Is this really the UK’s best theme park?

For such a small place, the UK has a surprising amount of high quality theme parks. We’ve got loads of choices when we’re in the mood for a fair – whether you’re a family or a thrillseeker who has an inexplicable desire to be constantly brushing against death, there’s something for you.

But with so many options comes the risk of selecting the wrong one. They are often not cheap days out, so to avoid wasting money it’s best to listen to the experts. In this case, the expertise comes from the Telegraph, which has ranked the best theme parks in the country, just for your convenience.

So what park did it name as number one? It may surprise you to discover that Blackpool Pleasure Beach was their top pick, thanks to the fact that it ‘encapsulates the best of the British seaside’.

The northern fairground’s variety was cited as one of the reasons for its success, being home to a mix of huge, stomach-churning coasters and Nickelodeon land for the more youthful visitors. At £33 for entry, it’s on the expensive side, especially if you’re going with your family, but at least you know it won’t disappoint.

In second was Thorpe Park, the biggest amusement park in the south, which is ‘for the serious coaster-heads’ and is newly home to the UK’s tallest and fastest ride. According to the Telegraph, ‘it’s great for teens, although there are bumper cars and similar low-energy rides for smaller visitors,’ so it’s worth holding off on this one until your kids are old enough to sulk at you for not taking them. Entry is slightly less, at only £29pp.

Gulliver’s World in Cheshire claimed bronze, being described as ‘definitely a park for younger children.’ It’s the cheapest so far to get into, at only £18pp, making it an attractive option if you want to make some memories on a budget.

Drayton Manor in Staffordshire, and Dreamland in Margate made it into fourth and fifth places, but if you want to see the entire roundup of the country’s twelve best theme parks, you can have a read here.

Ultimately, only you can decide which is the one park to rule them all in your household. Try out a few, make your own list, and then come back and compare. Enjoy your adventures!

Theme park thrills on Time Out

For more loop-the-loops, drop towers and haunted trains, check out Time Out’s list of the very best theme parks in the UK. In other rollercoaster news, the world’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster is about to open in Thorpe Park and one of the UK’s most legendary rollercoasters has had a massive makeover.