9 Best Theme Parks in the UK

Holidays are coming – time to check out the best theme parks in the UK!

May Bank Holiday and Spring Bank Holiday are just around the corner, plus the Summer Holiday’s approaching, so it’s time to get planning! If you are looking for things to do with the family without leaving the country, this list of the best rides in the UK may come in handy.

Here are our 9 favourite amusement parks in the UK:

Lightwater Valley (North Yorkshire)

Lightwater Valley is an oldie but goodie. Many of you may remember loving the park as little tots but there’s plenty to make you want to go back as an adult.

In fact, Lightwater Valley is one of the best UK theme parks when it comes to families with children of different ages.

Grown-up thrill seekers will be drawn to The Ultimate – the longest coaster in Europe (1 ½ miles) and the insanely intense pendulum ride Eagle’s Claw. Meanwhile children, as young as 1 can get on the Young Fun rides, bounce on a massive inflatable pillow and get involved in soft play.

Top Tip: The flying displays at the Birds of Prey Centre are absolutely worth seeing regardless of age! Bear in mind, they take place on weekends and school holidays only.

Drayton Manor (Staffordshire)

Over 100 rides & attractions, a 15-acre open-plan zoo, featuring over 100 animals, a dinosaur trail and a crazy golf course – that’s only a fraction of the things you can do at Drayton Manor. This one will keep you busy the whole day!

Going with the children? The real star is Thomas Land – an area dedicated to everyone’s favourite tank engine and his friends.  Rides, shows and even a Thomas museum – you’ll be chew-chewing all the way home!

LEGOLAND Windsor (Berkshire)

LEGOLAND Windsor is perfect for kids aged 3-12…and anybody who loves LEGO, really!

55 rides and attractions, including LEGO driving and boating schools PLUS a LEGO Ninjago Ride which truly puts your karate chops to the test – you are guaranteed a fun & colourful day at LEGOLAND.

Top Tip: Did you know that you can ask any member of staff at the park to trade minifigures with you? As long as your minifigure isn’t missing any parts (head, legs, body, arms and hat/hair intact), they will never say “No” to a swap. It’s super fun – try it!

Alton Towers (Staffordshire)

What makes Alton Towers one of the best theme parks in the UK that there’s always something new and exciting on offer.  This year, the Wicker Man arrived to set the place on fire…literally. It’s the UK’s 1^st new wooden rollercoaster in 20 years, and also – the world’s first rollercoaster that fuses fire and wood!

If you have kids though, the one major attraction to put on your to-do list is Cbeebies Land. This area of the park always goes down a storm with the little ones.

Thorpe Park (Surrey)

If horror is your thing, you are in the right place! Between Darren Brown’s Ghost Train, the SAW coaster and a series of Walking Dead events throughout the year, Thorpe Park offers the best hair-raising, scream-filled experiences for those who have spooky for breakfast.

That’s not to say families with children are not welcome! With 500 acres of land to work with, Thorpe Park has plenty of space designated for family-friendly flumes, slides and tamer rides. There’s even an entire zone designed especially for small children.

Chessington World of Adventures (Greater London)

When it comes to variety on offer, Chessington World of Adventures is at the head of the line! There are 10 lands in the park with over 40 rides to explore. You’ll see everything from pirates to safari animals and adrenaline-pumping rides.

The Chessington Zoo features everything from adorable pandas to Europe’s only overhead tiger trail, while the Sea Life Centre at the Chessington holds the only underwater tunnel in the UK.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Lancashire)

When it comes to unique rides, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has an impressive resume, being home to the UK’s tallest rollercoaster, The Big One, the UK’s first looping coaster, Revolution and Infusion – the UK’s first suspended looping coaster completely over water.

Looking for a great day out with the kids? Well, Nickelodeon World takes up a quarter of the park, so you’ll have Alice, Wallace & Gromit, Dora the Explorer and the Paw Patrol to help you keep the tots entertained.

Diggerland (Devon, Yorkshire, Kent & Durham)

I know, I know – those are 4 parks, not one but all 4 Diggerland locations offer plenty to dig into (sorry…)!

Whichever Diggerland you decide to go to, you are guaranteed to leave muddy and mucky but absolutely over-the-moon! The concept of the park dips into every child’s inexplicable dream of getting into one of these HUGE machines.

From digger-themed rides, such as Spindizzy – a specially modified 360-degree digger, to actually operating a real digger – your inner child (and your actual children too!) will have a blast.

Greenwood Forest Park (North Wales)

We can’t talk about the best theme parks in the UK without mentioning Greenwood Forest Park – the best family attraction in North Wales.

Situated on 17 acres of forest land, Greenwood Forest Park is well-known for being eco-friendly – it features UK’s only solar-powered water ride and offers fair-trade and locally sourced food, rather than the usual fast food options.

If you fancy a fun day out with the family in the lush Welsh nature, this is the place to be!

Looking for more options?

Still unsure what you want to do on your holidays? No worries – we’ve got plenty more theme parks and attractions on offer!