A new Which? survey has revealed the UK’s best and worst holiday parks for 2025, with big-name brands like Center Parcs and Haven being trumped by smaller operators

A huge survey has revealed the best and worst UK campsites, caravan and holiday parks for 2025, with well-known brands such as Haven and Center Parcs being eclipsed by smaller competitors.

The research canvassed opinions from 1,700 Which? members who assessed their experiences at different UK holiday parks and resorts.

Contributors judged elements including park hygiene standards, lodging standards, the variety of complimentary entertainment options, and the overall financial worth of their break.

Topping the rankings with the highest “customer score” was Potters Resorts, renowned for its comprehensive holiday packages across two sites in Essex and Norfolk. While primarily catering to adults, Potters accommodates families with children during Norfolk’s summer season.

The resort secured an outstanding 87% customer score, receiving five stars for both facilities and lodging standards, plus maximum marks for its range of included entertainment.

Though representing the most expensive choice in the Which study, Potters’ pricing encompasses all dining and drinks, numerous pursuits from pickleball to archery, and ‘West End’ calibre evening shows, which garnered the destination a four-star value rating.

Forest Holidays claimed second place, achieving an 80% overall customer score. The company operates eight locations across England, three throughout Scotland, and two within Wales, providing countryside settings and distinctive lodging including log cabins and treehouses.

Guests commended the standard of the lodging and its spotlessness, though they granted only three stars when it came to value for money.

Another standout was Bluestone Wales, situated in picturesque Pembrokeshire. Bluestone offers premium lodges and cottages, likewise receiving excellent ratings for accommodation quality – click here to discover what one guest who travelled 2.5 hours to visit made of their stay.

Whilst they performed admirably for the range of children’s activities on offer and entertainment provision, they too received a three-star assessment for value for money, leading to an overall rating of 77%.

Pontins found itself at the foot of the rankings yet again, having also finished last in 2024. The company currently operates just one holiday park for visitors, the adults-only Sand Bay Holiday Village in Weston-Super-Mare.

Their remaining two sites in Burnham on Sea, Somerset and Pakefield, Suffolk are temporarily shut to house construction workers.

Achieving 56% for customer satisfaction, Pontins managed only two stars across most categories and, despite offering the most affordable rates, patrons still believed they got poor value for their expenditure.

In a damning Tripadvisor assessment, one visitor was brutally honest about their Pakefield park visit, declaring: “Worst place I have ever visited, chalet was old unkempt and dirty, holes in sheets, beds pushed together with terrible mattress and pillows, to shower you had to keep pushing a button in, it leaked all over the floor.”

Another guest voiced their disappointment, stating: “Rooms are shabby and quite dirty. Dirt on the baseboards, cobwebs in the corners and behind doors, our shower curtain had pink mold growing along the bottom seam, clearly not laundered between guests.”

However, not every review was critical, as certain holidaymakers had a pleasant experience, with one guest observing: “We went beginning of October had a brilliant week! Food was great, swimming pool was really good and for the price you really can’t get any better!”

The entertainment offerings at Pontins also garnered praise, with one visitor stating: “The Bluecoats show Vegas was amazing! They are all so talented and are always doing some activity or joining in on the dance floor and having a laugh or chatting with people.”

Largo Leisure Parks, which runs six locations across Scotland, positioned itself towards the bottom of the customer satisfaction rankings with a rating of 64%. It’s worth highlighting that this figure was derived from a comparatively modest sample of merely 30 participants who had experienced their facilities.

A representative for Largo Leisure responded: “Whilst this is of course disappointing, this relates to only 30 people who were surveyed about Largo Leisure over 12 months ago. On both TripAdvisor and Google Reviews, where we have thousands of reviews for each of our six Scotland holiday parks, all of them are rated 4.3 or above out of 5.

“We regularly get 5 star reviews on both TripAdvisor and Google reviews and we would encourage people to take a look on both to see a true reflection of the guest experiences at our parks. We are very proud of our track record for providing exceptional holidays for our guests but we never stop trying to improve. We are enjoying a busy year across all our parks and if people read the online reviews they will see why.”

In the meantime, Away Resorts achieved comparable results. The company manages 25 holiday destinations across sought-after locations including England’s south-west coast and the Isle of Wight.

Away Resorts garnered merely two stars for value for money, despite providing diverse lodging choices ranging from caravans and glamping facilities to premium lodges. The firm also received disappointing scores for customer service, though it managed to secure three stars for both cleanliness standards and accommodation standards.

Center Parcs, which emerged as the most favoured holiday park operator in the study, achieved a 69% rating, matching Haven’s performance. While it excelled in facilities and accommodation standards, it fell short on the variety of included activities and overall financial value.

The brand ranked as the third most expensive option, trailing behind Potters and Warner Leisure Villages, both specialising in adult-only getaways.

One Which? member observed: “Very expensive for what it is. Accommodation excellent, apart from the oasis pool, everything was extra. Staff were very helpful and the children enjoyed their stay. I will not be going back.”

Haven, boasting 38 parks across the UK, equalled Center Parcs’ rating, although they did receive a three-star score for value for money.

Which? readers gave them two-star ratings for both food and drink and the range of complimentary activities on offer.