Haven or Parkdean Holiday Parks

Planning a family holiday can be both exciting and overwhelming. Many people are now opting for more affordable UK breaks over travelling abroad. Choosing the perfect holiday park can be tricky. Two of the most popular options in the UK are Haven and Parkdean Resorts. Both offer a variety of accommodation, activities and facilities. In this blog post we’ll look into what each park has to offer, comparing their accommodation, entertainment options, locations, and overall value, to help you decide which is the right choice for your next holiday.

Overview: Are Haven or Parkdean parks better?

Haven Holidays

Haven is a well-established name in the UK holiday park industry, with 41 parks located along the beautiful British coastline. They focus on providing family-friendly experiences with a range of accommodation options, from standard caravans to luxurious lodges. Haven is particularly known for its extensive entertainment and activity programs, catering to both children and adults. They offer two price points, the ‘Haven Hideaway’ allows you to book a cheaper stay by not having access to certain entertainment facilities. We have booked a Haven Hideaway when we were simply using the park as a base to explore the local area. The parks are in fantastic coastal settings, often with direct beach access.

Parkdean Resorts

Parkdean is the largest holiday park operator in the UK, with 66 parks spread across England, Scotland, and Wales. Like Haven, Parkdean offers a variety of accommodation and is known for its scenic locations. Parkdean tends to offer a more laid-back holiday experience, with a greater emphasis on natural surroundings and outdoor activities. Parkdean is often slightly cheaper than Haven, but both offer great value for money. Which is better will depend on what you want.

Accommodation Options. Haven vs Parkdean

When it comes to accommodation, both Haven and Parkdean offer a wide range of choices to suit different budgets and preferences.

Haven Accommodation

Haven’s parks typically offer four main types of accommodation: caravans, lodges, apartments and chalets. They also offer Glamping and touring/camping pitches. Their caravans are available in different grades, ranging from saver up to the more luxurious Signature Gold, which often feature additional amenities like decking, better views, and more spacious living areas. Haven’s lodges offer an even higher level of comfort, with modern interiors, larger spaces, and some even include hot tubs (The ones at Golden Sands in Lincolnshire).

View videos of Havens different Caravan types here.

Parkdean Accommodation

Parkdean also offers a range of accommodation options. They have nine sites with Glamping which is more than Haven’s two. Parkdean also have more sites with hot tub lodges. Parkdean’s lodges are comparable to Haven’s in terms of luxury, often featuring contemporary designs, open-plan living areas, and premium amenities.

Learn more about Parkdeans Glamping options here

Cheap hot tub breaks

If you are looking for accommodation with a private hot tub, Parkdean is your better option. Parkdean have 15 resorts where they have lodges with hot tubs. Haven only have two.

Haven sites with hot tubs

• Golden Sands, Lincolnshire
• Perran Sands, Cornwall

Parkdean sites with hot tubs

• Cherry Tree, East Anglia
• Southview, East Anglia
• Fallbarrow, Lake District
• White Cross Bay, Lake District
• Thorness Bay, Isle of Wight
• Landguard, Isle of Wight
• Lower Hyde, Isle of Wight
• Nodes Point, Isle of Wight
• Sandford, Dorset
• Warmwell, Dorset
• Ruda, Devon
• Coopers Beach, Essex
• Cayton Bay, Yorkshire
• Tummel Valley, Scotland
• Carmarthen Bay, Wales

Wheelchair-friendly holiday accommodation

Both Haven and Parkdean offer accessible accommodation.

Parkdean accessible accommodation

Parkdean has wheelchair accessible caravans at 63 of its 66 sites. They have wheelchair accessible lodges at two of their sites. (Warmwell and Sandford parks in Dorset). They have recently added a wheelchair accessible hot tub lodge with hoist to get into the tub.

Their website says:

“As well as the usual creature comforts, our accessible caravans come equipped with several additional features, such as ramps and extra wide corridors to accommodate our guests requiring a wheelchair and those who may be limited with mobility.”

