There’s no mistaking it: the theme park season is upon us! Even with early booking discounts prices can still be way in excess of £100 for a family of four, and that doesn’t even include travel or food! So if you want to save a bit of cash or are just bored with the usual suspects of Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, Alton Towers, LEGOLAND Windsor and Blackpool Pleasure Beach read on for our pick of the alternatives. Prices given here include online or advanced discounts.
Lightwater Valley, North Yorkshire
You will find over 40 rides from thrill rides like Ultimate, Europe’s longest rollercoaster, to adventures for smaller visitors such as Dragon Boats. There’s also a beautiful lake, falconry displays and a small farm. And here is where you will find the UK’s largest Angry Birds Adventure Park too!
Price for family of four: £78 or £47 based on kids under 1m tall
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Barry’s Amusements, Northern Ireland
Image © Barry’s Amusements
This quaint theme park is great if you’ve got a few in the family who would rather just watch others, as it’s on a pay as you go basis. The Looping Star rollercoaster has fantastic coastal views if you can keep your eyes open, whilst there are plenty of family favourites like a carousel and dodgems too.
Price for family of four: 50 tokens are £20, or 50p each
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Paultons Family Theme Park, Hampshire
Mainly geared towards younger children, who get in free if they are under 1 metre tall (in shoes), there are a smattering of thrill rides to spice up the park. Peppa Pig World is a huge draw, whilst Gold Rush Falls Adventure Golf, Water Kingdom and more are great for family fun. Wind the pace down in the lakeside gardens, and check out the birds and animals too.
Price for family of four: £86 – children under 1 metre tall are free though!
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Oakwood Theme Park, Pembrokeshire
With five adrenaline rides, a choice of ways to get soggy and plenty of other ways to amuse yourself, this theme park has come a long way since opening. You can even be scared by in-your-face ghosts with a 3D ride, take a London Taxi Ride, or pan for gold! Kids big and small will appreciate the fun in Neverland as well.
Price for family of four: £66
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Fantasy Island, Lincolnshire
A mixture of games and attractions, family friendly fun like mini golf and a carousel, plus characters roaming the park makes this a great bet for a family day out on the East coast. If you want a bit of a thrill there are plenty of those rides too, including some indoors – dare you ride The Beast? Watch out for special events too, with pop acts appearing regularly.
Price for family of four: £66 in peak season
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Flamingo Land, Yorkshire
It’s not just about Flamingos anymore, Flamingo Land is now home to a theme park and a zoo! Try out Mumbo Jumbo, the world’s steepest steel rollercoaster if you’re brave enough, or enjoy a sedate trip around the zoo on the Monorail. There’s plenty in between too, with rides for all the family, plus water–based fun in Splish-Splosh!
Price for family of four: £92
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Pleasurewood Hills, Suffolk
Probably skewing towards families with younger children, some of the rides, like the Wipeout rollercoaster are most definitely not for the faint of heart – this one will see you pull a weighty 5Gs! There is also a laser labyrinth, an illusionist doing 30-minute shows and a performing sealion.
Price for family of four: £66
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M&D’s, Scotland
Billed as Scotland’s Theme Park, this isn’t the largest of parks but it’s got plenty to offer. There are 11 thrill rides, plus kids rides and family rides too such as Big Apple, where you swoop around on the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Additional attractions at an extra charge include an indoor rainforest in Amazonia, mini golf and glow in the dark bowling!
Price for family of four: £51 (+£29 to visit Amazonia and Mini Golf)
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Wicksteed Park, Northamptonshire
Image © Wicksteed Park
A traditional theme park set in pretty grounds and featuring a Grade II listed building, the adrenaline might not pump so hard for some, but the Rocky River Falls and The Roller Coaster will certainly make the heart beat faster. There are plenty more rides too, plus a boating lake and a huge free playground open all year round.
Price for family of four: £60 plus car parking or you can pay as you go with ride tickets 30 for £25
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Crealy Adventure Park, Exeter
The big sister to the Cornwall Crealy, this theme park is aimed at younger families. There are a few slightly scarier rides such as Tidal Wave, but attractions by and large are more suited to those not yet in their teens. Indoor and outdoor activities abound from a lake and a playground to go-karts and aqua blasters, plus animals too. You can even go on pony rides!
Price for family of four: £55
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