Center Parcs has announced all its UK villages, including Whinfell Forest in Cumbria, will reopen from July 13.

The announcement comes after all five villages closed their doors on March 20 in response to the global coronavirus pandemic.

In line with government guidance, there will be social distancing and new safety measures in place to protect the families who visit each week and the company’s 8,500 employees.

Center Parcs’ CEO, Martin Dalby, said: “Although it was disappointing to have to close our villages, it was the right thing to do to keep our guests and staff safe. The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant effect on the whole country and we always said we would only reopen once we were 100 per cent satisfied it was safe to do so.

“We’ve had our teams working around the clock to review everything we do, right down to the smallest detail, and we‘re now ready to open our doors again. Those families who have visited us before will notice some changes to the way we’re doing things, but the essence of a Center Parcs break will remain the same, offering a fantastic short break experience with plenty of space.”