Carlton Meres Holiday Park

View prices & book 8.4 97 reviews
Pod exterior (added by manager 08 May 2019)
Swimming pool
Clubhouse
Indoor pool

  • Woodland setting with two well-stocked fishing lakes
  • Indoor pool, fitness suite and family-friendly bar on site
  • Seven miles from the Suffolk Heritage Coast at Aldeburgh
This isn't Merely a Suffolk holiday park – it's a Suffolk holiday park with a whole heap to do. If the two fishing lakes at Carlton Meres Holiday Park in Suffolk don't have you wriggling in anticipation, all manner of other options are on site to lure you in. Free activities and entertainment are held in high season (weekends from March to October), or there's splashing in the indoor pool for relaxed types, and a fitness suite and tennis court for the energetic. Or might you prefer wandering peaceably around the park's splendid woodland setting and woodland walk...? The kids are sorted too – always an amicable option on holiday – with an adventure playground to keep them swinging about for hours, and the arts and crafts, karaoke, disco and outdoor activities of the kids' club which runs on weekends and during school holidays (small charge applies). Guests of the roomy pitches at Carlton Meres have access to shower and toilet blocks, waste disposal points and fresh water points.

Campground type

Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 20
Open now
Opens March 15
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Breed-specific legislation (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Group bookings of 5 or more units (e.g. tent, caravan, RV or accommodation hire) traveling together are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Single-sex bookings of 5 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • The outdoor swimming pool is open between 05/01 and 09/15 (subject to weather conditions).
  • The restaurant is open between 04/05 and 11/02.
  • Entertainment and activities are available between 04/05 and 11/02.
  • The grocery shop is open between 04/05 and 11/02.
  • The indoor swimming pool is open between 04/01 and 10/30.
  • Bookings must not be for more than 14 consecutive nights.
  • No cars/motorcycles at the site. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • The park caters for families (immediate members) and couples only - bookings from all other forms of groups are not accepted.
  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Reception is unmanned after 5 p.m.. Please inform the park while on your way there should you expect to arrive after this time so that the team can provide information about your unit/site.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 21 or over.
  • Single-sex parties of three or more people under 25 are not permitted on site. The heated indoor swimming pool will be open from Easter 2019. Please show your entertainment pass (included in the price) for free swimming pool access.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, Mar 15 to

Open from Fri, Mar 14 to

This campground is a member of Park Holidays group.

AA Holiday Centre
View all Park Holidays parks.

Reviews

84%

would recommend this campground to a friend

82%

would stay here again

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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

A good location for the coast with mostly excellent facilities.

Overall 6/10
Location 8
Value for money 6
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 6
Child friendliness 6
Cleanliness 6
Wifi 4
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: The camping pod was warm and had most things that you need. We loved visiting the swimming pool every day.

Disliked: Camping pod was full of cobwebs, which I'd have appreciated being dusted away. Toilet block was a fair walk away and was of the temporary trailer type. One shower was out of order, but they were warm and worked well. It would have be edited from more regular cleaning. Lifeguards allowed people to be too rowdy in the pool, which was difficult for our younger children. People working on the holiday park sped around on their golf buggies, which was worrying with the chikdren.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great value for money and lots to keep children entertained.

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 6
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: The camping pod was extremely clean, and bigger in real life than we expected. The view by the lake was beautiful and it was so peaceful. We could not hear other people from our pod. The swimming pool and arcades were great for the kids, we had no problem booking the swimming! The site itself is very clean and tidy, we have been to a lot of holiday parks and this was the best in terms of cleanliness.

Disliked: Food at the restaurant was very overpriced for the quality and our order was wrong every time we got our food. The shop on site is very basic!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site, friendly staff with good facilities to sort all.

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 6
Jordan B. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: Fantastic site, we all had a wonderful time. The pods were lovely although a little warm so it is advisable to bring a fan with you as this is not supplied. There were two ponds for fishing ( you will need a permit to fish) a lovely play park for the kids to burn off some steam and a clubhouse. The pool was nice, you do need to book on arrival. And the gym was a good touch. Lovely site and loads areas to walk the dog aswel. Would definitely come back again.

