I spent four nights Monday-Friday at Butlin's Bognor Regis with my husband and two sons, Odhran, 9, and Reuben, 6, during the October half term. Here's what we thought of our first time on a Butlin's holiday...
First impressions
We had early check-in (for £20 per room, you and your family can access your accommodation from 1pm, instead of the usual 4pm). But we were delayed leaving London and didn't arrive until around 4pm. At the entrance to the resort, I showed the booking number on my phone, and we looked for parking. It was busy, and we weren't able to park directly outside our hotel. But we easily found a spot in the car park by the swimming pool. One thing that instantly struck us, was how close everything was to our hotel (Ocean Hotel). We were delighted to see that we wouldn't have to be traipsing between different parts of the resort, especially when we had so many activities booked in.
The site is on flat ground, and our hotel was only a short walk to the pool, fairground, food and entertainment hubs. The site looked super easy to navigate, and we were pleased we'd be able to avoid the kids complaining of too much walking. One of the first things that caught our attention was the shiny brand new £15 million PLAYXPERIENCE building, set across two floors and covering 50,000 square feet. But next to this modern looking building, with its stylish black and red exterior, the exterior of the other parts of the resort looked a little tired and in need of a fresh coat of paint.
But these sorts of details went unnoticed by Odhran and Reuben, whose eyes were on the lights of the fairground. As we stepped into Ocean Hotel, it looked bright and modern. Staff were friendly, and the check-in process was straightforward. We were handed our key cards, wristbands and a map of the resort, before we made our way to our room, keen to drop our bags and let the family holiday begin.
Accommodation
There are a range of accommodation options on offer. Budget conscious guests can choose from rooms and apartments in chalet style accommodation. There are Comfort Rooms (great if you just want a budget place to sleep and shower), or Comfort Plus Rooms, which have a little more space for relaxing. Or there are Comfort Studios (these provide a simple living space), Comfort Apartments (for a more homely open-plan space), or Comfort Plus Apartments (for something a bit bigger). Or, you can upgrade and stay in one of the onsite hotels - the Shoreline Hotel (which as the name suggests, is closest to the coastline), the vibrant Wave Hotel with its stylish splashes of blue and yellow, or the Ocean Hotel, which has a city hotel vibe and its own spa. Butlin's has a variety of accommodation options to suit all budgets. Factors to consider when choosing which accommodation option works best for you include; how many of you will be visiting? (an apartment might work better for a larger family); how much time you plan to spend in your accommodation? (do you need a living area to sit and watch TV, or an outdoor terrace, or will you be too busy with the onsite activities and entertainment?); will you be purchasing a dining package or do you need kitchen space for self-catering?; do you want something basic that's clean and functional, or are you after a few frills? It's worth checking all the available accommodation options for the dates you've entered to get the best idea of price differences and figure out which option offers you the best value for money.
But we stayed in the Ocean Hotel, in a room with a balcony. The kids had their own enclosed space for privacy. Both the adults and the kids' room had a TV - unfortunately the signal wasn't great and it wasn't a smart TV, so you couldn't connect to your home Netflix account. The room was clean and colourful and the boys liked the red lighting in their room and the comic book style print on the wall above the head of their beds.
Towels were provided, but we brought our own for the pool, and the room was stocked with a kettle, teas and coffee (but no bottled water), an iron and ironing board, mini cooler and hairdryer. There was a dressing table, and the bathroom had a shower above a bath, but bring your own toiletries. Housekeeping was very efficient. Ocean Hotel has its own spa, if you can squeeze in some 'me time', and the Kaleidoscope bar and restaurant (where we ate our buffet breakfast and dinner) has a terrace if you're visiting during the warmer months and looking to enjoy a drink sat outdoors. The grounds around the hotel were very well kept, and the boys enjoyed watching the Koi in the pond every time we crossed over the small bridge to head towards the main entertainment venues on the resort. It's also worth mentioning that there's free WiFi on site.
Activities & Entertainment
Here is where Butlin's really comes into its own, and you can see why it's a top choice for UK family holidays. It's heaven for kiddies! First, let's start with the activities included in your booking cost.
