The UK offers visitors to these shores a wide range of theme parks, some based close to a historic house, some that have grown from their seaside fun fair origins. Whether you are planning to tour the UK, or to base yourself in one area, then a visit to a theme park is likely to be on the agenda for any family with young children.
Varying trips to historic sites or museums with the pure adrenaline rush of one of the latest rides for sheer fun makes for a memorable holiday for the whole family. Some of the parks are located in the city, Thorpe Park in London, or the Pleasure Beach in central Blackpool. However the majority are out of town with limited public transport, so you might be best to hire a car for the day. To help you plan, here is a guide to the top ten theme parks in the UK:
1. Thorpe Park – Three of the UK’s most visited theme parks are based close to London. Thorpe Park is one of the most popular, and is largely aimed at the teen and young adult market, with a number of hair-raising rides and thrills for the more adventurous. Amongst the experiences that will get your heart beating faster is The Swarm, a new roller-coaster ride introduced for 2012, which reaches speeds of almost 90 kph, and a drop of 127 feet.
2. Chessington Park – Chessington Park is perfect for younger children, with a zoo and sealife centre as well as themed rides that the whole family will enjoy. The zoo is designed with different environments for its resident animals, including a jungle area, and a Penguin Cove where you can see not only penguins enjoying their underwater swims, but also a cheeky group of otters, and the Creepy Caves where kids can shudder at snakes and bird-eating spiders.
3. Legoland – A visit to Legoland is a day out that kids will adore, and be fascinated by the scenes created entirely with Lego bricks, and have a ball driving their own interactive vehicle in the traffic area. Given the burgeoning adult craze for collecting Lego figures, many dads will also be entranced with the creativity of the designs, and try keeping them off the full-sized diggers that can be found in Legoland’s construction school!
4. Paultons Family Theme Park – Paultons Family Theme Park , on the outskirts of the New Forest National Park in southern England, will delight the youngsters of the family with its Peppa Pig World, offering fun rides suitable for the under-fives, and gentle boat trips and “balloon” rides that parents can relax on whilst the kids enjoy themselves. There are also the ever-popular dinosaurs to be over-awed by, museums to visit, play areas and animated shows.
5. Lightwater Valley – Further north, Lightwater Valley in Yorkshire boasts the longest roller-coaster in Europe, The Ultimate, which plunges through forests and over hills to give a seven-minute breathtaking ride. A Pirates of the Caribbean themed adventure on The Black Pearl swings you high over the ground, to turn a full 360 degrees for a fully scream-worthy experience
6. Flamingo Land Resort – Flamingo Land Resort is set in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, and as the names suggests, has as a central feature its zoo and impressive display of pink flamingos. There are a wide range of rides for every age group, from carousels for the younger kids to extreme rides for teens and adults. The zoo offers animal handling experiences, and (if you are looking for a career for your offspring!) talks on how to become a zoo-keeper.
7. Blackpool Pleasure Beach – Blackpool Pleasure Beach is one of the long-time favourites for many in the north-west of the country, and still retains its flavor of a traditional seaside funfair. It has more than 125 rides, which include the Pepsi Max roller-coaster and the classic old-style wooden Grand National, named after the famous race. A six-acre area of the Pleasure Beach has been transformed into Nickelodeon Land, with rides and a log flume adventure, and lots of play activities for the younger kids in the family.
8. Oakwood Theme Park – In Wales, smaller than some of the better-known parks, but with lots of attractions, Oakwood Theme Park is surrounded by the glorious countryside of Pembrokeshire. One of the main rides is the wooden roller coaster Megafobia, which offers one of the longest rides in the UK. And for a real thrill, the water ride which will plummet you 120 feet into the wet stuff, takes a lot of beating
9. Alton Towers – Alton Towers, in the Midlands and near the Peak District National Park, has for some years been a star attraction amongst theme parks. As a backdrop to the rides, the 19th Century Gothic mansion and formal gardens are dramatically lit at night, and the park itself has eleven themed areas. The extreme rides include Nemesis, the first inverted roller-coaster in Europe, and as the name would imply, not for the faint-hearted! Roald Dahl fans will enjoy the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ride while for the youngest kids the inflatable Wobble World will provide hours of hilarity and fun.
10. Drayton Manor – Drayton Manor is close to Alton Towers, and if you are staying in the area, you might want to enjoy the attractions that both offer. The lakes and parkland of Drayton Manor provide an attractive setting for their rides, which include Stormface, a dramatic water ride. Thomas the Tank Engine sets the theme for Thomas Land, with attractions designed for younger children.
2 Responses
I visited the Thorpe Park when I was in London. It was an awesome experience. Their rides always make me feel like a teenager screaming and cheering. I did try The Swarm, though I must admit I did feel a bit giddy and did not go for a second try.
I didn’t visit any of them because I had never a chance to visit the UK, but whenever I got a chance to visit, I would surely go there.