The 10 best theme parks in the UK

Best for: seeing the best rides in the UK

Everyone from thrill-seekers to young families and mini golfers has to go to Alton Towers at least once. Based in Staffordshire, it’s the mother of all theme parks – and the biggest in the UK. 

👀 Our take: ‘The iconic Nemesis has just re-opened for 2024 as Nemesis Reborn, and the Smiler, the world’s first 14-loop rollercoaster, is one of my favourite coasters on earth. If you dare, brave the almost vertical 180-foot drop on Oblivion (I always have to go on this one first to get it over with) and head underground with The Alton Towers Dungeon. Want a break from thrills? I like taking a walk through the extensive gardens for half an hour to catch my breath.’

🤫 Insider tip: Alton Towers is huge, so if you get there in the morning head to the other end of the park for Rita, TH13TEEN and Galactica before everyone else!

Price: Online day passes start from £29, kids under 90 centimetres go free and students can bag £20 tickets. 

Get there: Two hour train from London St Pancras or Euston, plus a short bus ride directly to the park from Uttoxeter station. 

Best for: A day out with the kids that you’ll actually enjoy

Located in Kingston upon Thames just outside London, I always find Chessington to be great fun. A kid-friendly vibe, it’s aimed at families more than Alton Towers and Thorpe Park – with Chessington Zoo and Sea Life centre, as well as the World of Jumanji, it’s perfect for a day out in the school holidays. 

👀 Our take: ‘If I’m after some thrills, I head to the iconic Vampire rollercoaster, while you can’t miss the world’s only Jumanji-themed coaster, Mandrill Mayhem, the 25m plummet of Croc Drop, and the dizzy excitement of Kobra. Fancy a sit down? Head to Zufari: Ride Into Africa.

Anything else I should know? If one day isn’t enough, you can stay in the on-site hotel or go for the Explorer Glamping experience. 

Price: Online from £34 and children under 90 centimetres go free. 

Get there: An hour and a half drive from central London or hop on a train (with two changes) from Blackfriars. 

Best for: Daring adults with a need for speed

Located in North Yorkshire, Flamingo Land is one of the best theme parks in the north. Sik, with 10 inversions, arrived in 2022 while Mumbo Jumbo has a a 112-degree vertical drop – and then there’s Velocity, the UK’s only motorbike launch coaster, and the looping suspended coaster Kumali.

🤫 Insider tip: ‘If you’d like a break from thrills, you can get up, close and personal with lemurs, meerkats, penguins and giraffes at the zoo, or come along to the Sea Lion Show. This family-friendly theme park also has the Peter Rabbit Adventure, as well as a whole host of family rides – like the spinning Twistosaurus. And if you’re staying in one of Flaming Land’s holiday homes, you have access to The Splash Zone too.’

Anything else I should know? There’s a virtual queuing system and full accessibility guide available to download from the website. 

Price: Early bird tickets cost £29 and you can get a free return visit.  

Get there: Get a 40-minute train from Waterloo to Staines followed by a short bus ride to the park. 

Best for: An unforgettable experience for kids

Legoland Windsor Resort has surprises around every corner, with 11 lands to explore and an overwhelming amount of things to do. Whether your kid is obsessed with pirates, knights, ninjas or mythical creatures, there’s sure to be a section of the park that will make their eyes light up. Bump into fun characters or join your little ones on a number of rides from the speedy Dragon’s Apprentice to the Fire & Ice Freefall or Treasure Quest which will see you take to unchartered waters on a bobbing boat. There are also LEGO stations for kids to express their creative side, and the Driving School where they can earn their very first licence. 

Anything else I should know? You can save almost 50% off the gate price by booking in advance, or purchase a ticket that also includes access to Adventure Golf. 

Price: Online day tickets cost £35. 

Get there: It’s a 50-minute drive from London, or you can catch a direct train from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside.

Best for: A laidback day trip suitable for kids of all ages 

Boasting a more personal, down-to-earth feel than some of the other high-profile parks, the smaller-in-size Drayton Manor tends to be a little less overwhelming. Another factor that sets it apart from the rest is that it actually has kid-friendly rides that adults can get a kick from, too; they’ve got the stomach-churning gyro swing known as Maelstrom, the spinning ‘Thor’ coaster, a three-drop water ride Stormforce 10 and their biggest loop rollercoaster The Wave. They also have Thomas Land for particularly young tykes and a zoo if you want to add some animal sightings into the mix.  

