First Impressions of Center Parcs Longford Forest
One of the biggest things we noticed at Center Parcs Longford Forest was how relaxed, autism-friendly and family-friendly the atmosphere felt from the moment we arrived.
Check-in was easy, every member of staff we met was genuinely lovely, and nothing ever felt like too much trouble.
The lodge itself was gorgeous and surprisingly well thought out for families with children. We especially appreciated details like the child lock on the patio door, window locks and the safety chain on the front door.
As a parent of an autistic child, those small details make a huge difference when trying to relax away from home.
If I could change one thing, I would probably make the front doors feel a little more secure. Overall, it felt much safer and calmer than many family holidays we've experienced before.
What We Packed That Was Actually Useful
One thing we would definitely do differently next time at Center Parcs Longford Forest is pack far less food.
We stopped at Tesco in Mullingar on the way, but honestly the Lidl in Ballymahon would have been perfect, and the Parc Market ended up being much better than we expected.
Next time, I'd do a smaller food shop beforehand and just top up as needed during the trip.
The best thing we packed was definitely two swimsuits per person. Between the swimming pool, drying times and multiple swimming trips, it made life so much easier.
We also brought loads of microfibre towels, but realistically two per person would have been plenty.
Ear defenders were incredibly helpful in the swimming pool because it could get quite loud and echoey at times.
A waterproof phone pouch also ended up being one of our most-used items during the holiday.
For comfort in the evenings, I'd absolutely bring a soft blanket next time for cosying up on the couch.
One unexpected thing for me personally was the feel of the duvet covers. Sensory-wise, they felt slightly plasticky to me, so next time I'd probably bring a lightweight top sheet to go between me and the duvet.
Coffee pods for the Tassimo machine are also a must if you're staying in one of the lodges with a Tassimo coffee machine.
We brought a Fire Stick for downtime in the evenings, which ended up being really handy after busy days around the resort.
A small folding clothes horse was also surprisingly useful, especially for towels and swimwear. We used the towel rails and radiators for swimsuits, but the extra drying space really helped.
One random thing that ended up being genuinely useful was a small bottle of liquid washing detergent.
I forgot to pack enough trousers for Emily, so being able to quickly handwash clothes in the lodge ended up being very helpful.
What We Wouldn't Bother Bringing Again
We had also packed the PlayStation, but honestly we never even used it, so I probably wouldn't bother bringing it next time.
We also brought toys from home, but if we went back again I probably wouldn't pack as many.
Letting Emily pick out a few things herself in the toy shop became part of the holiday experience and made it feel much more special.
One thing I also wouldn't bother bringing again is the air fryer. We did use it once or twice, but realistically it wasn't really needed and just took up extra packing space.
What We Would Definitely Do Again at Center Parcs Longford
Swimming Was the Highlight of Our Trip
If we went back to Center Parcs Longford Forest again, we would probably plan almost everything around the swimming pool.
This was actually Emily's first time ever swimming, so we genuinely had no idea how she would react to it—but she absolutely loved it.
Activities We'd Love to Try Next Time
Next time, I think we would try to get one of the family duet bikes if possible. Then again, knowing how quickly things change, she could even be cycling her adapted trike herself by then.
She currently has an adapted trike at home which we were able to get with the help of Variety – the Children's Charity of Ireland—definitely something I'll write more about another time.
We would also love to try the electric boats and pottery next time, and spend even more time exploring and cycling around the forest.
Wildlife Around Center Parcs Longford Forest
One of my favourite parts of the trip was actually the wildlife and nature around the resort. We managed to get some gorgeous photos of red squirrels and even a fox, so next time I'd love to try spotting deer too.
The Spa, Coffee Shop and Food
The spa experience was lovely and I really enjoyed it at the time, but honestly I probably wouldn't book it again purely because of the price.
Looking back, I don't think it was fully worth the cost for us personally, even though the experience itself was great.
We would definitely spend more time in the coffee shop next visit as well. It was one of the nicest places to just slow down for a while.
Food-wise, we would probably stick mostly to the Sports Café again because it had familiar foods that worked well for Emily.
We would maybe even try the big family quiz next time too—depending on cooperation levels on the day!
A Few Things We Think Could Be Improved
One thing I do think could be improved slightly at Center Parcs Longford Forest is the playgrounds for older children with additional needs.
Emily is physically the size of an adult now, and some of the playground equipment felt more suited to younger or smaller children.
It would be lovely to see more inclusive options for older children too, especially larger swings or more sensory-friendly equipment.
Honestly, there were also quite a few activities aimed at younger age groups that Emily probably would have enjoyed.
It might actually be worth places like Center Parcs considering a little more flexibility around age recommendations for autistic children and teenagers with different developmental needs, interests and abilities.
Final Thoughts From Our Autism Family Holiday
Overall, we genuinely had a lovely time at Center Parcs Longford Forest and would absolutely consider going back again in the future.
Like any autism family holiday, not everything went perfectly, and there were definitely things we would do differently next time. But honestly, that's part of learning what works for your child and your family.
If I could give one piece of advice to other autism families planning a trip to Center Parcs Longford Forest, it would probably be not to put too much pressure on yourself to do everything.
Some of our best moments ended up being the simplest ones—swimming, relaxing in the lodge, wandering through the forest, visiting the sweet shop or simply slowing down a little together.
We also learned that preparation really does help. Small things like ear defenders, visual supports, familiar foods, extra swimwear and having downtime options in the evenings made a huge difference for us.
Most importantly though, autism and development can change so quickly.
Activities that might not work one year could become favourites the next. Sometimes it's just about finding the right timing, the right pace and the right environment.
Hopefully, sharing our experience helps another family feel a little more prepared—or a little less nervous—about trying a holiday like this themselves.
Did You Find This Guide Helpful?
If you found this guide helpful, we'd love it if you shared it with another autism family who might be planning a trip to Center Parcs Longford Forest.
You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more autism-friendly travel ideas, honest family reviews and practical tips from our own experiences. 💜
This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we've genuinely used, found helpful or would happily bring again ourselves.