The Theme Park

My family and I have never really been great lovers of funfairs and theme parks. My wife does not go on any of the rides and so objects to paying the admission price. When the children were younger therefore, it was always down to me to take them on the ride (and stand in the queue with them!) a task which I soon tired of. Memorably my son, when very small, managed to escape from an indoor soft play area (it was in a marquee and he just crawled under the flap when no one was looking) and was found wandering around outside, not a care in the world and in his stockinged feet. The children enjoyed theme parks much more when they became the destinations for end of term school trips when they could enjoy the day fully with their peers. However, the theme park is one of the most popular destinations for families during holidays and leisure time, probably as it is so easy to budget. You pay a one-off price to get in and thereafter the rides and attractions are all free (all you have to contend with are the queues!). A whole day’s entertainment is provided even down to places to purchase food and drink, or picnic areas if you want to take your own. For the really adventurous there are even hotels on site so you can get an early start and not miss out on anything. Here’s a short rundown of what to find at the UK’s best-loved theme parks: Alton Towers, near Stoke – is made up of twelve themed lands with rides catering for every age. Gentle rides and bright colours for the little ones; canyons and pirates for all the family; or scary ghosts and extreme rides for the real thrill-seekers. New for 2012 is Nemesis Sub-Terra located in Forbidden Valley, the attraction provides a psychologically and physically thrilling experience, taking place in the dark, and underground. Two theme parks can be found within the M25 – Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures. Thorpe Park – has seven themed lands with the usual mix of water, white-knuckle, family and kids rides. New for 2012 is The Swarm, this impressive ride is 127ft tall (making it the 2nd tallest ride at the theme park) and has an apocalyptic theme where riders fly through a crash scene and experience full size theming including a plane, helicopter, fire engine, and several trucks. Chessington World of Adventures – with ten lands to choose from it is aimed mainly at families as 90% of the rides are suitable for children under 12. New for 2012, Madagascar Live! Prepare to Party; join characters as they sing and dance their way through a brand new live show. Drayton Manor, Tamworth, Staffordshire – is the UK’s largest family-owned theme park and is made up of six main lands. You can spend a day with Thomas the Tank Engine or join the cartoon character Ben 10 on his fantastic ride. Legoland, Windsor – is unique in that it is based around the popular construction kits, it features over 53 million bricks across eleven themed lands. New for 2012 is the Lego Star Wars Miniland Experience; enjoy seven of the most famous scenes from the six live-actio Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars all made out of 1.5 millio Lego bricks. Then go and put your feet up in the nearby themed hotel, also new for 2012. Theme Parks have come a long way since the early days of funfairs and travelling fairs but they are definitely here to stay. Whatever floats your boat you will find thrills and spills for every age group all over the UK and the rest of the world.

A theme park experience is just one of the hundreds of car and driving days that can be purchased as a gift or for yourself from My Outdoor Store. Follow the link to discover our vast selection of days out ideas.