As we settle back down to reality after a fun filled midweek break, I thought I would share with you our experience and write a Butlin’s Minehead term time review.
Why Butlins?
We have never considered a Butlins family holiday before, and to be honest I’m not really sure why. I’m ashamed to admit I think I probably had some preconceived snobbery about it, and judged it without really knowing much about it.
Last summer whilst scrolling a home education group on Facebook, I saw a post from someone saying that Butlins had great term time deals if you booked for certain weeks in January and February. The post said that this particular family had been loads of times and thought it was a great opportunity for home educating families to save some money and meet other home ed families too. Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to take a look. The original deal I came across was £49 for 4 nights for all 6 of us! For that price I thought it was definitely worth trying it out; I mean as a family of 6 we can’t even go on a day trip to the Zoo for that price! I spoke to my husband and he agreed we should give it a shot.
Price.
The deal we initially came across was for the most basic accommodation, so we decided since the price was so reasonable that we would upgrade a little to a three bedroom Comfort apartment that sleeps 7 people. In total we paid £110. The amazing thing is you can put as little as £10 down for a deposit and pay the rest off in small chunks when you can. This makes a Butlins holiday even more accessible and affordable for more families to enjoy. I think that’s part of the charm and why families keep going back year after year; sometimes even more than once a year. With the cost of living in the U.K. rising by the hour, for many families taking a much needed break from reality is becoming less of an opportunity. Butlins however have kept their prices low which makes it more of a possibility for a larger demographic.
Our holiday was called the Showtime Midweek break and as I’ve stated these start from £49. All holidays even in term time include accommodation, live shows, headline acts, access to the pool with water slides, unlimited rides on the fairground, soft play and outdoor playgrounds.
Prices obviously vary depending on the type of accommodation and date you book, and as a home educating family we are lucky enough to be able to take full advantage of their term time prices. Like with everywhere, booking during the schools summer holiday will increase the price dramatically, however Butlins still comes up a lot more reasonable than other U.K. holiday resorts. To get an idea of prices and to book your trip visit https://www.butlins.com
Accommodation.
We stayed in a three bedroom comfort apartment. It’s one of the basic accommodation types but for the amount of time we planned on being inside it was just right for us, and if/when we return I would be happy to stay in one again. Although if I was to book in warmer months we may opt for the comfort plus apartments which have private patios – perfect to sit outside and have breakfast, or in the evenings when the kiddies have gone to sleep.
The comfort apartments sleep 7 people and are a good size for a family of 2 adults and 4 or 5 children. It consisted of an open plan lounge and dining area which included one large L shaped sofa, a coffee table, tv (not smart), and a large dinning table with 8 chairs.
The kitchen was small but came with all the basics you need to be able to cook; kettle, toaster, small under the counter fridge freezer, microwave, very basic pots and pans, cheese grater, scissors, cultlery, plates, bowls, mugs and glasses. I would advise bringing a sharp knife.
Our apartment had three bedrooms, the main bedroom was a double – although I’m pretty sure the bed was smaller than a standard sized double. What with my growing bump, pregnancy cushion and the ability not to be able to turn over at night without sitting up first, it turned out easier for Will to sleep in the spare bed and I take the “double” for myself – well until Heidi got in half way through the night every night.
The main bedroom had a wardrobe with a few hangers and a dressing table with mirror, a vanity light that didn’t actually work, and a hairdryer. The other two bedrooms were perfect for the kids, one had 2 single beds, a wardrobe and side table, the other a bunk bed, plus a single, bedside table and wardrobe. They were not particularly spacious but they had enough room for the kids to get a few toys out and play in their chosen bedrooms.
The only downside to all the rooms and the apartment in general really was the lack of and placement of plug sockets. None of the plugs would enable a standard sized phone charger to stretch to the bedside tables, and were either by the door or under the bed. If you have children who sleep with a nightlight, or you like having your phone charging by your bed I would definitely bring an extension cable with you.
Another downside for me which is definitely down to personal preference was that the comfort apartments had a shower only and no bath. In fairness to Butlins it does actually show a photo of the shower when you book the accommodation, and probably states it somewhere, but the lack of bath completely passed me by, and an overhead shower isn’t the easiest when you have younger children.
The bathrooms did however include a heated towel rail which was so useful in getting those swimming costumes and towels dry before your next visit to the pool.
I was slightly concerned that with neighbours to the left and right it would be really loud, or even that we would be the loud family driving others mad. However we couldn’t hear a single thing from either side, and our neighbours commented to us that they hadn’t heard us either. Overall the accommodation was clean (not spotless) a bit tired and could do with a little love in places, but completely sufficient and more than ok to enjoy for a couple of days.
What is there to do during term time?
Whilst it was our first time at Butlins so I can not compare it to what’s available during the school holidays; if indeed it is any different, there were so many activities and shows to keep us entertained we really couldn’t have asked for anything more.
What is brilliant is that the majority of activities are all included in the price, so you can book knowing there’s plenty to do throughout the week and you won’t need to spend a fortune when you arrive.
Free activities:
There are two fairgrounds at Butlins. The first; little stars is aimed at younger children and is inside. There’s no need to book in advanced you just turn up and your little one can enjoy as many rides as they like from teacups to mini planes, a giant slide (that my older children enjoyed even more than the little two), and of course the favourite, a mini train that takes the children outside of the fairground and back in again.
The second fairground is aimed at older children and adults and is outside. Although during our visit a couple of rides were being refurbished for the summer season, we (I say we, at 8 months pregnant I was very much the person standing on the sidelines waving) were still able to enjoy a traditional Carousel, swinging chairs, dodgems, and the waltzer! All rides apart from the go Karts are included in the price so you can go on unlimited rides and wizz and spin about until your hearts content!