Fairground
We loved the traditional style fairground, located in the middle of the resort. There's the Helter Skelter, a large chair swing ride for bigger kids and adults, and a smaller one for tots, a carousel, waltzers, swing boats, dodgems, and a ride called Trabant, which swings you round and up and down. They are strict on height requirements, and if your child's under 1.4m you may need to ride alongside them. But there are also a few toddler friendly rides, including teacups and aeroplanes next to the soft play in the Skyline Pavilion. You don't need to pre-book, it's all included in your booking, and you can go on the rides as many times as you like. Just show up and hop on.
Playground
I'm always surprised by how much time the boys can spend in a playground. Once they make new friends and run around playing an imaginative game together, it can be hard to get them out of there. And The Beachcomber Inn Playground, which opened during the summer, offers loads of fun for kids under 12-years-old. It's bright and colourful and has a play tower with climbing structures and slides. There are also swings, a roundabout, play domes and sensory elements. To the side of the playground are picnic tables, so we could grab a tea and coffee from The Beachcomber Inn and sit and watch the children play.
Splash waterpark
The swimming pool at Butlin's Bognor Regis is fantastic. It's great that you don't have to book a time slot in advance, and can just turn up. We didn't consider what times might be quietest and instead just rocked up at times that worked around all the other activities we had booked in. So, we ended up going at various times during our stay. I don't know if we were just lucky, but as we were visiting during half term, I was pleasantly surprised to find that we never had to queue to get in. Though I assume it's a lot busier during the summer months with more people visiting on day passes.
The changing rooms had lots of large family changing cubicles, and there were plenty of showers so we weren't left standing around in the cold after getting out. But the water did suddenly go from hot to cold. There were also plenty of hairdryers to sort your hair out after a swim. Don't forget to bring a pound coin for the locker.
The pool is great for all ages. There's a tots area with small slides, play features such as a little boat, and tipping buckets and water jets. A Helter Skelter slide (minimum 0.9m tall) was the first thing to catch the boys' attention, and this was the slide they both wanted one last go on when it came time to leave the pool. Then, for more adventurous bigger kids and teens, there's The Adrenaline Flume, with light effects. This is for ages 8+ and riders must be a minimum of 1.2m tall. Men and boys should ensure they're wearing proper swim trunks and not gym/sports shorts or you might be turned away.
We loved each going in a different lane of the Racer Slides (minimum 0.9m tall) to see who made it to the bottom first, and the boys couldn't get enough of the Wave Pool. The Family Raft Ride was great fun (riders must be aged 3+ and a minimum of 1.0m tall, and under 8s must be accompanied by an adult). But when we got to the top we discovered that only three people could ride on each raft. So, my nine-year-old went on a raft with two other people waiting in line. There's also the Seaside Garden Rapids (minimum 1.0m tall, adult supervision required). Overall, we never had to queue too long to go on any of the slides. The whole pool enclosure was lovely and warm, and there were plenty of lifeguards on duty. Butlin's Bognor Regis is worth visiting for the swimming pool alone!
Other free activities
One of the main things we liked about Butlin's was how much is included in the cost of your booking. Alongside all of the above, and the evening entertainment, there are also a few free daytime activities, such as fun football, crafty sessions, and character photo opportunities - Peppa Pig, the Skyline Gang and more. When we were visiting, there was the chance of a photo with the PJ Masks, and there were some spooky Halloween characters roaming about. We were visiting at Halloween and the resort was decorated lovely for the occasion. But there was also a great fireworks display, and on Halloween evening there was a free scavenger hunt for the kids to take part in before collecting a treat. There was a lovely atmosphere around the resort. Lots of the kids wore fancy dress, and some of the parents had brought sweets to hand out to the kids, so they could have a sense of trick or treating while on holiday. Everyone there seemed keen to have a fun time and create lovely family memories.
Evening Entertainment
Butlin's has a fantastic selection of entertainment of an evening. From kids' shows and sing/dance alongs in the Skyline Pavilion, to bingo and intimate performances from red coat and guest singers in Reds bar, on to internationally recognised performers in Studio 36 and Centre Stage - you have to really plan what you would like to see ahead of time. We found that there was often a clash, which is a nice problem to have, and we would have probably been happy going to any of the performances.