Learn more about Parkdeans wheelchair friendly accommodation here

Haven accessible accommodation

All parks (with the exception of Lydstep Beach) are equipped with a pool hoist which is available upon request should you require it. Haven have installed Changing Places facilities at Cleethorpes Beach, Haggerston Castle, Greenacres, Kiln Park, Lakeland and Seashore. These offer facilities to help people with certain disabilities stay out and enjoy the day longer.

“We’ve taken extra steps to make sure our accommodation works for everyone. Two types of adapted caravan are available to guests with disabilities. Roomier and more accessible than the standard holiday home, the caravan is fitted with sliding internal doors, an adapted bathroom and can be equipped with a trapeze lift handle (which you can request at the time of booking).”

Learn more about Havens accessible accommodation types here.

Entertainment: Haven vs Parkdean

Entertainment and activities are key components of any holiday park experience, especially when travelling with hard to please kids! Both Haven and Parkdean offer great value for money when it comes to parks with entertainment, though in slightly different ways.

Haven Entertainment

Haven is well-known for its extensive entertainment programs. Their parks often feature shows, live music, comedy acts and activities for both the kids and adults. Haven’s parks also tend to have multiple swimming pools, some with water slides and splash zones, which are always a winner with the kids. I like that Haven gives you the opportunity to book at a reduced price without an entertainment package (Haven Hideaway).

See all of Havens entertainment here.

Parkdean Entertainment

Most Parkdean Resorts also offers a robust entertainment lineup. On booking directly with Parkdean you get free “Hub Passes” which give you access to the parks entertainment. Some parks are better for entertainment than others. You can view the best parks for entertainment here.

Best Holiday Park for Indoor Pools

The UK weather is unpredictable, so having a great indoor pool can be a game changer for those unexpected rainy afternoons.

Haven

Haven’s indoor pools are known for their modern facilities and extensive water features, often including water slides, splash zones, and lazy rivers, catering to both children and adults.

Haven parks with the best indoor pools:

• Seashore Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth
• Craig Tara, Scotland
• Hafan y mor, North Wales
• Primrose Valley, North Yorkshire

Parkdean

Parkdean, while also offering indoor pools across its parks, tends to focus on creating a more relaxed and accessible swimming environment. Their pools are generally simpler, with fewer high-adrenaline features but a strong emphasis on family-friendly spaces that are perfect for a leisurely swim or for teaching young children. 

Parkdean parks with the best indoor pools:

• Vauxhall Holiday Park, Great Yarmouth
• Trecco Bay Holiday Park, South Wales

Which is better?

While both chains provide excellent indoor swimming facilities, Haven’s offerings might be generally better for those seeking a thrilling, activity-packed pool experience. Parkdean might be preferred by families looking for a quieter, more traditional swim setting.

October Half Term Cheapest Staycations

Lot’s of you are looking for somewhere to escape to this October half term. We compared both Haven and Parkdean parks for a 7 night stay starting on the 26th October. We looked for the cheapest accommodation for a family of 4.

Parkdean was easily the cheapest

A 7 night stay at Lizard Park in Cornwall starts from just £389, excellent value for a week long family trip.

Some of the cheapest parks with indoor pools during the October Half Term can be browsed using the button below.

Haven is more expensive

Comparatively, the cheapest options at Haven for the full package of entertainment is currently £605. With some 7 night stays going into the thousands. Their cheaper parks for the October half term period are:

• Thornwick Bay, Flamborough
• Reighton Sands, Filey
• Craig Tara, Ayr
• Seton Sands, near Edinburgh
• Berwick, Berwick upon Tweed
• Cleethorpes Beach, Cleethorpes
• Seaview, Weymouth
• Perran Sands, Perranporth

So which is better, Haven or Parkdean?!

Ultimately, the answer will depend on your personal preferences and needs. It isn’t as simple as saying haven or Parkdean are ‘the best’. Both Haven and Parkdean have their unique strengths and drawbacks, and hopefully, this post has provided you with the insight needed to make an informed decision. Whether you prioritise amenities, location, or overall experience, you’re now better equipped to choose the option that suits you best.