Okay, I’m not afraid to admit that I may be growing a little old in the tooth, but I’m certainly not over the hill just yet. I’m also certainly not ready to resign myself to spending all of my free time sat in the garden, reading copies of ‘Top Gear’ in my slippers and sipping on a cup of black tea with a dash of milk.
I like a fun and exciting day out as much as the next person, although I’m not ashamed to admit that until recently I was afraid of roller coasters. You see, I am afraid of heights and roller coasters tend to climb quite high.
One thing I look forward to, after the baptism of fire I had in Singapore’s Universal Studios, is to visit another Theme Park.
Whilst here in the UK, the number of theme parks isn’t anywhere near to, say, Florida, we do still have some pretty awesome theme parks that adrenaline junkies will appreciate greatly.
Here are se7en of the most exciting theme parks in the UK.
Gulliver’s Kingdom
Gulliver’s Kingdom is found in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, in the picturesque Peak District, and it has been a firm favourite for families with children for a number of decades now.
From gaining entry and ascending your way up the park via the chairlift to the amazing theming of the park, this is a theme park ideal for families with young children not quite big enough or brave enough to face some of the UK’s bigger coasters.
The park, as you can tell from the name, has a Gulliver’s Travels theme, with top attractions including the log flume, and the Silver Mine Ride.
Legoland
Next up I have Legoland, Windsor.
Legoland is a theme park based upon, you guessed it, Lego.
Now, if you want a theme park that delivers thrills and scares the likes of which would put Orlando’s theme parks to shame, Legoland is not for you.
Legoland is very much a family-orientated theme park, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable.
It is an entry-level theme park for families that does exactly what it says on the tin.
Legoland, owned by Merlin Entertainments, has some of the best Lego theming you could wish for, along with fantastic attractions including Lego Nexo Knights.
Star Wars fans will also be incredibly impressed with the 500,000-piece Lego Death Star, as well as miniature models of famous landmarks from around the globe.
Thorpe Park
At last, we get to some adrenaline-fuelled and exciting rides that thrill-seekers can’t get enough of.
Yes, it’s Thorpe Park.
Thorpe Park, located in Surrey, has five of the UK’s biggest rollercoasters, including Nemesis Inferno, Colossus, Stealth, The Swarm, and Saw – The Ride.
If you visit Thorpe Park on a hot sunny day, or if you’re just brave enough to face a little, okay, a lot of water, then you can also brave the immensely popular Tidal Wave. The best way to describe Tidal Wave is like the biggest and wettest log flume that you can think of but on anabolic steroids.
Thorpe Park also has plenty of attractions for kids and visitors looking for a more relaxed and chilled out atmosphere, so don’t worry about that.
Flamingo Land
Now we’re heading way up North from Surrey to the beautiful North York moors outskirts of Malton, North Yorkshire, to Flamingo Land.
Flamingo Land is not as well known or as established as some of the other parks I’ll be listing today, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive.
Flamingo Land is the UK’s only combined holiday resort, theme park, and zoo, all rolled into one.
Rides include Velocity, Mumbo Jumbo, and Kumali, as well as many others.
The zoo itself is equally as impressive, as it is home to lions, tigers, monkeys, and of course, Flamingos.
Drayton Manor
Drayton Manor is located in Staffordshire, and whilst it isn’t as well known as another Staffordshire-based theme park I’ll be looking at shortly, it is still very popular.
Drayton Manor also features a zoo, as well as numerous rides, a crazy golf course, and a dinosaur park (Not actual Dinosaurs, have you seen Jurassic Park?!).
Best of all is that it is home to Thomas Land, an area featuring 25 different rides and attractions based on Thomas the Tank Engine.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
If you like to be beside the seaside, a visit to Blackpool simply wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach included heaps upon heaps of rides, including The Big One, which is Europe’s tallest rollercoaster, that reaches speeds close to 90mph.
There’s also the Big Dipper, as well as amusement arcades and children’s attractions featuring all of your favourite cartoon characters, including Sponge Bob Square Pants.
Alton Towers
Last, but certainly not least, I present you with Alton Towers, Staffordshire.
Many consider Alton Towers to be the UK’s biggest and best theme park, and they may be right.
Alton Towers is home to numerous rides and attractions, including Wicker man – a wooden coaster, which theme park enthusiasts from all over the globe come to ride every single season.
As well as chilled rides such as the Congo River Rapids, Hex, Spinball Whizzer, and Duel – A haunted house with a difference, there are rides that thrill-seekers can’t get enough of.
Adrenaline-fuelled rides at Alton Towers include Rita, Thirteen, Wicker Man, The Smiler, and Galactica.
The two scariest and most exciting rides, though, include Oblivion, which was the world’s first vertical drop rollercoaster, and Nemesis.
Nemesis, in fact, is considered by many coaster enthusiasts to be one of the best coasters in the world, and it has won numerous awards over the years, despite being nearly 26 years old.
Nemesis was the first inverted coaster in Europe when it opened in 1994, and to this day, as soon as you get a glimpse of that red waterfall as you queue to get on, you know you’re in for something very special.
I don’t know about you but seeing all these POV videos of awesome roller-coasters makes me want to jump on a plane right now. I can’t wait for the Theme Parks to open!
Until that happens, stay safe, stay curious and don’t stop wandering!
Photo source here
