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Top 10 theme parks and attractions
UK days out, family days out, fun days out for kids, day trips, adventure days out, british theme parks
Colossus at Thorpe Park
Billed as 'England’s thrill capital, Thorpe Park is the perfect place to head for an adrenaline-fuelled day out in South East England. Thorpe Park is the ideal choice for groups of tweens, teens and young adults as rides are less geared towards young children.
Unofficial tip: Apple iPhone and iPad users can download an official Thorpe Park app, which shows the park map and current waiting times at all of the attractions.
www.thorpepark.com
Colossus at Thorpe Park. Photo: Thorpe Park -
Top 10 theme parks and attractions
UK days out, family days out, fun days out for kids, day trips, adventure days out, british theme parks
Supermarine Spitfire at Imperial War Museum Duxford
You might think Heathrow is the centre of all aviation in Britain, but it’s really nothing compared to Duxford, where you can step aboard a Concorde, gasp at a B-52 Stratofortress with a wingspan of 185ft or even go flight-seeing in a pre-World War II bomber! Duxford also has a working runway and hosts four air shows a year when crowds are huge and admission is more expensive. However, it’s thrilling to watch the spectacle of roaring jets and aerobatic feats!
Unofficial tip: Duxford is a good choice for rainy days, but do bring an umbrella for those hikes between buildings.
www.duxford.iwm.org.uk
Supermarine Spitfire at Imperial War Museum Duxford. Photo: Imperial War Museum Duxford -
Top 10 theme parks and attractions
UK days out, family days out, fun days out for kids, day trips, adventure days out, british theme parks
California sea lion at Blackpool Zoo
Blackpool Zoo makes a great day out for all the family and is definitely worth a visit, especially if you haven’t been since the 1990’s as the Zoo has seen more than £10 million invested in it since 2003. The investment has meant that key attractions like the sea-lion pool have been rebuilt, making it a thoroughly pleasant place to spend the day.
Unofficial tip: Unless you are with a young Dino-lover, the Dinosaur Safari could be missed off your list. Instead, try to catch as many feedings and talks as possible.
http://www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk/
California sea lion at Blackpool Zoo. Photo: Blackpool Zoo -
Top 10 theme parks and attractions
UK days out, family days out, fun days out for kids, day trips, adventure days out, british theme parks
Miniland at Legoland Windsor
The perfect choice for families with pre-school or primary school children, Legoland Windsor offers mild coasters and no scary attractions. One of the highlights at Legoland is Miniland, a whole miniature world build of Lego blocks where you’ll find everything from a replica of Big Ben to a space shuttle on its launch pad. Legoland Windsor is open between April and November.
Unofficial tip: Head to Miniland either on your way out of the park or during a post-dinner stroll to avoid the crowds and get the best views.
www.legoland.co.uk
Miniland. Photo: © Stefan Zwanzger www.thethemeparkguy.com -
Top 10 theme parks and attractions
UK days out, family days out, fun days out for kids, day trips, adventure days out, british theme parks
Fire breathing at Warwick Castle
Atop a hill overlooking the River Aron, Warwick Castle sits awaiting visitors and bursting with history and activity. Dating back to the Norman Conquest, Warwick Castle has many activities and sights to see, such as the Sword and the Stone story performance and Knight School, which offers lessons in sword fighting! Warwick Castle has something for the whole family as it combines England’s beautiful heritage with fun filled activities and performances.
Unofficial tip: Warwick Castle has a lot to offer. Allocate 4-6 hours for a comprehensive visit and plan time around the entertainment schedule. Take time to walk around The Mound, the oldest part of the castle.
www.warwick-castle.com
Fire breathing at Warwick Castle. Photo: Warwick Castle -
Top 10 theme parks and attractions
UK days out, family days out, fun days out for kids, day trips, adventure days out, british theme parks
Baboons on a car at Knowsley Safari Park
Experience a safari without the flights and see everything from an alpaca to a roaring lion. Established in 1495, Knowsley Safari Park has animals from every corner of the globe. Not only can you drive through the vast park, there are also amusement rides, shows and many houses for bugs, birds and even sea-lions. If visitors seek even more action there is Aerial Extreme, an elaborate and challenging adventure course including zip lines and other aerial obstacles.
