Les Bois-Francs is one of the closest Center Parcs villages in France to the UK. Located in Normandy, to the west of Paris, the drive from Calais takes roughly 3 ¾ hours. With a château inside the village grounds, a really great Aqua Mundo plus loads of activities, this place is pretty special. Kids will love the indoor soft play area at the Action Factory, and pony rides at the farm – check the height restrictions before booking. Families can all experience the spa with steam rooms, saunas and an indoor pool at one of the family spa sessions (book in person at the spa).
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If driving to Les Bois-Francs from Calais or Dieppe, take care to avoid Rouen’s ULEZ zone. Google Maps will direct you through this zone quite happily without a word of warning, so check your route before setting off. Fines for driving in the zone can be up to 375 euros. Visit drive2.city for up-to-date information on where the ULEZ zone covers.
Now our kids are a bit older, we love to take our bikes and explore the Normandy countryside around the village. The lovely old town of Verneuil-sur-Avre is a 5 mile bike ride away along a cycle trail starting just inside the village entrance, and is well worth discovering. If you enjoy mooching around historic buildings and forgotten places, I highly recommend visiting nearby Abbaye Saint-Nicolas – a beautiful abbey which housed Benedictine nuns from the 17th Century right through to 2001.
Top Tip: Following Google Maps on your phone? Attach it securely, so you can see it while you’re driving with an in-car phone holder.
Aqua Mundo at Les-Bois Francs
Included with every booking:
- Children’s Pool for babies/toddlers aged 3 months+
- Lazy River
- Outdoor Pool
- Plunge Pool
- Water Playhouse for children aged 5 years+
- Water Slides
- Wave Pool
- Wild Water Rapids
Where to Stay at Les Bois-Francs – in order of occupancy
Hotel Room
- Sleeps up to 2 people + 1 infant
- Reduced mobility option available
- Beds made on arrival
- Daily housekeeping on request
- Coffee machine in room
- No self-catering facilities
- Towels and toiletries included
- Buffet breakfast included
Premium Pagode Cottage
- Sleeps up to 4 people + 2 infants
- Reduced mobility option available
- Beds made on arrival
- Second TV in main bedroom
- Kitchen with dishwasher
- Towels not included
- Breakfast not included (can be purchased separately)
VIP Cottage
- Sleeps up to 4 people + 1 infant
- No reduced mobility option
- Beds made on arrival
- Second TV in main bedroom
- Jacuzzi bath and sauna
- Kitchen package with tea towel, cleaning sponge, etc.
- Kitchen with dishwasher
- Towels and toiletries included
- Breakfast not included (can be purchased separately)
VIP Pagode Cottage
- Sleeps up to 6 people + 4 infants
- 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 8 people + 2 infants
- No reduced mobility option
- Bedding provided, but beds not made up on arrival
- Kitchen with dishwasher
- Towels not included
- Breakfast not included (can be purchased separately)
Premium Cottage
- Sleeps up to 8 people + 2 infants
- No reduced mobility option
- Beds made on arrival
- Second TV in main bedroom
- Kitchen with dishwasher
- Towels not included
- Breakfast not included (can be purchased separately)
Where to Eat at Les Bois-Francs
- Bar du Golf – restaurant serving French cuisine
- Bowling Bar – serving drinks, snacks and desserts
- Cocoon – serving breakfast, burgers and desserts
- Il Giardino – serving Italian cuisine
- Jungle Circus – buffet restaurant serving breakfast and dinner
- La Cabane – serving fast food
- Lagon – serving sandwiches and drinks poolside
- Quick – serving fast food
Nearest Supermarkets to Les Bois-Francs
- Onsite Carrefour Express inside Market Dome
- Aldi in Verneuil d’Avre et d’Iton – 6 miles
- Carrefour Express in Verneuil sur Avre- 6 miles
- Lidl in Verneuil d’Avre et d’Iton – 7 miles
How Can I Get to Les Bois-Francs?
Eurotunnel from Folkestone
| Route | Crossing Time | Onward Distance to Village | Onward Journey Time to Village |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkestone – Calais | 35 minutes | 203 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone | 4 hours |
Ferry from UK Port
| Route | Crossing Time | Onward Distance to Village | Onward Journey Time to Village |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cork – Roscoff | from 14 hour night crossing | 295 miles | 4¾ hours |
| Dover – Calais | 1½ hours | 207 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone | 3½ hours |
| Dover – Dunkirk | 2 hours | 221 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone | 3¾ hours |
| Folkestone to Calais | 1½ hours | 207 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone | 3½ hours |
| Newhaven – Dieppe | 4 hours | 114 miles – adjust Google Maps route to avoid Rouen ULEZ zone | 2¼ hours |
| Plymouth – Roscoff | from 5½ hours | 295 miles | 4¾ hours |
| Poole – Cherbourg | 4½ hours | 172 miles | 3 hours |
| Portsmouth – Caen | 5¾ hours | 100 miles | 2 hours |
| Portsmouth – Cherbourg | from 4¾ hours | 172 miles | 3 hours |
| Portsmouth – Le Havre | from 6 hours | 110 miles | 2 hours |
| Portsmouth – St. Malo | from 10 hours | 155 miles | 3½ hours |
| Rosslare – Cherbourg | from 16½ hour night crossing | 172 miles | 3 hours |
Eurostar from London St. Pancras International Station
- To Paris Gare du Nord – 2½ hours on Eurostar followed by train to Montparnasse Bienvenue (17 minutes), walk to Paris Montparnasse Hall 1-2 (5 minutes), then train to Verneuil-sur-Avre (1 hour 4 minutes) and taxi to the village (15 minutes)
Flying from UK Airport
- I wouldn’t recommend flying to this village as all onward routes include several trains and walking transfers.
Have you considered combining your Center Parcs trip with a visit to Disneyland Paris? Take a look at Villages Nature Paris. It’s right next door to the magic!
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. Check out Travelling to Center Parcs in France to compare journey times and distances with the other French villages.
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.
