As befits the UK’s capital, London is home to three world-class theme parks. There’s little competition between them, though, as all three are owned by the same company, Merlin Entertainments Group, which has carefully positioned each to cater to a slightly different age group.
Legoland Windsor is aimed at children aged 2-12, Thorpe Park serves thrill-seeking teens and young adults, while Chessington World of Adventures offers a range of attractions suitable for the whole family.
Visitors to the city, though, will find something to enjoy at each park regardless of their age. Here’s a run-down of the ten best rides that London’s theme parks have to offer:
10- The Dragon (Legoland Windsor)
Designed to introduce children to the world of roller coasters gently, while still providing a real sense of speed and fun, The Dragon is one of Legoland Windsor’s most enduringly popular rides. It starts with an indoor dark ride section through the interior of a large-scale mock castle, complete with characters constructed entirely out of Lego. On exiting the castle, the ride’s dragon-themed trains pick up speed and race around its grounds, navigating a series of fast-paced twists and turns.
9 – Nemesis Inferno (Thorpe Park)
Billed as a “sequel” to the classic Nemesis roller coaster at Thorpe Park’s sister park Alton Towers, Nemesis Inferno isn’t quite as a good as the original. It’s still a stunning inverted coaster, though, with riders able to watch the ground (and sky) rush past their feet as they rocket through a series of inversions after emerging from the steaming “volcano” that hosts the ride’s station.
8 – Dragon Falls (Chessington World of Adventures)
Thorpe Park may host the UK’s tallest log flume ride (Loggers Leap), but Chessington’s version is far superior overall. Its boasts the trademark heavy theming that is a feature of all of the park’s attractions, taking guests on a mystical tour of the Far East. Expect to get soaked – and don’t trust the innocent-looking elephant at the end of the ride, who’ll drench you with water mercilessly.
7 – SAW = The Ride (Thorpe Park)
The “Saw” horror movie franchise may not be an obvious license upon which to base a theme park ride, but this is Thorpe Park – “the nation’s thrill capital”. Surprisingly, the story of the movies is an excellent fit with this impressive roller coaster, with the devious Jigsaw challenging riders to survive his latest gruesome trap – the ride itself! The highlight is a harrowing “beyond-vertical” drop, which appears to riders to be directly onto a set of rotating spikes.
6 – Dragon’s Fury (Chessington World of Adventures)
A huge favorite with visitors to Chessington World of Adventures, Dragon’s Fury is a spinning roller coaster that will leave you dizzy, but giggling. Its four-person cars rotate rapidly as they traverse its gravity-defying twists and turns, but it’s not too intimidating for the park’s family audience. Just don’t ride after you’ve eaten lunch!
5 – Atlantis Submarine Voyage (Legoland Windsor)
Many of Legoland Windsor’s rides are a little dull for parents, but Atlantis Submarine Voyage is a notable exception. The only attraction of its kind in the world, it combines elements of a dark ride with a Sea Life aquarium. Guests board submarines which take them on a journey to a Lego recreation of the lost city of Atlantis, but the real draw is the opportunity to see dozens of beautiful underwater inhabitants up-close.
4 – Vampire (Chessington World of Adventures)
Located in the Transylvania area of Chessington World of Adventures, Vampire is a suspended roller coaster that offers guests the chance to experience the sensation of soaring overhead like a vampire bat. It’s a lengthy journey, with two lift hills incorporated into the ride’s circuit, and a tremendous station that features a convincing-looking animatronic organist.
3 – Tomb Blaster (Chessington World of Adventures)
Laser gun rides have become increasingly popular in recent years, and Chessington’s is one of the best around. The exterior of the ride is designed to resemble an ancient Egyptian Tomb, and the interior is packed full of creepy undead creatures. Your trigger finger will be sore from blasting them all back into the grave by the time you emerge back into the sunlight.
2 – Stealth (Thorpe Park)
As well as being the tallest ride at Thorpe Park (at some 205-feet-tall), Stealth is also the fastest roller coaster in the whole of the UK. Its simplistic circuit sees guests blasted up to a maximum speed of 80 miles per hour in just 1.9 seconds, soaring to the top of a tower before racing down at a near-vertical angle to the ground below. You’ll barely have time to catch your breath before it’s all over, but it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.
1 – The Swarm (Thorpe Park)
Thorpe Park’s new roller coaster for the 2012 season is one of the best-themed attractions anywhere in the world. The coaster’s trains are designed to resemble an invading “Swarm” of aliens, and carry guests over a devastated landscape dotted with gutted vehicles and even a “crashed” aeroplane. Riders will be grateful to hang on to all of their limbs, as they are seated on “wings” that enable them to come incredibly close to striking the scenery. Unmissable!
About the author: Nick Sim visits London’s theme parks several times a year. Check out his Thorpe Park Guide for an example of the comprehensive planning resources available on his website.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Natalie Sim.