Le Lac d’Ailette is not your usual Center Parcs village as it doesn’t have the iconic Market Dome containing restaurants, shops and the rest. That said, despite the different feel of this village, it is still well worth visiting. And, if you live in the South-East, it’s one of your nearest villages, taking just under 3 hours to drive from Calais. The Aqua Mundo is one of the best we’ve been to with lovely outdoor pools, a great water playhouse for younger kids, and loads of water slides. The wild water rapids aren’t the fastest, but the overall pool experience is fantastic.
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Center Parcs – Le Lac d’Ailette, Voie Verte de l’Ailette, Chamouille, Laon, Aisne, Hauts-de-France, Metropolitan France, 02860, France
Activities include a high ropes course, bungee trampolines and crazy golf as well as a farm where you can meet the animals. Paddle boards, canoes and pedaloes can be hired for fun on the lake. I recommend booking activities via the website before you arrive. Unlike the other villages where you can book most things before or during your holiday, we found that our options were reduced once we were at the village due to limited time slots. For those wanting some pamper time, the small Spa Deep Nature has a couple of hot tubs, a steam room and two saunas. Families can book a family spa session in person at the spa.
The cottages are all located on one side of a beautiful lake with very clear water. There is also a sandy beach alongside the lake, close to where the activities take place. One significant difference at this village is that the cottages all have two storeys, making them fairly inaccessible for those with mobility issues. If stairs are a problem for you, I would recommend looking at one of the other villages.
Top Tip: Struggling to fit everything in? Check out the different types of soft and hard roofboxes available for your car.
Aqua Mundo at Le Lac d’Ailette
Included with every booking:
- Children’s Pool for babies/toddlers aged 3 months +
- Hot Tubs
- Lazy River
- Outdoor Pool
- Plunge Pool
- Water Playhouse for children aged 5 years +
- Water Slides
- Wave Pool
- Wild Water Rapids
Where to Stay at Le Lac d’Ailette – in order of occupancy
VIP Cottage
- Sleeps up to 4 people + 1 infant aged 0-2 years
- No reduced mobility option
- Beds made on arrival
- Second TV in main bedroom
- Jacuzzi bath
- Sauna
- Kitchen package with tea towel, cleaning sponge, etc.
- Kitchen with dishwasher
- Towels and toiletries included
- Breakfast not included (can be purchased separately)
VIP Lakeside Cottage
- Sleeps up to 4 people + 1 infant aged 0-2 years
- No reduced mobility option
- Beds made on arrival
- Second TV in main bedroom
- Jacuzzi bath
- Sauna
- Kitchen package with tea towel, cleaning sponge, etc.
- Kitchen with dishwasher
- Towels and toiletries included
- Breakfast not included (can be purchased separately)
Comfort Cottage
- Sleeps up to 6 people + 2 infants aged 0-2 years
- No reduced mobility option
- Bedding included, but beds not made up
- Kitchen with dishwasher
- Towels not included
- Breakfast not included (can be purchased separately)
Premium Cottage
- Sleeps up to 8 people + 2 infants aged 0-2 years
- No reduced mobility option
- Beds made on arrival
- Second TV in main bedroom
- Jacuzzi bath
- Kitchen Package with tea towel, cleaning sponge, etc.
- Kitchen with dishwasher
- Towels not included
- Breakfast not included (can be purchased separately)
Premium Lakeside Cottage
- Sleep up to 8 people + 2 infants aged 0-2 years
- No reduced mobility option
- Beds made on arrival
- Second TV in main bedroom in cottages for 4 + people
- Kitchen package with tea towel, cleaning sponge, etc.
- Kitchen with dishwasher
- Towels not included
- Breakfast not included (can be purchased separately)
Where to Eat at Le Lac d’Ailette
- Bowling Bar – serving drinks, savoury snacks and desserts
- Côté Lac – restaurant serving international cuisine and takeaway ice-creams
- Il Giardino – serving Italian cuisine
- Lagon Aqua Mundo – serving sandwiches, drinks and ice-creams poolside
- Le Marché – buffet restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
- L’Embarcadère – serving regional specialities, snacks and desserts
- McDonald’s – serving burgers, fries and desserts
- Suzette – pancake house serving sweet and savoury crêpes plus sundaes
Supermarkets Near to Le Lac d’Ailette
- Carrefour Express Onsite
- Carrefour Drive Laon in Laon- 10 miles
- Carrefour Drive Laon Christ in Laon – 12 miles
- Aldi in Laon – 13 miles
How Can I Get to Le Lac d’Ailette?
Eurotunnel from Folkestone
| Route | Crossing Time | Onward Distance to Village | Onward Journey Time to Village |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkestone – Calais | 35 minutes | 150 miles | 3 hours |
Ferry from UK Port
| Route | Crossing Time | Onward Distance to Village | Onward Journey Time to Village |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cork – Roscoff | from 14 hour night crossing | 446 miles | 7¾ hours |
| Dover – Calais | 1½ hours | 148 miles | 2½ hours |
| Dover – Dunkirk | 2 hours | 148 miles | 2¾ hours |
| Folkestone to Calais | 1½ hours | 148 miles | 2½ hours |
| Newhaven – Dieppe | 4 hours | 149 miles | 3 hours |
| Plymouth – Roscoff | from 5½ hours | 445 miles | 7¾ hours |
| Poole – Cherbourg | 4½ hours | 311 miles | 5½ hours |
| Portsmouth – Caen | 5¾ hours | 241 miles | 4¼ hours |
| Portsmouth – Cherbourg | from 4¾ hours | 311 miles | 5½ hours |
| Portsmouth – Le Havre | from 6 hours | 195 miles | 3½ hours |
| Portsmouth – St. Malo | from 10 hours | 339 miles | 6 hours |
| Rosslare – Cherbourg | from 16½ hour night crossing | 311 miles | 5½ hours |
Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station
- To Paris Gare du Nord – 2½ hours on Eurostar followed by train to Laon (1½ hours) and taxi to the village (20 minutes)
Flying from UK Airport
- To Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminal 2 – flight time varies depending on departure airport. From the airport, take a train to Paris Nord Train Station (34 minutes), then train to Laon (1½ hours) and taxi to the village (20 minutes)
Want a village with a more traditional Center Parcs feel? Take a look at Les Bois Francs Village in Normandy.
Useful Resources When Driving in France
All distances have been taken from Google Maps. Journey times will vary depending on the time/day you travel and any unforeseen events such as accidents or roadworks. Whether you opt for planes, trains or ferries, remember to allow 1-2 hours for check-in and boarding each way.
Many countries are bringing in more and more ULEZ zones, which can make journeys difficult if your big old family car is non-compliant. Even cars that are compliant have to be registered to be allowed in these zones. This all gets pretty complicated, so it’s best to just avoid the relevant areas. Google Maps will often take you straight through a ULEZ zone without offering an alternative route, so make adjustments to your route before you set off if necessary. Visit drive2.city for up-to-date information on ULEZ zones in the UK and the rest of Europe.
