are now only three Butlins in the UK - Skegness in Lincolnshire, Bognor in Sussex and Minehead in Somerset. Some of the old ones have turned into Haven resorts. Butlins is a good option if you want a more inclusive holiday as you can pay extra for half board or full board. There's also a funfair included in the standard price and quite a few shows. Some activities are charged extra, but prices are similar to Haven or Parkdean Resorts rather than Center Parcs so you shouldn't end the week penniless. You can leave the resort if you are staying at Butlins, but you are less likely to get out and explore as much as you would with Parkdean Resorts or Haven. Butlins is also on a bigger scale, so the entertainment is often provided by someone who came fourth on The Voice or someone dressed up as Peppa Pig, rather than some random guy in a shiny jacket. The accommodation is very varied at Butlins. Some of it is relatively plush and modern, whilst some is a bit more basic. See our Butlins accommodation guide. There are some differences between the three Butlins sites, which you can read about in our comparison of Minehead, Skegness and Bognor. However, my general advice is to go for whichever is closest as a long car journey may tip you over the edge after a week of funfair rides and Justin Fletcher singalongs.  Butlins puts on bigger shows than your average holiday park 12th: Park Holidays UK - 66% (more than 30 holiday parks, great for families)You might not be so familiar with Park Holidays UK, which is a close rival of Haven, Parkdean Resorts and Away Resorts. However, it's a big chain with more than 30 caravan parks in the UK. The difference with Haven and Parkdean Resorts is that Park Holidays has a big concentration around the South West, South East and East Anglia. They do have a few parks further north, but most of their sites are in southern England so they are a good choice if you live in or around London. I wouldn't be too put off by their relatively low ranking in Which's comparison. They are only 3% away from Center Parcs and Haven. Several of Park Holidays UK's resorts are featured in our guides to holiday parks in Essex, Kent and Suffolk. Some of the best Park Holidays UK resorts include Broadland Sands Holiday Park in Suffolk, Dovercourt Holiday Park in Essex and Seaview Holiday Park in Whitstable. In our price comparisons, Park Holidays UK is often slightly more expensive than the cheapest accommodation at Haven and Parkdean Resorts - but it does vary. Don't exclude it from your shortlist if you want a cheap family holiday by the seaside in the UK.  Park Holidays UK can be found in some great locations, including this resort in Whitstable Joint 13th: Away Resorts - 64% (more than 20 resorts, great for families)I was a little surprised to see Away Resorts down in 13th place in the league table. They were given two stars out of five in a few categories, including 'Value for money' and 'Food and drink'. They got higher scores for 'Quality of Accommodation', 'Cleanliness' and 'Communication'. As with some other brands, there is certainly quite a variety in the holiday parks owned by Away Resorts. Some were bought up when the company merged with Aria Resorts whilst others were independent parks that they have refurbished. I certainly wouldn't write off Away Resorts. We've stayed at a couple of Away Resorts' parks and have had good experiences. Several score very well with customers. They also have other good points about them, such as letting you arrive on any day of the week and having some new accommodation with quirky décor. Away Resorts also get you a good discount on the Isle of Wight ferry, if you visit one of their four Isle of Wight holiday parks. Our guide to Away Resorts includes a ranking of their holiday parks based on review scores and gives you an idea of price. My experience is that there are some real bargains to be had at Away Resorts, but also some relatively high prices at peak times. Away Resorts has a regularly updated last minute deals page. Some of the best Away Resorts include Away Resorts Barmouth Bay Holiday Park in Wales, Away Resorts Mersea Island Holiday Park in Essex and Away Resorts St Ives Bay in Cornwall.  Barmouth Bay is one of Away Resorts' highest-rated holiday parks Joint 13th: Largo Leisure - 64% (six parks in Scotland)Largo Leisure is quite a small holiday park brand. They've got six resorts, all of which are in Scotland. There's quite a range of accommodation, with some sites having caravans whilst others are camping, touring and glamping. 14th: Pontins - 56% (two adults only parks)To be honest, I wasn't very surprised to see Pontins at the bottom of this ranking. Over the last few years, some of their resorts have closed including Pontins Prestatyn and Pontins Camber Sands. The two remaining Pontins holiday parks have been receiving comparatively low scores from customers on TripAdvisor and Google reviews for some time. They are now focusing on the adults only market, and their breaks are some of the cheapest around. Pontins Pakefield Holiday Park in Suffolk and Pontins Sand Bay Holiday Park both score 3/5 on TripAdvisor.  A typical apartment at Pontins Pakefield Holiday Park
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