Disliked: Down side to our trip which was a little out of the sites control was the mens toilets and showers were out of use. With the amount of pods they have it was difficult to share only 3 toilets with both men and women as often found there was a que.

Recommend to friends Visit again

We stay in the pods which overlooked the lake perfect for those…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Sharron B. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: We stay in the pods which overlooked the lake perfect for those who want to do fishing, the pods were clean and spacious, they do get warm in the summer so take a fan. Water station is nearby toilet and shower block was nearby I had a lovely little family break and will definitely return to this lovely little campsite

Disliked: Unfortunately when we stayed the men's toilets got blocked so they had to share the ladies, so often running out of toilet roll so just be aware and take your own, food waiting time in the clubhouse was 40 minutes plus so if you have young children I suggest going early, they often only had one bar staff

Recommend to friends Visit again

Disappointing allocation and response

Overall 6/10
Location 8
Value for money 8
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 6
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 2
Sharon B. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: The camping pod was great plenary of space 4 plugs and 2 usb sockets.

Disliked: As a mature couple we were shocked to have been put in the middle of 3 pods of families that were together. When I asked about moving I was told we’re full it’s school holidays isn’t it. I explained we had asked for a pod nearer the carpark for mobility reasons and that the 3 families had phoned and emailed asking to be together. The reception knew nothing of this. So sadly we left the next day as it was too noisy and awkward.

Recommend to friends Visit again

We would stay again but would like some changes to be seen.

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 4
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 8
james P. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: Great location, great entertainment. Great cozy pods.

Disliked: The beds had plastic on them which make sleeping a nightmare, sliding sheets and noisy. Only one male cubical toilet was working at the time of our stay, currently, they have two cubical toilets, I don't think this is enough due to the amount of pods on the site so they need to upgrade the toilet/shower facilities a little more.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Clean facilities, plenty for children to do. Good location…

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 8
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 4
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: Clean facilities, plenty for children to do. Good location

Disliked: Swimming pool could have been clearer.

Recommend to friends Visit again

POD wasn’t clean

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 6
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 4
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 2
Wifi 6
Jabed R. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: The area was really nice day and night there is 2 lakes in there was really good breath of fresh air cool breeze fishing on the lake plus 2 swimming pools inside and outside

Disliked: Only thing is my children didn’t like the spiders crawling around in the pod and too much spiders webs everywhere in side outside they didn’t clean it properly, I did told them didn’t do much, probably it’s too busy on summer break

Recommend to friends Visit again

Good for a short stay when you don't have to rely on the facilities.

Overall 4/10
Location 10
Value for money 6
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 4
Child friendliness 6
Cleanliness 4
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: The beautiful and peaceful area makes you forget the city's busy vibes. The glamping pods, while not overly spacious, are designed with simple yet functional furniture. They are adept at keeping the noise out, ensuring a peaceful stay for a few days. It feels safe and it's a short drive to the surrounding towns and seaside, with plenty of trip opportunities.

Disliked: Despite the two pools, play areas, a mini-golf course, and entertainment, the holiday park is aimed at older people who like peace while fishing or for families with more minor children. Our teenagers were a bit bored. The restaurant at the park offers a diverse menu catering to various tastes. However, the average waiting time for dinner was more than an hour, and the food quality was not up to our expectations. Online, we learned that BBQs were allowed but not campfires; however, another glamper has had a fire on for at least two consecutive nights, and no one has stopped them. The lowest point for us was the facilities. We had to call the reception daily, as there was no hot water in the showers and only one working toilet in the male section. The water issue was fixed on two out of four calls. The toilets and showers were not cleaned frequently, resulting in a dirty place with no toilet paper.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The pools were great, food was fab and entertainment team were great.

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 8
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 8
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked: Loved the camping pod by the lake. A superb spot and great quality pods. Clean too.

