London Amusement Parks
There may not be amusement parks within the actual city of London, but there are several choices nearby. If you are looking for a fun family day out or are just a thrill seeker, there are some awesome theme parks for everyone!
Thorpe Park: Known as the UK’s most thrilling theme park, Thorpe Park is located about 20 miles from the city center. This park is all about thrilling rides with names like Colossus, Stealth and Nemesis. Maybe not the best choice for young children but if your family is filled with thrill seekers then Thorpe Park is an amazingly fun day out. The park is closed during the winter but starts to open more and more during the summer months. If you want to go to the park check the website for opening and closing times before you go.
Chessington World of Adventures: A great choice for a family fun day out, especially if you have small children or children with a wide age range. This theme park offers a wide range of thrill rides and smaller rides and soft padded play areas for smaller children. Chessington World of Adventures is also now open during the winter months unlike a lot of other UK theme parks that usually close during the rainy season. Ticket prices range form 21 pounds for children 12 years of age or younger up to 32 pounds for adults. The theme park offers 9 different park areas, all with different themes. It is definitely a full day out for the family. Check the official website for the schedule and any possible price changes. The site also has a full list of rides and height restrictions.
Legoland Windsor: Legoland Windsor is very similar to any other Legoland in the world. The theme park is more appropriate for younger children and can be extremely entertaining for children within the age ranges of 1-13 years old. As the name suggests it is located in Windsor just near Heathrow. The park is a visual and creative spectacle with over 35 million Lego pieces recreating some of Europe’s most famous landmarks. It also offers boating adventures, balloon school, and a digger challenge in which kids from ages 6-13 can drive electrical cars. The park is easily reached by train.
Adventure Island: The park has been closed for remodeling during 2008 but will reopen in March of 2009. Adventure Island is a water park that is free to enter and you pay by the ride. The official website offers a list of rides and height restrictions as well as the schedule for 2009. It might be a better choice than some of the other parks, as it tends not to get as busy. It is easy to reach by train.
Disneyland Paris: Paris may seem far away but it can actually be a great day trip from London. Getting there by the Eurostar, which travels under the English Channel, can get you there in around 3 hours. If you are looking for a magical weekend out of the city Disneyland Paris offers great hotels and restaurants for a fun family weekend. The whole trip is a great adventure and the park is open 365 days per year. Check the website for accommodation availability and prices as well as height restrictions and other park information.