During our four night stay we started the first evening watching Steve Royal, a Britain’s Got Talent finalist, with family jokes and juggling skills. The following night we watched Jay and Joss, magicians with tricks that really wowed the audience, especially the good old 'cut a person in half' trick. Both of these performances were in the Centre Stage.
We finished up our holiday watching Electric Wonderland in their neon light inspired dance show and the final night watching the Masked Singer in Studio 36. Masked singer replaced their flagship performer in Stephen Mulhern who we believe sadly had a family bereavement and was unable to perform. I would say overall the quality of the performances at Butlin's was excellent, and there was no scrimping on stage sets, lighting, and general production standards. We loved the Jack and Beanstalk panto, and truly appreciated the variety of evening entertainment on offer at Butlin's. We also enjoyed stumbling across the kids' shows and discos in the Skyline Pavilion, as this created a fun, family atmosphere, which added a holiday feel and general buzz around the site.
Early Access VIP Pass
This pass is at an extra charge and allows you to book shows and activities three days before booking slots open on the app, ensuring you get to do everything you want to during your visit. But it also allows you to enter the venues - Centre Stage, Studio 36, and Reds - 15 minutes before everyone else, so you can grab the best seats closest to the stage. On the first night, we made the mistake of arriving at the venue 15 minutes before showtime. We didn't realise that all guests are allowed to enter the venue about half an hour before the show starts. So if you've got a VIP pass you need to arrive about 45 minutes before showtime to get in 15 minutes ahead of the crowd. So, on the first night we ended up getting seats quite far back. Reuben couldn't see the action on the stage very well, and then seemed to lose interest. But every other night, our passes got us in early and at a table with a great view of the stage. So, we were all able to enjoy the shows to the fullest. It also gave us time to grab a drink and get settled before the venue got busy. I'd say the Early Access VIP Pass is worth the extra money. If you don't have the pass, it's unlikely you'll nab a best-view table directly in front of the stage. During a school holidays break, a four-night Early Access VIP Pass will cost you from £32pp.
Paid for activities
The All Action Pass is a paid for extra which gives you five vouchers to access a few of the added cost activities at Butlin's. It includes American pool, Ten-pin bowling, bungee trampolines, go karts and adventure golf… this is £20pp during showtime breaks or £22pp during school holidays. Whether All Action Passes offer value depends on how many of the activities you would enjoy doing. Our boys loved the go karts, although they were disappointed to not be able to ride one alone with the height restriction being 1.4m, meaning they had to settle as passengers alongside dad. We also all had fun in the bowling alley, which was tired but had a real nostalgic and retro feel to it. My husband and our eldest, Odhran, played the outdoor adventure golf, which they thought was OK but was difficult follow on from the great experience of playing Neon Golf in PLAYXPERIENCE. The Bungee trampoline was out of action, which disappointed our youngest, as he was really looking forward to going on that, and we didn’t manage to play pool as you need a £5 deposit for the balls, with the venue only accepting cash. This would have been annoying if we really wanted to play but we were only looked to do it to use up the vouchers, so it wasn’t too much of a big deal. Strange to only accept cash though in this digital age. If the activities included in the All Action Pass excite you, then it can be a cost-effective way to enhance your holiday.
There were other additional cost experiences booked for our stay. Both of the boys booked in for archery, in the accredited range on site. Odhran attended the 8+ session, playing a variety of themed games and teaming up to score points while practicing his aim, he was also thrilled to be using real arrows. Reuben’s was a mini Archery session (5-7 yrs) which was similar but used safety arrows that could have done with a little more sticking power. That being said he enjoyed it and we would recommend this activity. They both also attended Football Academy, learning skills and drills on the astroturf followed by some fun competitive games.
