Some common things to do during a vacation are to visit landmarks and museums, take a nature walk, or relax on a beach. Why not mix up your vacation a bit by planning an exciting day at a theme park? The United Kingdom is full of great theme parks in every region of the country. Whether you are traveling with other adults or with children, or prefer thrilling rides or low-key attractions, many theme parks in the UK are suitable for every kind of visitor. Many of them even include the bonus attraction of an attached zoo, adding another layerl of fun to your visit! For added convenience, many parks have accommodation on site, making it easy to plan a visit specifically to the parks. If you want to give your kids a trip they’ll never forget, or just want to relive your childhood yourself, read on for the ten best theme parks and amusement parks in the United Kingdom.
1. Flamingo Land
Flamingo Land is part-theme park, part-zoo, and part-resort accommodation! The park consists of eight themed areas where you can find rides, food, performances, and more. Rides range from gentle ones for kids, to moderate rides that will please everyone, to thrill rides for the adventurous! The other major attraction of Flamingo Land is the zoo; the park is named for the flamingos who were among the first to be housed on the property. Now there are 129 species of animals, including reptiles, mammals, farm animals, and more.
Flamingo Land
Address: Kirby Misperton, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 6UX
Website: Flamingo Land
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm
Price: 46 USD
2. Alton Towers
Alton Towers is the UK’s biggest theme park and is just as exciting for children as it is for adults visiting on their own. It has dozens of rides ranging from traditional roller coasters and carousels, to next-level rides like Galactica, where you speed along a roller coaster while wearing a virtual reality headset! Alton Towers also has great attractions for kids, like those in CBeebies Land, where children can see their favorite characters from BBC shows. In addition to the theme park, Alton Towers boasts a seasonal water park and extraordinary golf course, where you can putt through nine-hole courses themed around the Alton Towers rides and attractions.
Alton Towers
Address: Alton, Staffordshire, ST10 4DB
Website: Alton Towers
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm
Price: 43 USD
3. Drayton Manor Theme Park
With over 100 rides and attractions and a large zoo, there is plenty to do at Drayton Manor Theme Park. What sets it apart is Thomas Land, a 6,000 square meter section of the park dedicated to every child’s favorite train character! Thomas Land has lots of rides featuring the all of the characters from the cartoon series. There are also lots of other rides to explore, including a pirate ship, roller coasters, and a haunted house. Attractions at Drayton Manor are fun for everyone too: try your hand at the penny slots and arcade games or scale the heights at the high ropes course!
Drayton Manor Theme Park
Address: Drayton Manor Drive Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3TW
Website: Drayton Manor Theme Park
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm
Price: 36 USD
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4. Fantasy Island
Located on the east coast of the UK in Lincolnshire, Fantasy Island is the perfect day trip during your seaside vacation. The park has dozens of rides with something for everyone, thrill-seekers and first-time riders alike! Choose to buy a ride-all-day wristband so you can take as many rides as you desire or pay as you go throughout your visit. Fantasy Island is also home to Europe’s largest seven-day market at Market Town. Visit the many shops and vendors selling everything from clothes and accessories to home goods to food and sweets!
Fantasy Island
Address: Fantasy Island, Sea Lane, Ingoldmells, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 1RH
Website: Fantasy Island
Opening hours: 11am - 7pm
Price: 29 USD
5. Gulliver's Kingdom
The rides and attractions at Gulliver’s in Matlock Bath are aimed for children aged 2 to 13, but parents and older children will still get a thrill out of them too. The pirate ship ride, double-decker carousel, and monorail are just a few of the great rides at Gulliver’s Kingdom. The theme park sits on a high hillside, which will give you sweeping views of the countryside. Besides rides, there are lots of attractions like panning for gold, playing giant chess, or interacting with the 13 animatronic dinosaurs in the Lost Kingdom at Dinosaur Kingdom.