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on park

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis Watersports

Amenities on park

Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue grills allowed Barbecue provided Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Hikers’ paradise Peaceful

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transportation nearby

Type

Large (51-200 sites)

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Seasonal sites

Location

Carlton Meres Holiday Park

Rendham Road

Carlton

Saxmundham

Suffolk

England

IP17 2QP

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

52.23261°N
1.4623°W

Route directions

On the A12: the site is signposted (Carlton Meres Holiday Park) in both directions. Do not follow your satnav for the last part of your journey as it will lead you to Lonely Farm campsite behind the park. Make sure you follow the signs for the park and turn right at the entrance for Carlton Meres Holiday Park.

Nearest transport

Bus
13.6 mi Broad Street
13.7 mi School Lane
15.5 mi Chaucer Street
Rail
1.7 mi Saxmundham Rail Station
3.8 mi Darsham Rail Station
6.3 mi Wickham Market Rail Station
Ferry
10.4 mi Walberswick Ferry Landing
10.5 mi Southwold Ferry Landing
17 mi Bawdsey Ferry Landing

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

After they've whirled around on site for a while, take the kids to the coast at Aldeburgh (20 minutes' drive) or Southwold (25 minutes) for days on the beach, buying freshly caught fish on the sands and enviously eyeing up the beach huts. Walberswick (25 minutes) is also well worth a look, to birdwatch among its heath and marshlands, catch crabs on its beach or to take the ferry across the Blyth back to Southwold; you might spy some celebrity residents in this popular town too... Both Felixstowe and Lowestoft are each within 45 minutes for additional Suffolk seaside trips; some time should be spent at Lowestoft for the Pleasurewood Theme Park too – and from there one can move onto the seaside at Great Yarmouth, an hour from the site, and the rest of the Norfolk coast or the Suffolk and Norfolk Broads. Closer to home, take a trip to fab Framlington Castle (15 minutes) – where Mary Tudor was proclaimed queen, fact fans – and to Orford Castle (25 minutes), both managed by English Heritage and both rather spectacular. See also, for wildlife-loving sprogs, the 2,000+ residents at Norfolk's Banham Zoo, just over an hour away, and walking among the parrots, mammals and reptiles of African safari park Africa Alive! at Kessingland (30 minutes), a colourful day out sure to have them squawking.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Southwold The Denes 10.9 mi Sea N/A N/A N/A N/A
Southwold The Pier 11.7 mi Sea N/A Good Good Excellent
Felixstowe North 19.4 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Felixstowe South 19.9 mi Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Lowestoft (South Of Claremont Pier) 19.9 mi Sea N/A Good Good Good

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Framlingham Castle 5 mi

Orford Castle 10 mi

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve 10.2 mi

Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon Burial Mounds 10.9 mi

Christchurch Mansion 17.5 mi

National Trust

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve 10.2 mi

Sutton Hoo 11 mi

Flatford: Bridge Cottage 26.7 mi

Elizabethan House Museum 28 mi

Thorington Hall 28.5 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

GLEMHAM HALL 3.8 mi

SNAPE (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 01/01/2007 4.9 mi

Leiston - Eastbridge - Middleton - Theberton - Leiston 4.9 mi

Framlingham - Saxtead - Saxtead Green - Apsey Green - Framlingham 5.1 mi

Framlingham - Brandeston - Kettleburgh - Lampardbrook - Framlingham 5.1 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Offers

Lodge, cabin, pod or hut
Camping pod
  • 45% off 45% End of Season Sale

Conditions apply - see campsite type section for details

Nearest campgrounds

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

Want to know more about camping in Suffolk?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Carlton Meres Holiday Park have a swimming pool? Yes View all features
  • Is Carlton Meres Holiday Park dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Carlton Meres Holiday Park? After they've whirled around on site for a while, take the kids to the coast at Aldeburgh (20 minutes' drive) or Southwold (25 minutes) for days on the beach, buying freshly caught … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Carlton Meres Holiday Park?
    On-park accommodation
    Arrive:  4 p.m. –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  10 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Carlton Meres Holiday Park? From $38.87 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.