There were quite a few arts and crafts offerings too, with pumpkin carving, Halloween pottery painting and T-shirt design, and the boys enjoyed them all in equal measure. This definitely enhanced the holiday and we would recommend adding some to your stay, if you can. They’re pretty reasonably priced. For example, pottery painting is £10 per person. For a bit extra, the boys upgraded to larger pottery pieces - skull money boxes, which are nice keepsakes that they've since been adding their pennies to. There were other activities that we didn’t manage to do, which looked very good. So, you will certainly find interesting things for the kids to enjoy, and we would suggest booking as far in advance as possible, before popular activities fill up.
Also, there are a couple of arcades, so factor in some money to spend there. The boys were given some holiday spending money from their grandad. Odhran spent his on a Goo Jit Zu from an toyshop on site, and Reuben purchased a light up wand from a shop inside one of the entertainment venues. There was also a pick n mix shop, a teddy bear factory, and a shop selling Butlin's merchandise. So you might want to encourage your child to save up their pocket money before your holiday.
How and when can you book activities?
Butlin's has a handy app you can download so you can book activities and plan your holiday ahead of your visit. The lead booker will be able to start booking shows and activities for their whole party four weeks before their break begins. If you've book and Early Access VIP pass, the lead booker will be able to book shows and activities three days earlier. The day time and evening shows are included in the cost of your holiday, and some are free flow and don't require booking. But most do need to be booked in advance through the app. So get in early to avoid missing out on some of the more popular evening shows.
PLAYXPERIENCE
PLAYXPERIENCE is Butlin's new, £15 million, state of the art, interactive gaming centre. It's a fantastic venue, and the offerings inside really thrilled the boys. There’s a VR arcade with virtual parachuting, shooting and driving games, a batting cage, where you can play cricket, tennis or baseball, a digital darts section, techno putt golf, neon golf, escape rooms and laser tag.
We booked in to play neon golf, which was a real treat. On check-in you’re presented with your assigned ball from a machine. Once placed at the starting point the computer recognises each player and counts every stroke of the ball - so no cheating here! Points are awarded for tricks or choosing complex paths and are added automatically to your score. The aim is to score as many points as possible with the final hole containing accumulator holes - these can add a substantial amount of points to your total if you get your aim right. The holes can be played in any order, apart from the final hole. This helps to avoid the dreaded congestion you normally encounter at crazy golf. All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. And there are tables and stools throughout. So you can grab a drink from the bar beforehand and have a table to rest it on while you take your shots.
We also booked in for family laser tag. This comprised of a neon fighting range with three teams of red green and blue, each containing six players. You play your typical games, defending your base etc and end with a battle royale which my eldest really enjoyed. Everything worked seamlessly and it was a great way to burn a bit of energy, with Odhran gasping for water as we left.
We finished up with digi darts - themed games on an interactive board, which were accessible and fun, even for a total novice like me. We had booked for an hour and worried the boys may lose interest but we played till the end. Odhran particularly enjoying the farming theme, where you ‘steal' land by hitting your opponents numbers, and Killer, in which you eliminate your opponents by hitting their number three times.
The bar in the PLAYXPERIENCE was very relaxed and a nice contrast to the more energetic venues around the site. We loved all the activities we tried and left wishing that we could have tried even more of the offerings, particularly the escape rooms and the VR, which we only passed on as it has a minimum age of 8yrs. Get your bookings in for the experiences as early as possible as they were almost always sold out. If you go to the venue, or check the app each morning of your stay, then some cancellations do open up, but this offers no guarantee you will play the games you’re looking for. But we thoroughly recommend the new venue and we believe the offerings to be reasonably priced.
How to book PLAYXPERIENCE activities
You need to purchase Activity Tokens, which are like a digital currency you can redeem against activities through the app. You can simply add tokens at the time of booking your holiday, or if you've already booked your holiday, you can log into your account and buy them. Alternatively, you can buy them when you get to the resort by heading to the Holiday Booking Shop. But I'd strongly recommend booking in advance so you don't miss out, as a couple of times we tried to book in another activity but it was booked up. Luckily we managed to jump in on a last minute cancellation. The lead booker can start booking activities using the tokens purchased, four weeks before the holiday begins. The more tokens you purchase the cheaper they are. So for example, you can purchase 1-3 tokens for £8 per token. Or 4-7 tokens for £6.75 per token. The per-token cost reduces with the more you purchase, all the way up to 20+ at £4.95 per token. These costs are based on purchases pre-arrival. If you buy them on resort, you'll pay a little more. To give you a rough idea of working out costs the Escape Rooms require four tokens per room and Shuffleboard requires two tokens per board.
