I was outside my daughter’s school the other day chatting with another parent when the theme of theme parks came up. This family was going to visit Alton Towers, to the obvious excitement of the 7-year-old son. Mom didn’t seem so enthusiastic. “It is costing a small fortune,” he complained, because we have to spend the night in a hotel. It’s too far to drive back and forth in one day. “I asked them why they chose Alton Towers, as there are other theme parks that are much closer to us in the south of England.” Oh “was the answer.” I thought Alton Towers was the only real theme park in England. ”It turned out that the trip was basically the idea of the 7-year-old, who under pressure not to stay out of the playground hierarchy had bothered them to agree to go.
This family is likely to have a disappointing trip. They had basically decided to go to Alton Towers without doing any research on the alternatives or even considering whether Alton Towers was right for their 7 year old son. It is important that you research UK theme parks before your visit to ensure that the theme park is suitable for the age range of the children you bring with you. I suggest you explore the theme park website with each child to see what appeals to them and to see the height restrictions for the attractions they are excited about. It makes no sense for children to be nervous about a particular trip, as they will not be allowed to climb. Height restrictions ARE strictly enforced and only when you reach the head of the queue will you know if you are not allowed on the trip. Queuing for a long time for a journey you cannot continue on is a real waste of time and money.
Beware of peer pressure from overexcited parents and children. Make sure the child is really sure he wants to go and that you are not going just for you or for dad or for some boastful kid on the playground! Watch out for childish bravado, which fades just as you are about to board the ride. This has happened to me over and over again and it is a huge waste of time.
If this is your first visit to a theme park, try going off the peak. They can get very crowded at peak times with long lines. It can all be a bit confusing and disorienting for both parents and children. Try to accept that you may not be able to do everything, especially on your first visit, and this will decrease tears. Okay, so it’s an expensive day and you want your money to be worth it, but the most important thing is that you enjoy it. By the way, many of the parks will give you reduced (or even free) entry for trips back to the park, so keep in mind that it can be relatively cheap to come back another day. Keep an eye out for promotions on the website, but you will often find that these “return” reduced visit offers are only advertised within the park.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that you should try to manage expectations. That way, you are less likely to be disappointed.
Overall, Legoland Windsor is geared toward kids 10 and under, with plenty of Lego-based attractions that older kids will find embarrassingly tame.
Chessington World of Adventures has been refocused in recent years to appeal to the pre-teen and early market, that is, ages 8-15.Some attractions will appeal to older children, such as Vampire and Dragons Fury, but they may find many of the attractions too meek. There are also enough attractions to keep the youngsters happy.
Thorpe Park is really suitable for adventurous teens, as is Alton Park.
You also shouldn’t forget to consider other amusement parks that may be more local and age-appropriate for your child. These include:
Paultons Park in Hampshire
Flambards in Cornwall
American Adventure in Derbyshire
Camelot theme park in Lancashire
Crealy Park in Devon and Cornwall
Gullivers in Warrington, Matlock Bath and Milton Keynes
M&D theme park in Scotland
And of course many other theme and amusement parks of various sizes.