Anything else I should know? Book online to save up to 30% off gate prices and value tickets for groups and schools are also available. 

Price: From £29.50 for adults and kids over four when booking online. 

Get there: It’s just over a two-hour drive from London or you can catch a train from London Euston to Tamworth, followed by a bus. 

Best for: A thrilling seaside escape for families and friend groups

The infamous Blackpool Pleasure Beach is one of the biggest and best tourist attractions in Northern England; not only is it located in a popular seaside holiday destination, but has the UK’s only Nickelodeon Land, the world’s best water ride and 10 rollercoasters – more than any other amusement park in the nation. With a mix of family rides and those that cater to the Evel Knievels out there, expect to be thrown about on all sorts of mechanisms including The Big One, with its gut-scrambling drop; wooden racing track Grand National and the UK’s first double-launch coaster ICON. Little daredevils won't know where to start, with over 20 rides and attractions that are free from height restrictions. 

Anything else I should know? Flexidate tickets are available and the only way to enter the park is through eTicket. You can save up to £17 by booking online. 

Price: From £33 for anyone over 11 when booking online. 

Get there: A train from London Euston will get you to Blackpool in just a few hours.

Best for: Peppa Pig-enthusiasts and animal-lovers 

Paultons Park is the highest rated theme park in the UK, known as the home of Peppa Pig World, a water playground for kids and a zoo featuring animals from lemurs to tropical birds. The different themed worlds are easy to explore thanks to the clean and uncomplicated layout of the park, which will see you pass through a number of beautiful natural spaces like the Japanese garden and historic lake. Your delightful day out will involve rollercoasters, both big and small, as well as train rides, dinosaur tours, log flume slides, sky swings and much more. Catch daily shows and grab a bite to eat at one of their multiple restaurants or food stands. 

Anything else I should know? Save £15 when booking online in advance, with tickets including character meets and one-on-ones with the animals, plus free parking. 

Price: £43.50 when booking online, and kids under one metre go free. 

Get there: A two-hour drive from London or you can catch a train from London Waterloo to Southampton Central. 

Best for: A wholesome day out with the family

Is this Scotland’s best family-friendly attraction? You be the judge. With a range of activities and rides that won’t boggle your brain, M&D’s Theme Park is the place for those that don’t have the stomach for big-scale rollercoasters. Aside from mini golf, bowling and an indoor animal-filled rainforest, other ways to have fun include water slides, sky swings, track-based joyrides and more. It does a great job of keeping that wholesome fairground feel intact, and there’s also a food court, bistro and beer garden for when refreshments are needed. 

Anything else I should know? You can save £2 by booking your already-cheap tickets online. 

Price: Entry wristbands cost just £10 when bought online. 

Get there: If you’re planning to fit a trip to M&D’s into your Scottish holiday itinerary, we’d suggest staying in Glasgow as it’s only a 20-minute drive away. 

Best for: An eco-friendly family experience 

About five miles southwest of Bangor in North Wales, GreenWood Family Park focuses on eco-friendly fun for the whole family, and makes for a great day out. Solar Splash is the first solar-powered ride in the UK, while I found the Green Dragon Roller Coaster to be great fun – it’s the world’s only people-powered coaster, too. 

If you’re going with kids who aren’t into rides as much, or you’d like a break yourself, you can head to the Cwtch Corner animal petting area, challenge yourself on the TreeTop Towers, or hop on a moonkart for a ride around. 

Anything else I should know? Book before midnight the day before your visit to save 20 per cent on gate prices. Also bookable for school groups with four-person bundle discounts also available.

Price: All Day Park Passes are £25 per person (over 1m tall) and £10 (under 1m tall).

Get there: The nearest station is Bangor/Gwynedd, which is about an hour from Chester (or three hours from London). From there you can catch a bus. Otherwise, driving is easy too.

Best for: A day out that isn’t just about the rides 

Wale’s Oakwood Theme Park has had a major revamp and will be welcoming visitors back from April 2024, promising a day of non-stop fun – even after you’re starting to feel queasy from all the rides. They have large track structures including Megafobia, Speed and the splash-tastic Drenched, along with varies playgrounds, a replica Black Cab ride around ‘London’ as well as an arcade and target shooting range. You’ll also be able to attend seasonal events featuring late-night UV powder paint parties, circus takeovers and firework displays. 

Anything else I should know? You can purchase annual passes for under 100. Day tickets available soon. 

Price: TBC

Get there: This park is just over an hour away from Swansea by car, or two hours from Cardiff.