Food and Dining Plans
Butlin's Bognor Regis has buffet restaurants and popular eateries including: Chopstix, Subway, Papa Johns and Burger King. There's also an American style diner, traditional fish and chips shop, and Scoop ice-cream dessert parlour. Guests looking for pub grub and family favourites, such as pies, lasagne, and steak, can visit The Beachcomber Inn. For chicken wings, buttermilk burgers and chargrilled sharing platters, there's Firehouse Grill.
There are four Dining Plans. The DineAround Plan is exclusive to hotel guests at Bognor Regis, and gives you the greatest freedom to pick and choose where to eat. It includes breakfast, a two-course lunch and dinner. You also get one complimentary drink (including alcohol) with either lunch or dinner, and you can upgrade to three courses for an extra £3 per person. For lunch and dinner there's no need to pre-book dining slots. But you will still need to book in advance for breakfast at The Beachcomber Inn. The DineAround Plan includes access to Firehouse Grill, The Diner, The Beachcomber Inn, Traditional Fish & Chips Takeaway, and Papa Johns. Prices for 2025 are £35.95 per day per adult, £21.45 per day per junior, and £10.25 for children aged 2-5.
The Premium Dining Plan is an all-you-can eat buffet breakfast and dinner option, where you're assigned to one of the buffet restaurants. This is priced at £32.95 per adult, £18.95 per junior, or £9.25 per child aged 2-5. Exclusive to guests staying at The Shoreline and Ocean hotels is the Hotel Dining plan. This is what we had, and it's basically the Premium Dining Plan in the comfort of your hotel's restaurant. So, in our case, Kaleidoscope restaurant. During our visit, we never had to wait long to be seated, and the queues weren't too bad for the buffet. There was a salad and dessert bar, and two buffet stations. One station served kiddie favourites such as pizza, chips and chicken nuggets. The other station varied each night but served foods such as different roast meats, potatoes and veg, noodles and chicken curry. There was always a veggie/vegan option, and things were clearly labelled.
But, as a veggie, I found that while there were always options, the choice on offer didn't always constitute a full veggie meal. For example, one night I had a meal of samosas with salad and roast potatoes. So, an odd concoction of a meal, but it did all taste nice. Another night, I had a tasty mushroom pie. The dining plan described a pasta station and an ice-cream factory, both of which we found to be an oversell. The pasta station was just pasta and a tomato or pesto sauce, and the ice-cream factory was a serve yourself ice-cream machine with vanilla ice-cream and some sauces on the side. But this wasn't working properly and the ice-cream was quite sloppy. One night, it wasn't working at all, and we ended up taking the boys to Scoop ice-cream and dessert parlour in Skyline Pavilion to buy them waffles and ice-cream, which were delicious. The dessert counter at the hotel had a mixture of cheesecakes and rich sponges. It would have been nice to have a couple more kid favourite dessert options such as doughnuts or an ice-lolly.
Despite the meal package, my eldest had a hankering for a Papa Johns one night, and we couldn't resist the on site traditional fish and chip shop. So we ate dinner outside of the hotel. For breakfast, there was plenty to keep our tummies full - cereal, fruit, yoghurt, pancakes, omelettes and full cooked breakfast options, including plenty for veggies. We spoke to a mum with an autistic son, who also had lots of food allergies, and she told us she's been visiting Butlin's for years, and finds the staff to be very accommodating in ensuring her son is well looked after and has plenty of food options.
If you're self-catering, you'll want to visit a supermarket on your way to the resort. There's a shop at the resort, selling all the basics. But we found it to be quite expensive.
