Theme parks are beginning to reopen ahead of the Easter break, offering thrill-seekers and families alike a chance to dust off the cobwebs of winter. From Thorpe Park to Chessington, this guide has all the essentials you need to know before buying your tickets.
New attractions for spring 2022 include The Brick play area at Legoland Windsor, three additions to CBeebies land at Alton Towers and the Farmyard Flyer rollercoaster at Paultons Park's Tornado Springs land.
Note it is almost always cheaper to book tickets in advance rather than forking out at the gate. Some parks offer online savings of almost 50 per cent to early birds.
Alton Towers – Staffordshire
The UK’s biggest theme park, Alton Towers is home to the infamous Nemesis, Oblivion and Wicker Man rides. It also has the country’s only CBeebies Land.
Gates open for the first time in 2022 on March 19. The waterpark, golf and spa resorts are already open daily for visitors. Adult tickets start at £34.
Postcode: ST10 4DB
Blackpool Pleasure Beach – Lancashire
Blackpool Pleasure Beach was founded in the 19th century but has all the mod cons you would expect at an amusement park. The site features rides including the Big One, Icon and Valhalla.
The park is already open on weekends. Daily admissions begin on April 2. Adult tickets start at £36.
Postcode: FY4 1EZ
Chessington World of Adventures – Greater London
Rides including Vampire, Tomb Blaster and Dragon’s Fury can all be found at Chessington World of Adventures . For families seeking less adrenaline, a safari and a Gruffalo-themed adventure are also available.
The park is open most days from March 17. Longer opening times and 7-day admissions begin on April 2. Adult tickets start at £34.
Postcode: KT9 2NE
Drayton Manor – Staffordshire
Drayton Manor is home to Europe’s first Thomas the Tank Engine Land, which alone has 20 rides and attractions. Rides for grown-ups include Stormforce 10, Shockwave and Maelstrom.
While Thomas Land is already open on weekends, main park admissions get under way on March 26. Adult tickets start at £27.50.
Postcode: B78 3SA
Fantasy Island – Lincolnshire
Fantasy Island near Skegness features rides including Odyssey, Volcano and Millenium. Its proximity to the coast means there are plenty of sea view holiday lets nearby.
The park opens for 2022 on March 26. Adult tickets start at £16.
Postcode: PE25 1RH
Flamingo Land – North Yorkshire
Set in more than 375 acres of parkland, Flamingo Land has a theme park, zoo and holiday resort. Rides include Velocity, Mumbo Jumbo and Kumali.
The site is already open every day. Adult tickets start at £25.
Postcode: YO17 6UX
Legoland Windsor – Berkshire
Legoland Windsor was the nation’s most visited amusement park in 2019, before the pandemic. Notable brick-based attractions include the Driving School, Deep Sea Adventure and Mythica.
Gates at the resort open on 18 March. Adult tickets start at £25.
Postcode: SL4 4AY
Oakwood Theme Park – Pembrokeshire
Oakwood Theme Park is home to Treetops, Vertigo and the wooden Megafobia, among many other rides. The site is Wales’ biggest amusement park.
Oakwood opens for Easter for two weeks on 8 April. After this, weekend tickets are available until the main season gets under way every day from May 28. Adult tickets start at £18.20.
Postcode: SA67 8DE
Paultons Park – Hampshire
Home of the now-famous Peppa Pig World (thanks to a visit by Boris Johnson), Paultons Park in the New Forest has more than 70 rides. Rollercoasters include Storm Chaser, Cylonator and Cobra.
The park is already open for the season. Adult tickets start at £39.75.
Postcode: SO51 6AL
Thorpe Park – Surrey
Thorpe Park is often described as the UK’s most thrilling theme park, with big rides including Colossus, Nemesis Inferno, SAW, Stealth and the Swarm. Other scary attractions include Derren Brown's Ghost Train and The Walking Dead Ride.
Gates open for the first time in 2022 on March 25. Adult tickets start at £35.
Postcode: KT16 8PN
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