Best theme parks in England: discover the top family-friendly theme parks, thrilling rides, attractions and must-visit parks for an unforgettable day out.
With thrilling rollercoasters and vertical drops, England has some decent theme parks to choose from but what are the best theme parks in England? Today, we share the top theme parks, their best rides and tips for visiting; so that you can plan your next fun-filled day out with ease.
Best Theme Parks in England
Best Theme Parks in England: Quick Comparison
| Theme Park | Location | Best For | Thrill Level | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton Towers | Staffordshire | Thrill rides & roller coasters | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Older children, teens & adults |
| Thorpe Park | Surrey | Adrenaline & big coasters | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Teens & adults |
| Chessington World of Adventures | Surrey | Families & younger children | ⭐⭐⭐ | Families |
| LEGOLAND Windsor | Berkshire | LEGO fans & young children | ⭐⭐ | Families with younger children |
| Paultons Park | Hampshire | Young children & families | ⭐⭐⭐ | Families with young children |
| Blackpool Pleasure Beach | Lancashire | Classic amusement park fun | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Families, teens & adults |
| Drayton Manor | Staffordshire | Families & thrill rides | ⭐⭐⭐ | Families |
| Flamingo Land | North Yorkshire | Theme park & zoo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Families & animal lovers |
| Pleasurewood Hills | Suffolk | Family fun & smaller crowds | ⭐⭐⭐ | Families |
1. Thorpe Park, Surrey
Arguably the best theme park in England for those that love rollercoasters, Thorpe park is a great option for teens and thrill-seekers. Saw – The Ride has a beyond vertical 100 degree drop whilst Stealth goes from 0 to 130kph in 1.9 seconds; there are some incredible rides at Thorpe Park! Plus, you can experience The Walking Dead or Derren Brown’s Ghost Train ride if you’re looking for something spooky.
Tickets for Thorpe Park start at £39 – we have a full Thorpe Park Guide to help you plan a trip as does this guide on getting to Thorpe Park.
2. Alton Towers, Staffordshire
This popular theme park has a wide range of rides for all visitors; perfect for those looking for the best theme park on their adrenaline junkie bucket list. The height restriction in the area, has led to Alton Tower’s rides being creatively built into the landscape whilst new rides such as The Wicker Man and Galactica are excellently themed. Younger children can enjoy the CBeebies land, full of rides and attractions aimed at pre-school age.
Wanting to stop for a bite to eat? Why not head to the Rollercoaster Restaurant and watch your food arrive after a ride on a mini coaster.
You may also enjoy the different accommodation options here. The Enchanted Village is home to whimsical wooden houses or tree houses whilst the two resort hotels offer themed rooms decorated with ice or games.
Tickets start at £34 but discounts are available online.
3. Chessington World of Adventures, Surrey
Chessington is the perfect theme park for those with young children. With The Gruffalo Riverboat, Pandamonium and over 40 rides and attractions, there is plenty of activities to keep your family busy. One of the best aspects of Chessington is the zoo – with a wide range of exotic animals and underwater creatures.
Book your tickets in advance from £25.
4. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool
Home to the UK’s first double-launch coaster ‘ICON’, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the perfect place for those looking for something a little bit different. The tallest structure in the UK can be found here; The Big One whilst The Big Dipper and the Grand National are wooden coasters that have been around since the 1930s.
Children can head to Nickelodeon Land to enjoy the Fairy World Taxi Spain and SpongeBob’s Splash Bash. Blackpool is also a fun weekend away in England, with plenty of things to see and do.
Wristbands start at £32 for adults but you can save money if you book tickets in advance online.
5. Legoland, Windsor
If you are younger children, visiting Legoland Windsor is a must. This theme park has involved over the years, to more than just lego looking coasters – with toys, movies and video game themed rides and attractions, there is a lot going on here. The park is split into twelve lands and there are plenty affordable restaurants too.
Even if you are a little too old for the rides, you ca still enjoy the Lego created Miniland. The park has recreated famous monuments of the world, using over 40 million lego blocks to do so. The monuments include the Big Ben, Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Loch Ness, the Crown Jewels and even a Boeing 747.
The Legoland Resort Hotel is a great option for those looking to stay the night. The themed accommodation is a cheerful and fun hotel, with themed rooms including Pirate and Adventure rooms, plus a supply of lego blocks to play with during your trip. Alternatively, your family may enjoy a stay at the Legoland Castle Hotel, with rooms inspired by Knights, wizards and magical kingdoms from distant lands.
Tickets start at £26 but discounted vouchers can be found online.
6. Paultons Park, Hampshire
Known as the home of Peppa Pig, Paultons Park is a family favourite in the UK. Not far from Southampton, this park has more than just the pink pig – it also has four acres of Jurassic landscape, two-family rollercoasters, a play park and a jeep exhibition; making up the Lost Kingdom.
Tickets cost around £35.75 whilst children under 1m tall go free.
7. Drayton Manor, Straffordshire
Home to Europes only stand up coaster ‘The Shockwave’, Drayton Manor is often overlooked . It is smaller than others in the UK but is home to Thomas the Tank Engine and many family-friendly attractions.
Book your tickets in advance from £28.50.
