Family fun - Theme parks

Every once in a while you need to bring a touch of magic into your life and nothing brings the family more fun and excitement than a day out at one of England’s ever popular theme parks.

With the variety of parks located up and down the country, you are sure to have an exhilarating time on some of the largest and fastest rides England has to offer. For more information, see www.themeparks-uk.com.

England's Northwest

One of Britain's favourite seaside locations, Blackpool Pleasure Beach (www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com) boasts a ride called The Pepsi Max Big One – said to be the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the world. It also offers over 145 other rides and attractions as well as a number of live acts.

Heart of England

The largest family owned theme park, Drayton Manor (www.draytonmanor.co.uk) has over 100 rides set in 286 acres and features an award-winning zoo. Its signature rides include Shockwave - Europe’s only stand-up rollercoaster, Stormforce10 - Europe’s fastest wet knuckle ride, Maelstrom, Europe’s only gyro swing, and the awesome Apocalypse, the world’s first stand up tower drop! Winner of the Heart of England Tourist Board Visitor Attraction of the Year Award, and Group Leisure Best UK Attraction for Children 2003, 2004 and 2005!

Perhaps the best known of all England's theme parks, Alton Towers (www.alton-towers.co.uk/resort/) is home to two of England’s legendary ‘white-knuckle’ rollercoaster rides. Oblivion, the world-famous vertical drop rollercoaster; and Nemesis, an inverted rollercoaster, takes your breath away as it turns everything upside down. The newly opened Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Ride is a fantastical, multi-sensory indoor ride which takes families on an unforgettable adventure into the heart of the wondrous world of Willy Wonka and his great Chocolate Factory.

Buy Alton Towers Tickets (www.enjoyenglanddirect.com/detail.aspx?ProductCode=TK8)

London

Chessington World of Adventures (www.chessington.co.uk) is the ultimate family theme park, with 90% of rides suitable for children under 12 years old. The park is a great family day out, with a good mix of teen, kids and adult rides. Chessington is home to no less than five white-knuckle rides including Rameses Revenge. There is also a zoo where you can see many endangered species as well as enjoying three animal shows - sea lions, penguins and birds in flight.

Buy Chessington World of Adventures Tickets (www.enjoyenglanddirect.com/detail.aspx?ID=21)

South East England

Legoland (www.legoland.co.uk/) is a family theme park dedicated to imagination and creativity. The park opened in 1996 and features over 53 million LEGO bricks. Here, you can learn to drive a Lego car, pan for pirate gold, ride a dragon or brave pirate falls. You can even star in your own show! There's truly something for all the family.

Thorpe Park (www.thorpepark.com/) features some of the newest rides in England, such as Colossus, Nemesis Inferno, Slammer and Rush. It also has Europe's highest water ride, Tidal Wave. Hard-core adrenalin junkies will love Thorpe Park for the ultimate extreme ride experience. Completing the ‘unholy trinity’ is the park’s new knee weakening 205-foot high rollercoaster, Stealth - Europe’s fastest, with a super acceleration of 0-80mph in 2.3 seconds - the fourth steepest drop in the world.

Buy Legoland Tickets

(www.ticketswitch.com/cgi-bin/search.buy/enjoyengland?crypto_block=k---vzimQKYc80ni1Kj8OmCv4oaE87MiOrmDdhnS7Ey0UlF-tUIW_zlmu1w246jXGNFDY)Buy Thorpe Park Tickets (www.enjoyenglanddirect.com/detail.aspx?ID=132)

Yorkshire

Flamingo Land (www.flamingoland.co.uk/) has Europe's only triple looping rollercoaster, The Bullet, and an exciting Top Gun ride which gives the same fast-flying sensation as seen in the popular film. The park, which attracts over 1.4 million visitors a year, even has a holiday village with caravans and camping.

One of the UK’s leading theme parks, packed with over 40 rides and attractions, Lightwater Valley (www.lightwatervalley.co.uk/) also has The Ultimate, the world's longest roller coaster (7,450 feet)! With over 30,000 sq ft of factory shopping and the amazing Bird of Prey Centre, all set in 175 acres of stunning countryside, it has everything you need for the ultimate family day out.