The Travelling Wee

We visited Butlins Bognor Regis for the first time during February Half Term 2026 with our two children aged 9 and 13. We stayed at the Wave Hotel and filled our days with shows, activities and plenty of learning moments. If you are planning your first Butlins break, this guide shares what worked for us. It also tells you what did not work and what we wish we had known before arriving.

Getting to Bognor Regis as a Family

Bognor Regis is one of the easier Butlins locations to reach from London and the South East. Driving is straightforward and parking is available on site. Families arriving by train can walk from Bognor Regis Station in around twenty minutes or take a short taxi ride. With older children the walk is manageable but with younger ones and luggage a taxi is the easier choice.

Staying at the Wave Hotel

We chose the Wave Hotel because it offers family friendly rooms with a separate bunk bed room for children. Our two loved having their own space and would run straight in and close the door every time we returned.

Room experience

• Suitable for a family of four
• Kids room with bunk beds that was a big hit
• Hotel and corridors felt slightly dated
• Corridors made loud creaking sounds when people walked past
• Amenities were very basic
• Tea and coffee, one bar of hand soap, toilet roll and towels provided
• No daily housekeeping
• Housekeeping only on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday
• Towels only changed on Sunday and Wednesday

Families used to hotel style daily refreshes should adjust expectations. Bringing extra toiletries and spare towels is helpful.

Early check in

We paid for 1pm early check in and it made a noticeable difference. Our room was ready when we arrived. This meant we start exploring right away. We didn’t have to wait around with everyone else.

Dining at Ocean Drive Restaurant

We booked the Food Court Dining plan which included breakfast and dinner at Ocean Drive Restaurant.

What breakfast and dinner were like

• Very busy during peak times
• Long queues
• Cutlery often ran out
• Food was not always replenished quickly

It was not the most relaxing dining experience but it was convenient. Our family can take a long time deciding where to eat so having meals sorted helped with budgeting and reduced stress.

Best times to eat

Breakfast runs from 8am to 10.30am and finishes at 10am on departure day. After 9am was much quieter for us.

Dinner runs from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. The busiest time was 5pm to 6pm when families tried to eat before entertainment. After 6pm was usually calmer although 6pm can still be busy if an early show had just finished.

Activities We Tried

All Action Pass

We bought the All Action Pass which gives five vouchers that can be used on Adventure Golf, Bowling, American Pool, Go Karts or Bungee Trampolines. You can use them across different activities or all on one.

We used ours for Bowling, Adventure Golf and Go Karts.

A useful discovery was that the vouchers can also be used for TechPutt. We asked staff at PlayXperience where TechPutt is located but they only pointed us to the outdoor Adventure Golf. If we had known earlier we would have chosen TechPutt instead.

Glow Pong

A paid activity that was surprisingly fun and a hit with the kids.

Splash Waterpark

The Splash Waterpark was one of the children’s favourite parts of the trip.

What to expect

• Some slides were not working
• Very limited hot showers
• You need a one pound coin for lockers
• Bring your own towels because the hotel does not replace them daily
• No booking required but queues can be long

The app suggested going after 2pm for a quieter experience but that was not true for us. We still queued for around thirty minutes to get in. Once inside you can stay as long as you like.

There was supposed to be a late night swim during our stay but it was cancelled due to weather.

Fairground and Entertainment

Fairground

Most rides are included. Go Karts are the exception and cost seven pounds per kart unless you use an All Action Pass voucher. The ride lasts around three minutes.

Evening shows

Shows are included but many need pre booking. There are usually two showtimes each evening and they fill up quickly. We missed one show entirely because both times were fully booked by the time we tried.

During our visit we saw The Masked Singer Live and were surprised to see actual celebrity performers.

Daytime activities

There are many daytime activities but most come with an extra cost. Our children tried archery and enjoyed it although the price felt high for the short session and number of participants.

Arcade

The arcade was a huge hit especially the two pence machines. It is worth budgeting for this because it adds up quickly.

Toddler activities

There are many options for toddlers and younger children. Since ours are 9 and 13, we did not explore these.

Practical Tips for First Time Visitors

• Book activities as early as possible because popular ones fill up quickly
• Buy tokens before arriving because they are cheaper and allow pre booking in the app
• Bring extra towels because the hotel does not replace them daily
• Pack toiletries because amenities are minimal
• Avoid peak dining times to reduce stress
• Expect queues at the waterpark
• Double check information with staff because answers can vary
• Budget for the arcade
• Check weather because outdoor activities and late swims will be cancelled

Pros and Cons of Butlins Bognor Regis

Pros

• Kids loved the bunk bed room
• Plenty of activities for all ages
• Evening entertainment was genuinely enjoyable
• Splash Waterpark was a highlight
• Dining plan made budgeting easier
• Fairground rides included
• Early check in was helpful

Cons

• Hotel felt dated
• No daily housekeeping
• Dining area often chaotic
• Long queues for activities
• Some slides closed at the waterpark
• Many activities cost extra
• Booking system can feel stressful
• Staff information not always consistent

FAQs About Butlins Bognor Regis for Families

Is the Wave Hotel good for families?

Yes. The separate kids bunk room is ideal for families and gives children their own space. Just expect basic amenities and limited housekeeping.

Do you need the dining plan?

Not essential. It is helpful if your family takes a long time to choose food or if you want simple budgeting. Some restaurants in the resort offer Kids Eat for £1 deals. Others have kids meals for about £7. Eating out can be good value if you prefer more choice than the buffet.

Is the All Action Pass worth it?

Yes if your children enjoy the included activities. It is especially good value if you use it for TechPutt.

Do you need to book activities in advance?

Absolutely. Shows, escape rooms and popular sessions fill up quickly.

Is the waterpark included?

Yes. You do not need to book but be prepared for queues during peak times.

Is Butlins good for older kids?

Yes. Our 9 and 13 year olds loved the waterpark, arcade, archery and evening shows.

Conclusion

We had a great time at Butlins Bognor Regis. Our children loved the activities, the waterpark and the evening shows. As first timers we missed a few things because we did not know how everything worked. Now that we understand it better, we would go back with a clearer plan and enjoy the trip even more.