Unofficial tip: We recommend touring the pedestrian section of the park and seeing the sea-lion and birds of prey shows before tackling the driving safari. Best time to avoid congestion is Sunday afternoon.
www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk
. Photo: Knowsley Safari Park -
Top 10 theme parks and attractions
UK days out, family days out, fun days out for kids, day trips, adventure days out, british theme parks
Swinger ride at Chessington World of Adventures
A great day out for families with both young children and tweens, Chessington offers an ideal mix of themed attractions and gentle roller coasters but there are also some thrills for those seeking a bit more of an adrenaline adventure.
Unofficial tip: Market Square Pizza Pasta is one of the best value options for dining at the park – head here for an all-you-can-eat style buffet of pizza, pasta and salad.
www.chessington.com
Monkey Swinger at Chessington World of Adventures. Photo: Chessington World of Adventures -
Top 10 theme parks and attractions
UK days out, family days out, fun days out for kids, day trips, adventure days out, british theme parks
Children looking at a Green Sawfish
The best aquarium in Britain makes quite an impression before you even step inside. The Deep calls itself a ‘submarium’, a made-up name to convoy that you’ll be gazing upon sea life living far under water. The Deep, designed by Sir Terry Farrell, opened in 2002 and instantly became one of East-Yorkshire’s top attractions and even featured on a Royal Mail Stamp. With fish ranging from Sharks to the Picasso’s Triggerfish and even a touch- pool for kids, this aquarium will keep the whole family happy.
Unofficial tip: When you enter, check for feeding times and talks. The Dive Presentation, at 2pm daily, is particularly engaging, letting you watch the dive team prepare their tank visit. Arrive as early as possible, and try to avoid school holidays, often Sunday mornings are particularly quiet. Or, if you’re looking for an engaging evening, try the ‘dining with sharks’ programme at the aquariums Two Rivers Restaurant from 7pm.
www.thedeep.co.uk
Green sawfish at The Deep. Photo: The Deep -
Top 10 theme parks and attractions
UK days out, family days out, fun days out for kids, day trips, adventure days out, british theme parks
HMS Victory at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
If Alton Towers is England’s epicentre of roller coasters, then Portsmouth is its theme park of naval history. Here you’ll find the country’s most important ship, Admiral Lord Nelson’s HMS Victory, along with other nautical monuments. A trip to the dockyard is one of the highlights of English tourism and you can easily spend a day here.
Unofficial tip: To avoid long queues, buy your ticket ahead of time and arrive when the attraction opens, or late in the day.
www.hms-victory.com
HMS Victory at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Photo: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard -
Top 10 theme parks and attractions
UK days out, family days out, fun days out for kids, day trips, adventure days out, british theme parks
Congo River Rapids at Alton Towers
The most 'Disney-like' of the UK’s theme parks, magical Alton Towers is made up of various 'lands', differentiated by elaborate sets and landscaping inspired by stories or themes that really do work to enhance the overall experience. The Congo River Rapids make a nice ride for all the family and a relaxing change from some of the superfast roller coasters like Air, Nemesis and the new headliner THI3TEEN.
Unofficial tip: Whilst it is possible to visit the key attractions at Alton Towers in just one day, we recommend staying overnight and spending two days at the park for a more relaxed visit. Save your pennies and bypass the in-park hotels by staying in nearby Stoke on Trent.
www.altontowers.com
Congo River Rapids at Alton Towers. Photo: Alton Towers
Top 10 theme parks and attractions
Be inspired by our guide to the best, from 'The Unofficial Guide to Britain’s Best Days Out: Theme Parks and Attractions' (Frommer’s 2011)
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