Butlins Packing List (2026) What You Actually Need to Take

Updated April 2026
If you are heading off to Butlins for a holiday or minibreak anytime soon, you might wonder ‘What do I need to take to Butlins?’

What Do I Need To Take To Butlins?

Let’s take a look at everything you might need, whether you’re headed off on an adult only break or spending quality time with your loved ones.

1. Swimwear, Towels & Pool Accessories

There have been at least two occasions in recent years, that despite my many reminders my husband has arrived on holiday without any swimwear.

While this is less of an issue in the summer months, it can be trickier to find swimwear last minute in the middle of winter (as we once found out on a lovely Christmas break to a fancy hotel where my husband ended up not being able to use the spa with me!)

There is the option to buy onsite at Butlins, but styles are limited and can be expensive.

The same goes for other pool accessories such as arm bands, goggles and floatation aids – always buy before you leave home and bring them with you.

We usually pack a couple of swimsuits per person as we like to swim every day and even with the heated towel rails in the apartments it can be tricky to get everything dry.

Do Butlins Provide Towels?

Towels are provided in the accommodation, but these are not intended for use at the pool, so you’ll need to bring extra towels for after swimming.

Beach towels are great for this because they are thin and dry out much quicker.

Swimming Mini Checklist:

Towels
Swimwear
Goggles
Arm Bands
Floats
Swim Caps
£1 Coins for the lockers
Sun cream (if using the outdoor splash zone)

If you enjoy this kind of content, take a look at my UK Holidays & Days Out Hub for more inspiration

2. Small Table Lamp

One of the only negatives we found with our Comfort Apartment during last year’s Butlins stay was that there was no low lighting for the evenings.

While I know most people will be out enjoying the shows and entertainment during the evenings, on our last trip I was pregnant and to be honest, totally knackered by 7 pm from all the things we’d been doing during the day!

I found the bright overhead lights too strong to really relax and watch TV in, so this year we’ll be bringing a small lamp from home.

3. Streaming Devices

The TVs at Butlin’s are pretty basic, so if you think you’ll miss Netflix or want something for the kids to watch during some chill time, you might want to consider bringing a Firestick or other similar streaming device.

The TVs at Butlin’s have USB ports and you can purchase extra WIFI for around £15 depending on the length of your stay.

What Is The WIFI Like At Butlins Minehead?

4. Drinks & Snacks

Even though we had a dining plan when we visited Butlins last year, the main thing we ended up spending money on was snacks and drinks when we were out and about during the day.

The cost of this soon started to add up and while it’s always nice to have treats like an ice cream, this year we’ll definitely be bringing more snacks with us to save money.

If you don’t have room to bring loads of food with you, all three Butlin’s resorts have supermarkets nearby, so you could always pop out to stock up once you’ve unpacked.

5. Buckets & Spades

All three UK Butlins are located at seaside resorts so don’t forget to pack your buckets and spades – even in the winter months!

While they can be purchased onsite they are quite expensive.

6. Weather Appropriate Clothing & Footwear

There is nothing quite like the great British Summer with its three days of sunshine and then four weeks of wind and rain.

Butlin’s Minehead tends to see ever so slightly warmer temperatures being in the South-West but it’s always worth checking the local weather before you leave home.

While Butlins sites aren’t huge you can still end up doing lots of walking so sensible footwear is a must!

Lady with brown hair and glasses wearing a bright yellow raincoat and eating an ice cream — Me in my trusty yellow raincoat on our last Butlins trip!

Personally, I always pack a raincoat and umbrella no matter the time of year as you just never know!

I’ve not included a general list of clothes here as I think most people will have that covered, but here are some extras you might need to pack depending on the weather and the season.

Extras to pack for a Butlins Holiday:

Sun Hats / Caps and Sun cream for summer breaks
Sunglasses
Hat, Scarf and gloves for winter breaks
Wellies, raincoats and Umbrellas for wet weather
Warm PJs, Slippers and Dressing gowns for colder months

5 Suitcase Packing Hacks To Save Space

7. Ear Defenders/Ear Plugs

There are loads of things to see and do at Butlins, and many people choose to holiday there for all the fantastic entertainment on offer.

However, the noise can sometimes be a bit much for little ones, so bringing ear defenders might be a good idea, as they aren’t usually available to purchase on-site.

Ear plugs are also a good idea if you’re a light sleeper as the apartments can sometimes be a little noisy or you may find there is general noise from people arriving back at their accommodation later on in the evening.

8. A Travel Cot

While this won’t apply to everyone, if you’re travelling with a baby or toddler you might want to consider bringing your own travel cot.

Butlin’s does hire out travel cots but you need to add this at the time of booking and of course, it will also depend on availability when you book.

We’ve had bad experiences with travel cots on previous trips (although not specifically at Butlins) so we now always take our own to avoid needing to purchase one last minute – although it does mean one extra thing to try and squeeze into the car!

9. Corkscrew & Bottle Opener

The apartments at Butlins are described as having a well-equipped kitchen, but I’ve found this doesn’t always include a corkscrew or bottle opener.

