Drayton Manor Theme Park

by Tony Collins (subscribe)

There is so much to see and do at Drayton Manor theme park that it's almost impossible to get around everything in just one day.

For the daring thrill-seekers among you, there are no shortage of terrifying-looking rollercoaster rides to throw you this way and that at great speed.

My rollercoaster days are largely behind me, but after getting wet on a reasonably gentle water ride I was 'persuaded' by my young relative to dry out on a particular attraction - only to find myself hurtling round several bends while dangling upside down.

Set in 280 acres of lakes and parkland, Drayton Manor features some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides around.

For the uninitiated they include Apocalypse, described as the world's first stand up tower drop, Stormforce 10, billed as one of the best water rides in the country, and Shockwave, which is Europe's only stand up rollercoaster (and the one I think I dried out on).

And then there is the incredible £3 million G-Force - a rollercoaster ride that takes people on a series of high banked twists and turns at speeds of up to 70 kph at 4.3 Gs, whilst hanging by the hip.

But for visitors looking for something calmer there's also a host of fantastic family entertainment including The Pirate Adventure, a number of live theatre shows, and the famous Thomas Land - the first special home for Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends in the whole of Europe.

Set in 6,000 square metres of parkland, Thomas Land is a multi-million pound attraction promising fun and adventure for all ages, but especially the young. It boasts 12 wonderful themed rides including Sodor Airport, a spectacular indoor play area, and a shop filled with plenty of merchandise as a souvenir of your visit.

Not far from the thrills of the rides is the peaceful Drayton Manor Zoo which is home to more than a hundred species from around the world.

And, also nearby, is Dinosaurland with huge replicas of dinosaurs, although be warned, one of them 'spits' if you get too close.

The park also includes museums, shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, plus its own 150 bedroom Drayton Manor Hotel featuring 15 Thomas-themed rooms.

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Why? All the fun and thrills you can handle

Phone: 0844 472 1950

Website: draytonmanor.co.uk

Where: Drayton Manor Drive, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3TW

Cost: Advance tickets from £15 for children aged 4-11 & 60-plus and £20 for 12-59 year olds.

Drayton Manor Theme Park (article)

by Time to walk about on 10/07/2019