The swimming pool is a must do activity whilst visiting Butlins and is also free. Whilst you don’t have to book I am told that since covid there are now time slots available and sometimes a queue can build up; especially when it first opens at 10am. In our experience we didn’t see any queues (we arrived between 11-12pm) and were able to go straight in. This may be a benefit of visiting during term time. The water slides were out of action for refurbishment whilst we were there much to my older children’s disappointment, however they still had a great time riding the lazy river, playing in the wave pool and swimming about. As a family we split up, Will stayed with Noah and Phoebe (10 & 8) and I hung out in the toddler areas with Oliver & Heidi (5 & 3). They had an absolute blast splashing about and playing on the toddler water slide. A nice touch is the presence of a family photographer in the pool. Whilst it’s free to have your photo taken, they are not free to take home and can be purchased at the end of your holiday as a print for £15, or as part of a digital package which includes all photos you have had taken during your holiday for £30.
There is a soft play which is also included in the price. Whilst it’s not the kind of place that parents can sit and have a coffee in peace (unless you bring your own – the parents area is more like a doctors waiting room rather than cafe) all four children had a brilliant time and were completely worn out afterwards.
All entertainment shows; both day time and evening are also free! Shows however do need to be booked in advance, and even during term time can get full up. The best way to book is to download the Butlins app and two weeks prior to your trip you will have the option to book all the shows and activities you choose.
The shows are of a really high quality and would probably cost us as a family of 6 upwards of £100 each to enjoy away from Butlins.
We got to enjoy the PJ Masks live, The Animal Guyz Animals Vs Dinasours show (which is a truly stunning, educational, entertaining and emotional show), a lady Gaga tribute and don’t forget to book at evening at Reds which includes everything from comedy acts, bingo, dancing, and games all by the famous red coats. Whilst you could bring snacks & drinks in to the day time shows, along with anything shown on the skyline pavilion, Reds has a strict no food & drinks policy (bags were checked upon entry) and all consumables needed to be purchased in the bar.
Paid activities.
Whilst there is plenty to do for free, there are also a number of paid activities that you can add on to your booking. Like the shows these can be booked through the Butlins app two weeks before you arrive.
Paid activities include
- Archery
- climbing wall
- Football coaching
- High ropes
- Go Karts
- junior driving school
- Laser tag
- Pottery painting
- Bungy trampolines
- Arcades
believe there are more activities put on during the school holidays and they are dependent of the type of holiday you book, but the above was what was available during our break.
Noah and Phoebe decided to try out the high ropes. I was so proud of them for pushing themselves outside of their comfort zones and taking on the 50ft high wooden obstacle course! I also could just about breathe watching them and was happy when they both completed the course and were back down on land! The high ropes are for 8+ years and cost £13 each. Phoebe summed the experience up as “horrific but amazing” which I think is a pretty good description!
Whilst Oliver was tempted by the climbing wall (for ages 5 and up) in the end he decided he wanted to try out the junior driving school with Heidi. At just £3 I didn’t expect it to be long, however they got less than 5 minutes in the cars to drive around the circuit which was a bit disappointing for them. However they both loved it whilst they were there which is the main thing, but it’s definitely something that’s worth knowing in advance so you can prepare your little ones for only going around the circuit 2 or 3 times depending on their driving skills.
Phoebe is a budding artist so was desperate to do the pottery painting. She’s been asking for some me and her time for a while so I took this opportunity and just took her alone so we could have some mum and daughter time doing something that she loves. The Pottery painting can be booked via the app and costs £10 which includes a small piece of pottery. For an extra £3 you can upgrade to a medium sized piece or for £5 a large. Unfortunately when we went their card machine was broken and they were only taking cash. I didn’t have any cash on me so Phoebe was not able to upgrade to some of the nicer pottery pieces. However what we didn’t know at the time was that the painting is also 45 minutes and many people that had the larger pieces were really rushed at the end and struggled to get them completed. A few people complained that the time limit wasn’t mentioned anywhere – even upon arrival and the first anyone heard of it was when the staff came round to let everyone know they had just 7 minutes left. It did spoil the experience a bit as we definitely felt rushed at the end, although when the time was up know one actually got told to leave.
Let’s also not forget the arcades in the main pavilion where I was thankful most of the machines were 2p as it turns out my children are quite the gamblers.
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Food:
There are multiple food options available; the resort boasts a range of restaurants and eateries that cater to different tastes and preferences. Families can indulge in hearty meals at traditional British diners, or for those seeking more refined dining, there are slightly more upscale restaurants serving gourmet dishes.
The resort’s main restaurants offer diverse menus with something to please even the pickiest eaters. From pizzas and burgers to wholesome salads and internationally-inspired dishes, the choices are extensive. The casual and welcoming ambiance makes it easy for families to enjoy meals together without fuss. We opted for a self catering holiday to keep the cost down and for ease, so most of our meals were cooked in the apartment. However the meal we did enjoy out – at The Fire grill was absolutely delicious and really enjoyable. The staff were friendly – checking and double checking if anyone had any allergies, the portions were massive and we all left feeling satisfied.
Would we go back?
While Butlin’s Minehead may evoke a sense of nostalgia for those who visited in their childhood, the resort has successfully adapted to the times, blending tradition with contemporary amenities. If you’re a family seeking quality time together with fun and adventure thrown in, Butlin’s Minehead offers an all-encompassing holiday experience that will leave you with cherished memories. We had an overall brilliant experience at Butlin’s and will definitely be making the most out of their term time offers and returning in 2024 with an extra little person!