Gulliver's Kingdom Matlock Bath
Address: Temple Walk, Matlock Bath DE4 3PG, UK
Website: Gulliver’s Kingdom Matlock Bath
Opening hours: 10:30am - 5pm
Price: 20 USD
6. Thorpe Park
If you want to check out some of England’s most thrilling rides, go to Thorpe Park! This park is home to the country’s fastest coaster, Stealth, which launches riders to speeds of 80 miles per hour (128 km per hour) in just 2.5 seconds! Other unique rides include: the Swarm, the UK’s only winged roller coaster; Saw, the world’s first horror-themed ride; and a Walking Dead-themed ride where you have to outpace zombies. Not everything at Thorpe park is scary though; children will love the classic teacup ride, Angry Birds themed bumper cards, and swinging ship ride!
Thorpe Park
Address: Staines Rd, Chertsey KT16 8PN, United Kingdom
Website: Thorpe Park
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm
Price: 43 USD
7. Oakwood Theme Park
If your trip to the UK has you in Wales, add a trip to Wales’ largest theme park to your itinerary! Oakwood Theme Park is home to dozens of rides and attractions. For wooden roller coaster enthusiasts, hop on the Megafobia, which has been voted the UK’s favorite wooden roller coaster multiple times. Another thrill is Vertigo, the UK’s tallest sky swing. There are lots of family friendly rides for those who don’t need an adrenaline rush, like a fun 3D haunted house, a bobsleigh ride, or paddle boats in the lake surrounding the park.
Oakwood Theme Park
Address: Canaston Bridge, Narberth SA67 8DE, UK
Website: Oakwood Theme Park
Opening hours: 10am - 4:30pm
Price: 40 USD
8. Legoland Windsor
Legos are an important part of any childhood and Legoland brings these wonderful toys to life with games and interactive experiences! Legoland Windsor has more than ten theme lands in the park which make you feel like you’re in different Lego creations. Themes include pharaohs, Vikings, pirates, and the popular Lego Ninjago movie. They have colorful and exciting rides and opportunities for kids to flex their creativity and build their own Lego creations!
Legoland Windsor Resort
Address: Winkfield Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 4AY
Website: Legoland Windsor
Opening hours: varies
Price: 38 USD
9. Knowsley Safari Park
Knowsley Safari Park is the only park on this list centered around wildlife! Knowsley has hundreds of animals from around the globe. You can see them on foot, like on the Amur Tiger Trail, where you can walk around a tiger habitat and see them from different viewpoints. Or, hop on the Babboon Bus, which takes you on the safari loop and gets up close and personal to lots of wildlife. You can even drive the safari loop in your car and see everything from lions to zebras, who might come right up to your vehicle!
Knowsley Safari Park
Address: Prescot L34 4AN, UK
Website: Knowsley Safari Park
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm
Price: 23 USD
10. Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington Theme Park’s 40 rides and attractions, zoo, and Sea Life Center make it Britain’s wildest adventure. The park is divided into 10 themed sections, all of which will make you and your family feel like explorers of the wilderness. Rides range from thrilling coasters to low-key rides that everyone in the family can enjoy. For animal lovers, be sure to check out the zoo, which has over 1,000 exotic animals! You can see penguins, lions, and more in enclosures that mimic their natural habitats. There are also interactive attractions like the sea lion show and the children’s petting zoo. If you prefer animals that live in the sea, Chessington also has an aquarium!
Chessington World of Adventures
Address: Leatherhead Rd, Chessington KT9 2NE, UK
Website: Chessington World of Adventures
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm
Price: 38 USD
The most fun you'll have in the United Kingdom
Some people may think that to get the true theme park experience, you must go to Disney World or Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The picks on this list prove that is simply not true! Theme parks in the UK rival the most famous parks in the world by offering diverse and exciting rides and entertainment. Whether the UK is your vacation destination, or you’re looking for a fun weekend getaway, any one of the parks on this list would be a great pick for your next theme park adventure!
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