Thorpe Park

Thorpe Park is a full-on theme park for adrenaline junkies rather than gentle family pottering. The reviews here are all about the coasters, scare mazes and Fright Night atmosphere, with Hyperia, Stealth, The Swarm and Colossus getting plenty of attention. It’s the sort of place where older children and teenagers can have a genuinely brilliant day, especially if they’re happy to chase the biggest rides rather than the prettiest corners. On the plus side, there’s a lot to do and the headline rides sound properly impressive. Single rider queues help, Fright Night actors clearly add to the experience, and several reviewers praised the staff and the themed entertainment. There’s also enough variety to keep thrill-seekers busy, with water rides, coasters and scare mazes all in the mix. Food is available on site, and some reviewers found it decent enough, which is no small mercy in a theme park. The catch is the usual one: queues, queues, queues. Reviews mention long waits to enter, 120+ minute ride queues, breakdowns, a cramped stage area and not enough seating. Food is pricey, fast track isn’t a magic wand, and the whole place sounds a bit much for small children anyway. In short: excellent if you love roller coasters; less excellent if you love your patience, your wallet, or sitting down.