8. Flamingo Land, North Yorkshire
With over 129 creatures here (of course, including flamingos), this park has a natural feel to it. Don’t let that fool you know – there are some extreme rides such as Pteodactyl and Mumbo Jump alongside tamer attractions such as Splash Battle and Twistosaurus.
Tickets start at £33, you can book tickets in advance online.
9. Warner Bros Studio Tour, London
Not technically a theme park (there are no actual rides) but The Making of Harry Potter tour is a fun, interesting and exciting way to spend a day with the family. Here, you can expect authentic props, incredible sets and original costumes from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Make sure you climb aboard the Hogwarts Express, watch the dragon being released at Gringotts and brace the Forbidden Forest.
A massive plus to this park is that it is open all year, with hours ranging from 10 to 13 hours a day.
Depending on your tour, prices vary but generally start at £47 per adult and £38 for per child. Pre-book your tickets in advance because this studio tour gets super busy.
10. Dreamland Margate
Home to the oldest rollercoaster in the UK, Dreamland Margate is known as a vintage theme park. Head to this park if you want to ride the classics – the Big Wheel. Chair-o-plane and Austin Cars are some favourites!
Children can also enjoy the Octopus Garden – an indoor children’s play zone complete with beach huts, grassy hills, circus tent, climbing frames, sand pits and even an arts & crafts shed.
Couples and friends can enjoy the Roller Room; a retro roller disco complete with pumping music and Roller Diner for some nibbles.
Dreamland is free to enter with unlimited ride wristbands costing just £8.25 when you book online. Or you can opt for the Pay As You Go card from £5.
11. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London
This festive theme park is perhaps one of my favourite thee parks in England but unfortunately, it only runs for 6 weeks. On the lead up to Christmas, London’s Hyde Park transforms into Winter Wonderland; a place full of icy attractions and sparkling lights.
You can expect to find a range rides here, from coasters to haunted rides, fun houses to carousels. The Wonderland also houses a Christmas market full of decorations, toys, cards and gifts. You can even enjoy ice skating and a whole host of festive food – the baileys hot chocolate is a must!
Winter Wonderland Typically runs from mid-November through to the first week of January. It will return to Hyde Park in November 2021.
Entrance to the park is free with rides and attractions being paid separately.
12. Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
Again, not technically a theme park but still worth a place on this list. This medieval castle is full of history and new attractions make it an adventure for all ages. The castle has introduced the UK’s first fully-interactive multi-sensory maze. The maze is inspired by Horrible Histories, bring the castles past to life in a fascinating and exciting way.
Tickets start at £31 and include tours of the castle itself.
13. New Forest Water Park, Hampshire
This park is the UK’s first outdoor aqua park complete with monkey bars, hurdles and a lifeguard tower. Based on Total Wipeout, you can fight your way through this assault course on water – try to fall off!
Tickets cost £15 for a one-hour.
14. Gulliver’s World, Warrington
This family-run theme park is decided for children under the age of 13, with play areas and attractions catered to this younger age group. The park also hosts themed sleepovers which re great fun for the whole family whilst the park is a magical place to visit at Christmas time.
Adults and children tickets both start at £17.95.
15. Pleasurewood Hills, Suffolk
If you’re looking for a fun theme park in England that feels a little different from the big-name resorts, Pleasurewood Hills in Lowestoft, Suffolk is well worth considering. This family-friendly theme park combines rollercoasters and thrill rides with attractions for younger children, making it a great choice for a full day out.
The park has more than 35 rides and attractions, including Wipeout, one of its signature thrill rides. Recent additions have helped give the park a new lease of life, and its coastal location makes it an appealing option for a weekend exploring Suffolk and the East of England.
Pleasurewood Hills was also named Best Theme Park of the Year for parks with under one million visitors at the 2026 UK Theme Park Awards, making it one of the most exciting smaller theme parks to add to your England itinerary.
England Theme Parks FAQs
There are plenty of fantastic theme parks in England, but Alton Towers is arguably the best overall. It has an impressive selection of world-class roller coasters and thrill rides, as well as family-friendly attractions and themed areas, making it a great choice for a wide range of visitors.
Alton Towers is one of the biggest and most popular theme parks in England, with a huge selection of rides and attractions spread across a large resort. It is also home to several of the UK’s most famous roller coasters.
Paultons Park is one of the best choices for families with younger children, particularly because of its dedicated Peppa Pig World. Chessington World of Adventures and LEGOLAND Windsor are also excellent family-friendly options with attractions for a range of ages.
For thrill seekers, Thorpe Park and Alton Towers are two of the best theme parks in England. Both have a strong selection of major roller coasters and adrenaline rides, although Thorpe Park is particularly popular with teenagers and adults looking for high-intensity attractions.
Paultons Park is one of the best theme parks in England for young children. The park has plenty of gentle rides and attractions, with Peppa Pig World being a particular favourite for preschool-aged visitors.
This is a difficult one to answer, but Alton Towers and Thorpe Park are generally the top choices for serious roller coaster fans. Alton Towers has iconic rides such as The Smiler and Nemesis Reborn, while Thorpe Park is known for major coasters including Stealth and Hyperia.
We hope you have a great time no matter which park you visit – let us know your favourite park in the comments below.
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