Bodmin Holiday Park with Kids – What to Pack, What to Expect & What We Loved
This year, our whole family wanted a weekend getaway to spend some quality time together. We're quite a big brood now—10 adults, 6 children and 3 dogs—so finding somewhere to accommodate us all is no easy task.
A few years ago, we discovered Bodmin Holiday Park in Cornwall, and it worked so well that we’ve returned again this year—and once again, we had such a good time that I wanted to share our experience!
🏡 About Bodmin Holiday Park
Set within over 96 acres of woodland and parkland, Bodmin Holiday Park offers loads of space for family fun and outdoor adventures. It's the perfect base for exploring the north and south Cornwall coastlines, Bodmin Moor, and the Camel Trail.
On-site facilities include:
- Indoor swimming pool and steam room
- Gym and tennis courts
- The Waterside restaurant and lounge area
- Outdoor play park
- Fishing lakes
- Small shop for basics
- Escape Room (run by an external company)
- Large grassy spaces for games and walks
We loved the swimming pool and were in every day! You do need to pre-book hourly slots (they limit capacity to around 23 people at a time), but this meant we often had the pool to ourselves. The room is nice and warm, and the water is the perfect temperature—great for swimming or simply bobbing about on a woggle while the kids splash around.
There are family changing rooms, but remember to bring your own towels.
🛝 Play Park and Outdoor Fun
Most evenings we sat outside the restaurant with a cold drink while the children enjoyed the play park. It’s a great size—enough to keep them entertained while still being visible from the seating area.
The park includes:
- Swings
- Climbing frame
- Three slides
- Monkey bars
- Rocking toys for younger children
One thing to note: footgolf is no longer available, even though some advertising still shows it. The area has now been redeveloped into luxury lodges.
🐾 Our Dog-Friendly Lodge
We stayed in a three-bedroom dog-friendly lodge with a small enclosed garden and a hot tub.
Master Bedroom:
Spacious enough for a king-size bed, two blow-up beds for the kids, and a dog crate for our black lab, Freddie. The en-suite was brilliant—standalone shower, large corner bath, toilet, and sink. And for once, the water pressure in the showers was actually good!
Other Rooms:
There was also a double bedroom, a twin room with two single beds, and a second family bathroom.
Living/Dining/Kitchen Area:
A lovely open-plan space with two big sofas, a large dining table, and a compact but practical kitchen. There was plenty of room for all of us to relax without stepping on each other’s toes.
Amenities Included:
- Washing machine (bring your own tablets)
- Iron and ironing board
- Hoover and broom
- Microwave
- WiFi (available at £8.50/day)
🍽️ Food & Dining Options
Eating In:
The kitchen is well-equipped for basic cooking. Our cooker ignition wasn’t working when we arrived, but staff at The Waterside were super helpful and gave us a lighter to get it going. There’s also a microwave if you want to pre-cook meals and heat them up during your stay.
Eating Out:
We tried The Waterside restaurant on our last day and ordered pizza—which was absolutely delicious! We’re definitely planning to go back and explore more of the menu.
Takeaways:
If you’re like me and hate cooking in other people’s kitchens (why is it so stressful?), there are a few local takeaways that deliver straight to the lodge. We ordered Domino’s and a local Indian through Just Eat—great variety, and even our gluten-free family members were well catered for.
🧳 What to Bring With You
If you’re planning a stay, here are a few extras we’d recommend packing:
- Towels… lots of them! (For showers, pool, and hot tub use)
- Extra swimwear so you're not putting on damp costumes later in the day
- Pillows – we only had one each provided
- Hand soap and hand towels
- Extra toilet roll
- Washing-up supplies – we didn’t receive a welcome pack this time
- Tea towels
🗺️ Places to Visit Nearby
We didn’t venture too far, but here are a few local favourites we loved:
- Bodmin Nursery – A lovely garden centre with great milkshakes and a fab plant selection. About 6 minutes from the park.
- Golitha Falls – A stunning spot for a family walk, with a delicious-smelling BBQ cafe called Inkie’s. About 30 minutes' drive.
- Cardinham Woods – Another great option for woodland walks and family adventures.
💬 Final Thoughts
This was our third visit to Bodmin Holiday Park, which says it all really. Each time we go, we find new things to do, and we always leave relaxed, well-fed, and full of happy memories.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly lodge holiday in Cornwall, I’d definitely recommend checking this place out—whether it’s for a quick weekend escape or a longer summer break.