All Inclusive Drinks Package
Butlin's now also offers an All Inclusive Drinks Package option. It's hassle-free, and you simply show your wristband at the bar or restaurant. This costs from £25.95 per adult and £10.50 per child per day, and includes soft drinks, spirits, wines, draught beers, ciders and cocktails, Costa Coffee, tea and hot chocolate from Butlin's Proud to Serve venues. It's handy being able to wrap up your whole holiday as a package and know that everything is budgeted for it, rather than having to guess how much you might spend on alcohol and soft drinks while you're there. We enjoyed the drinks available at Butlin's, especially the cocktails from the bar inside the Skyline Pavilion and PLAYEXPERIENCE. Also, you'd be surprised how much soft drinks and teas and coffees can add up to over a few days. It's nice to have the freedom to just order your drinks without having to think about the cost each time.
The surrounding area
Bognor Regis is a traditional seaside town in West Sussex. It borders the South Downs National Park, and Butlin's Bognor Regis is perched next to a shingle beach if you fancy a stroll and a breath of fresh sea air. We intended to take a stroll down to the beach and explore the area but we ended up having such a jam packed few days of fun at Butlin's that we didn't find the time to venture outside of the resort.
Prices
Butlin's has new shows for 2025, including Gladiators and The Masked Singer Live. This is a family holiday that you can really tailor to your budget, and term-time breaks start from £13pp. But we priced up a holiday at Butlin's Bognor Regis for four nights during the February term (17-21 Feb), and for a balcony room at Ocean Hotel for two adults and two children, with Hotel Dining, All Inclusive Drinks Package, All Action Passes and Early Access VIP Passes, the total cost came to £1,345.40. This isn't including any extra activities you might want book, or tokens for PLAYEXPERIENCE. But for a four night break for a family of four, with so much included, we don't think that's a bad price at all. Also, Butlin's offer a flexible payment plan so you can spread the cost of your holiday, and you can secure your place with a deposit from just £5pp. Book early to get the best deal and best options. Find out more here
Did you know you can do a day visit to Butlin's?
All three Butlin's resorts - Bognor, Minehead and Skegness - offer day visits. Prices start from £18 a child (age 2-14) and £26 an adult. Under 2s go free. The day pass allows visitors to enjoy great live daytime shows at the Skyline Pavilion, with performances throughout the day, including the Skyline Gang's newest show, Going for Gold. Day visitors also have access to the Splash Waterworld, the fantastic family pool suitable for all ages with brilliant slides, flumes, splash areas, and a wave pool. Also, guests can enjoy unlimited fairground rides, from the carousel and dodgems, to the waltzers and trampolines, and rides for tots. And there's the soft play and outdoor playgrounds to enjoy. Day visitors to Bognor will also be able to visit PLAYXPERIENCE and book activities on the day (subject to availability). Bognor Regis railway station is well connected to London and other major cities. Trains run hourly from London Victoria to Bognor and take under two hours. Book in advance and you can get one way adult tickets from £7 and one way child tickets for £2. We searched on Southern trains website for tickets from Victoria to Bognor a week in advance and found return tickets for one adult and one child for a total of £21. Bognor Regis railway station is about two miles from the resort (a five minute taxi ride). If you choose to drive, there's lots of parking at the resort. All day visits must be pre-booked here.
Take a Break's verdict
Parts of the resort looked a little tired and in need of a refresh, and the hotel buffet dining was OK but there was room for improvement. To really maximise the experience, you do need to pay for extras, so the price of the holiday can add up, especially if you've booked your stay during peak times. However, where Butlin's really shines is in the array of activities on offer, the amount included in the booking cost, the fantastic pool, the excellent standard of evening entertainment, and the new PLAYXPERIENCE. Odhran and Reuben cried when we had to go home. They told me they'd miss Butlin's, and asked if we would make it an annual family holiday. I can certainly see why once families visit Butlin's they're keen to return, and we met several people there who told us they've been visiting for years. It's also the sort of resort that would be great to book for a larger extended family holiday or a break away with friends and their kids. It has lots to offer both adults and kids of all ages, and holidays can be tailored to suit all budgets. We'd rate Butlin's Bognor Regis 4.3 out of 5.