The holiday park is a big family favourite, and it’s close to Cambridge residents. The Essex park in Five Lakes is a little over an hour on the road from Cambridge, while the Norfolk Hopton-on-Sea park is two hours from the city
The best holiday park in the UK has been crowned, and it’s an all-inclusive family favourite.
When it comes to holiday parks, there are plenty to choose from in Cambridgeshire. Hoseasons, Best of British and Fields End all have sites in the county. However, if you want a slice of the best of the best, then you’ll have to head over the border into Essex or Norfolk.
Potters Resort has been named the country’s favourite holiday park, and happily, its two locations are close to Cambridgeshire. The Essex park in Five Lakes is a little over an hour on the road from Cambridge, while the Norfolk Hopton-on-Sea park is two hours from the city.
By all accounts, the journey is well worth it.
“After opening its doors in the 1920s, family-run Potters claims to be the first-ever holiday park, and its all-inclusive model still sets it apart. The nightly rate at its two parks, in Essex and Norfolk, may be higher than rivals, but you stay in suites or bungalow-style accommodation (there isn’t a caravan in sight) and all food and drink (which is excellent) is thrown in. It was the only park to clinch the full five stars for its entertainment and activities (also included), which range from birdwatching to go-karting,” wrote Which? of Potters after readers awarded it five stars for customer service, activities, and food and drink.
“Guests loved that they could soak in the spa and play all the rounds of pitch ‘n’ putt without worrying about their final bill spiralling out of control. ‘Great entertainment, all staff helpful and polite, good food and plenty of it,’ one happy customer remarked. Forget everything you think you know about holiday parks, as Potters’ attentive service and first-class facilities will wow you, with no sneaky extra charges later on.”
At £88 per person per night, Potters is a little more expensive than the average holiday park, but guests clearly don’t feel hard done by, handing the park 4/5 for value for money. That may be because the park is the only one in Britain to offer all-inclusive, providing guests with four meals a day, as well as an ample selection of included drinks such as white wines, reds, beers and G&Ts.
Just like the kind of all-inclusive break you might associate with going abroad, Potters has plenty of activities throughout the day to keep young and old entertained. You can get your groove on at its silent disco, burn some rubber on the rally karts, immerse yourself in virtual reality, and bob around on the water at Five Lakes. Morning Pilates, yoga, birdwatching, and Nordic walking are also included for the more wellness-minded guests.
Another big draw is the entertainment. Each evening, its Musical Icons hits the stage, offering a celebration of legendary musical artists, from the golden age of Motown and Carole King’s much-loved songbook to ABBA, the Bee Gees and an unforgettable Bohemian Rhapsody finale.
The Mirror’s Mikey Smith visited Potters with his family and had a fantastic time.
“Imagine the good old British ‘holiday camp’ atmosphere – family fun by the sea, with nightly entertainment and everything you need on-site – but brought bang up to date, with comfortable rooms and high quality amenities. And then imagine it borrowed a few ideas from luxury cruise ships. Then you’re getting somewhere near what Potters is,” Mikey wrote.
“For many, the phrase ‘all-inclusive resort’ conjures images of lukewarm buffets, piled high with chips and pizza slices, perhaps the occasional chicken nugget and long benches of weird-looking salad. Not so at Potters. Each lunchtime and evening menu offers three or four restaurant-quality starter and main options. During my stay I had a buttery, flaky Sea Bass fillet, some deliciously crispy deep fried Halloumi and a perfectly cooked chicken breast with mushroom and thyme sauce.
“None of them would trouble a Michelin star – but they’d give any of the foodie pubs near me a solid run for their money. And that’s before we come to the carvery, which is served every evening with a different roast meat.”
You can read his full review here.
Mike Scott, managing director of Potters, said: “To be named the UK’s Best Holiday Parks & Resorts by Which? readers is a fantastic achievement. To have topped the list in three consecutive surveys since 2022 is something we’re immensely proud of, especially among so many well-known UK break providers. Recognition from Which? means so much because it reflects the honest opinions and experiences of guests. It tells people what it’s really like to stay with us and makes this achievement all the more special.
“As a family-owned business, we can’t compete with the household names on marketing budgets, and we don’t try to. Instead, we focus on giving every guest an exceptional experience. Our breaks are fully inclusive, so we’re not constantly trying to upsell or charge guests for every little extra. It means our guests can simply relax and have fun, while our team can focus entirely on looking after them and making their stay memorable.
“This recognition reinforces what we’ve always believed: Potters Resorts offers the best breaks in the UK. And, of course, a huge thank you must go to our amazing team and our lovely guests, who together have made Potters such a special place.”
The UK’s best and worst holiday parks
(Name of resort, overall customer score)
- Potters Resorts – 83%
- Hoburne Holidays – 81%
- Darwin Escapes – 80%
- Landal Parks – 80%
- Waterside Holiday Group – 80%
- Shorefield Holidays – 76%
- Away Resorts – 75%
- Bluestone Wales – 75%
- Park Leisure UK – 75%
- Highland Holidays – 74%
- Lyons Holiday Parks – 74%
- Largo Leisure – 73%
- Park Holidays UK – 73%
- Warner Coastal Villages – 73%
- Forest Holidays – 72%
- John Fowler Holidays – 72%
- Center Parcs – 69%
- Haven Holidays – 68%
- Parkdean Resorts – 68%
- Butlin’s – 63%
- Pontins – 61%
Based on a survey of 2,221 Which? Connect panel members and general public conducted in February and March 2026.
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