And while the shop on site does sell them, as many people don’t realise they won’t have one in their accommodation, the shops are often sold out.

So, if you’re planning on a drink or two before heading out for the evening, definitely bring your own corkscrew and bottle opener!

10. Cleaning Supplies

If you read up about the accommodation at Butlin’s before you go, you’ll see that one of the biggest complaints is that the apartments aren’t clean enough on arrival.

I think a few things are going on here.

Firstly, many of the apartments are dated and very well-used, which can lead to them looking a little grubby – I think it’s often wear and tear rather than a lack of cleanliness.

Secondly, the cleaners at Butlins work to a very tight turnaround time and there may be occasions when the odd thing is missed.

Finally, everyone has a different standard of cleanliness they are happy with and while there is no excuse for apartments to be filthy, there are some things that wouldn’t bother me that others might find an issue.

With that in mind, you want to take a few basic cleaning supplies with you on your Butlin’s holiday, especially if you have small children or will be cooking a lot.

Butlin’s supplies each apartment with a jay cloth, tea towel (pictured below) and a very small bottle of washing-up liquid.

Here are some extra cleaning supplies that you might want to take with you to Butlins:

Kitchen Cleaning Spray / Bathroom Cleaning Spray
Anti-bac Spray
Cleaning Cloths
Washing Up Sponge
Washing Up Liquid
Extra Tea Towels
Cleaning Wipes
Hand Soap

If you’re unhappy with the state of your apartment on arrival you can complain to the customer services team to either request a reclean or a different apartment.

I took a few cleaning items with me on our break last year but the apartment was perfectly clean and I didn’t end up needing to use them when we arrived.

11. Airfryer & Slow Cooker

If you’re self-catering then you may want to consider bringing your air fryer or slow cooker with you if you’ve chosen an apartment with cooking facilities.

This will make cooking each evening much easier if you don’t plan on eating out much.

12. Bathroom Essentials

Butlins does provide toilet paper rolls in each apartment, but you may want to bring extra just in case.

Towels are provided in some accommodations but not others – for example, comfort apartments do not have towels, whereas comfort plus apartments do.

Butlin’s doesn’t supply any other bathroom items, so you’ll need to bring your own. I’ve created a handy checklist below.

Toilet Paper
Shower Gel
Shampoo and Conditioner
Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Flannel
Towels (these are provided in some accommodations but not all, so double-check your booking to be sure)
Hand Soap
Razors / Shaving Equipment
Sanitary products

13. Extension Lead & Doorstops

The apartment did have plenty of plug sockets, but if you have a family with tablets, phones, and other devices that need charging, packing an extension lead with four plugs makes this much easier.

The main door in the living room is very heavy, I assume, as it’s a fire door. Keeping this open can be tricky, so I recommend taking a door stop. These are also useful for propping the front door when you’re unloading

14. Kitchen Essentials

I’ve already mentioned that you might want to pack a bottle opener and corkscrew, but there are a few other items you might want to bring from home, especially if you plan to do lots of cooking while you’re there.

What Do I Need To Take To Butlins? Kitchen Essentials

Large Mug (all mugs provided are small, not ideal if you like a large tea or coffee first thing!)
Sharp Knife
Large Saucepan
Non-stick Frying Pan
Tongs
Tin Opener
Baking Tray
Scissors
Kids’ plastic plates and cutlery, if needed
Matches/Lighter (especially if you have a birthday cake planned while away!)

What To Pack For Kids On A Butlins Holiday

I think I’ve covered the majority of what most people will need to take on a Butlins holiday, however, here are a few extras you might need to consider adding to your Butlins packing list if you have kids.

Pram or Buggy plus extras like a sunshade and rain cover
Changing bag if you have a baby + extra nappies and wipes
Kids’ tablets and chargers
A few favourite toys/teddies to play with
Extra Blankets for comfort (we didn’t find the apartment cold but I always pack a few extra blankets just in case)
Water Bottles

All Butlin’s are located in reasonably sized towns, so even if you have forgotten something, it should be pretty easy to head off-site and purchase it if it’s not available on-site.

You could even order items from Amazon and have them delivered to the nearest parcel lockers.

What To Pack For An Adults-Only Butlins Break

If you’re heading on an adults-only Butlin’s break, there are a few extra things you might want to add to your packing list or pick up soon after arriving:

Drinks for the apartment – alcoholic and non alcoholic
Ice – for chilling pre-drinks.
Paper/Plastic Cups for drinking – reduces risk of breaking glasses and easier for clean up.
Corkscrew and Bottle Opener
Extension Lead(s) – plug sockets can be limited in some apartments, consider phone chargers plus hair dryers, curling tongs etc.
Portable Speaker – for playing tunes before heading out.
Drinking games and Playing Cards
Power bank – for charging your phone when out and about
Ibuprofen, Alka seltzer, electrolyte drinks, full fat coke, easy snacks – anything to help with that hangover.
Extra toilet paper.