"This place is awesome,” grinned my ten-year-old son. “Can we stay forever?” Seemed like a fair question although we’d only spent a few hours at Longleat Forest Center Parcs in Wiltshire.

By the end of a fun-packed weekend, it was a sentiment shared by the whole family. We’d all fallen for the Winter Wonderland of entertainment, activity and luxury.

Buried in a beautiful pine forest, the holiday resort is a perfect setting for pretty Christmas decorations and events. Fairy lights glisten throughout the village square, complete with a Christmas market. Children can visit Santa and his real reindeer are outside and happy to be fed.

Back at our apartment, there’s barely time to enjoy the sumptuous luxury in our Executive Lodge.

“It’s like one of those places on a Nordic crime drama,” admires my husband, as I’m in heaven admiring the hi-spec touches such as Villeroy and Boch sinks and the wine rack complete with a chilled bottle of wine from our Welcome Hamper.

Our apartment felt secluded with beautiful views into the forest and friendly robins popping up as if on demand to add to the glorious winter scene.

We jump on bikes to head over for some more traditional British entertainment – the Center Parcs Christmas panto Aladdin. As parents, we feared an am-dram style event. We needn’t have worried. Like everything else at Center Parcs, the standard was highly professional and extremely good fun.

The following day was a whirlwind of activity. In the morning, my eight-year-old daughter and I enjoyed some girly time at the pottery painting cafe, while my son learnt some useful footballing skills at the Soccer School.

Then we all met at the Jardins des Sports for a quick game of badminton before grabbing a sandwich and off to our next activity.

The rest of the family had an adrenalin-packed afternoon mastering the exhilarating Aerial Adventure, which involved Tree Trekking across rope bridges and trapezes and ending with a 200-metre zip wire across the lake. I remained blissfully untroubled by their terrifying antics as I enjoyed a Decleor Ultimate Vitamin Glow facial at the Center Parcs spa Aqua Sana and the myriad exotic ways of being steamed, soaked, sauna’ed and generally relaxed.

As I sauntered back, feeling as relaxed as a jellyfish, I stopped to enjoy the fantastic festive fireworks to music around the lake, which take place twice a week through the winter.

Then off to the Pancake House for a buffet and a Magical Meal with Nutty Noah, a hilarious magician who managed the difficult task of entertaining the kids while entrancing the adults too.

But it’s the Subtropical Swimming Paradise which is the absolute star of Longleat. Its exhilarating Wild Water Rapids roll you round and down as you’re hurtled along by the currents. It’s wild, fun and exhausting, meaning you need regular rests in the bath tub warm outdoor pool.

There’s something magical about watching the steam rise from the pool into the cold air, looking up at the moon as gentle whirlpool bubbles soothe your jiggled muscles.

With so many activities on offer, the village is designed to make it as simple as possible to take part. Cycle hire and few cars mean you can travel around quickly and safely.

Nevertheless, in a long weekend, we simply did not have enough time to take advantage of it all, despite a jam-packed schedule.

On the last day, a final career through the rapids for several hours meant the kids nodded off in the back of the car almost as soon as we set off, exhausted and happy.

Sadly we couldn’t stay forever but we all agreed we would like to go back.

  • Winter Wonderland breaks in a two-bedroom Executive Lodge start from £379
  • Short breaks in a two bedroom Executive Lodge start from £299
  • For more information or to book a short break at Center Parcs call 0844 8267723 or visit www.centerparcs.co.uk