Situated just off the A66 near Penrith (M6 - Junction 40), Oasis is set in 400 acres of forest in the Lake District. It is a beautiful, enclosed, safe environment, and the accommodation and facilities are outstanding.
Lodges are placed in 'clusters' throughout the forest, and range from a one bed apartment to a four bed luxury timber house with galleried landing, 2/3 bathrooms (some with whirlpool baths), microwave, dishwasher, washer-dryer, satellite telly, log fire, lovely decor and patio with barbecue, as well as all the usual utilities you would expect. No lodges are further than 15 mins walk from the facilities, and some are literally one minute away from the main 'Butterfly Centre'.
In the Butterfly Centre is a selection of restaurants and fast-food outlets (including a Hard Rock Cafe), a reasonably priced supermarket, kids centre, Metropolis entertainment centre with machines, pool and ten-pin bowling, gift shops, cinema, theatre, bars and the amazing World of Water which contains the best outdoor rapid slide, wave machine, indoor rapids and jacuzzis that I've experienced.
There is also a traditional pub, with food and entertainments such as a quiz night, a small animal compound, a massive country club where you can play just about every indoor/outdoor sport that you can think of, a skating rink, children's adventure playgrounds, off-site quad biking, clay-pigeon shooting, paintballing, pony-trekking and more. Inside the country club there is also the spa, a very good beauty and treatment centre, and a gym. If you like the outdoor life, there are lovely forest walks (guided if you wish) and nature and fitness trails. In summer you can choose from loads of watersports on the Oasis lake.
Whether you're young or old, with children or as a couple or family party, you'll never be short of things to do. And as cars are not allowed in the village (except for arrival and departure), the place is lovely and peaceful, and safe for your kids. Most people take their own bicycles or hire them when there for getting around. The selection of bikes to hire is vast to suit all ages and sizes, you can hire brilliant Burley buggies for kids which fit onto the back of your adult bike, and disabled people can hire electric wheelchairs and 'larks'. In fact the whole village is disabled-friendly, and many lodges are adapted for 'special needs'. One of our party has a disability and was delighted with the disabled shower, grab-rails and adjustomatic bed.
Breaks are either 4 nights (Mon-Fri) or 3 (Fri-Mon). We've just come back from a 4 day break and at this time of year (end January) we paid around £260 quid for a 3 bedroomed lodge with sofabed that could sleep 8. Prices rise steeply in summer, but as there is so much to do indoors (once you're in the World of Water you won't want to come out!), you can have a great winter visit without hardly being aware of the weather at all.
How much you end up spending is entirely up to you. The World of Water is included in the price of your holiday, but you pay for everything else. Sports facilities are reasonably priced, the spa is expensive, bike hire isn't too bad, and the restaurants vary. All heating and electric is included in the price, and the heating stays on 24/7 unless you turn it off yourself. with temperatures at around 4c every day we kept ours permanently on and were lovely and snug night and day.
I would recommend Oasis to everyone, except large single-sex parties or parties of 17-24 year olds who aren't really welcomed anyway. It's my second year running at Oasis and I can't wait to go again next winter.
Excellent - well written and balanced review. It may be a little dated at the time I'm reading this but otherwise all good.
elle3041 26.06.2001 14:21
Good opinion. I went here when it first opened and wanted to see what other people thought as considering going there again this October. seems as if the same high standards are still in place. Thanks.
anjib 11.06.2001 20:39
A friend of mine and her husband and 3 kids have been here twice and enjoyed it. One of her 4 year old twins had an unfortunate accident the first visit. She was sitting on a narrow pointed stool, fell off it and it somehow slipped up inside her and had to go and have stitches. She cried for a few days when trying to have a wee as she was so sore - poor love.
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Feb 2nd, 2001
exceptional by (7%):
very helpful by (87%):
helpful by (7%):
