'I went to Butlin's to see if its new £15million playground lives up to the hype'

Given the ridiculously variable nature of the British weather, it is little wonder that UK holiday resorts are investing massively in their indoor facilities.

Butlin’s is no exception with its Bognor Regis site welcoming a new £15million activity centre, Playxperience, which is open for the first time to holidaymakers this year. Playxperience is home to nine different activities that can be enjoyed by all the family.

Whether it is trying to work your way out of one of the three escape rooms, becoming the next Luke Littler on Digi Darts, testing your reactions on the brilliant batting cage, this building boasts the very latest in interactive and immersive technology.

For teenagers, it is a gamers’ paradise. It can be expensive, as it is an ­additional cost to your holiday, but it will keep the children occupied for hours. And many memories can be made on the more family-oriented activities like Shuffleboard or TechPutt golf.

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If parents or guardians want to leave the kids to it, there is also a cafe on the ground floor, or for those fancying something stronger, a superb sports bar on the first floor, which is open until 11pm. As this was a family holiday, though, we were keen to book in for activities we could all enjoy – and there are so many options.

The archery was great fun, with our Butlin’s guide taking us through games that weren’t all about hitting the bullseye and top scoring, which ensured people of differing abilities could be a winner. However, a trip to Butlin’s would not feel right without watching some of the many shows they put on, which again cater for all ages.

With a 13- and 11-year-old in tow, I did wonder if they would be “too cool” for it all, but our first night proved I had nothing to worry about, kicking off watching the Cirque du Hilarious show.

It was slapstick comedy at its cheesy best, and while some led to groans of “cringe” from our boys, other aspects were “sick” or “bussin”, which I’m assured means they were loving it. We also enjoyed SBX Presents Extreme Playgrounds, where performers showcased their football, basketball, street dancing and beat boxing skills.

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Other shows included the superb Animals and Mythical Beasts and Iconic, which are new for 2025. There’s also a Snow White ­pantomime (oh yes there is) and Electric Wonderland, a dazzling dance display incorporating LED lights and costumes. The most popular was Gladiators, with stars from the show.

The place was packed to the rafters and divided into two teams: Red and Blue. We were on the Blue team and having won the brilliantly interactive ball race against the Reds, where the audience must roll a giant ball above their heads from one end of the studio to the other, and back to the stage, we were let down by our Gladiator, Phantom. He lost his two battles with rival Gladiator Dynamite, leading to the Reds winning overall. It may have been “just a game” to Phantom – but try telling that to two highly competitive boys.

Of course, the Bognor resort is right on the seafront, but while we were blessed with beautiful spring sunshine, the breeze meant it was a little too chilly to get out the deckchairs. Instead, the boys tested their skills on the High Ropes before we enjoyed a few hours at the excellent Splash, which boasts a huge pool, slides and a wave pool.

While Playxperience boasts the very latest in gaming technology, and Splash the ultimate wet and wild fun activity, the adage that the “old ones are still the best” rang true for our boys. Asked what his favourite thing about Butlin’s was, my son, Stanley, replied unequivocally: “Waltzers!”

As for the Butlin’s downtime, we stayed at the Wave Hotel which had bunk beds for the boys and a double bed for my partner and I. Tea and coffee was included – with plenty more on request at reception – and we also had the all-inclusive drinks package allowing us to drink virtually ­anywhere on site.

While the drinks package was confusing at the start, as you had to have a QR code emailed to you which you then had to scan when ordering drinks, it was worthwhile with a superb selection of soft and alcoholic beverages – and branded ones too. Costa hot drinks are also available for the coffee connoisseur.

Our food was also in the inclusive package, but limited to the Deck offering a wide range of different hot foods and desserts at dinner time and an extensive breakfast menu.

There were also themed nights, such as Italian on the Monday, Indian on Tuesday and Chinese on Wednesday, while our roast ­potato-loving boy Sam revelled in the different roast meat that was on offer every evening. For convenience and cost, the food and drink bundles are well worth investing in.

Butlin’s is not the cheap and cheesy British holiday it was once perceived to be, it’s had a mighty investment in state-of-the-art facilities, making it one of the UK’s leading family holiday destinations where endless memories are made.

Book the holiday

Butlin’s offers a three-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern and Meet the stays of The Gladiators staying in a two-bedroom Wave Hotel room in Bognor Regis from £465, for arrival on August 8th. Based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows, activities, free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides, playgrounds and the new Soft Play centre. Dining packages start at £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (six-14), per day and £6.80 per child (two-five).

More info at butlins.com and experiencesussex.com.