How to get to the UK’s most-visited theme parks, including Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, from Kent
The UK is home to some of the world’s best theme parks, from record-breaking roller coasters to children’s rides and attractions.
If you want to visit one of the country’s theme parks this summer but are unsure if the journey from Kent is worth it, we’ve got you covered with our handy guide on how to get to Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington and more…
ALTON TOWERS, Stoke-on-Trent
Since opening in 1980, Alton Towers has become one of the country’s most-visited theme parks - and it’s also the largest. It spans 550 acres and includes a hotel, water park, golf course and castle, and guests have to take either the cable cars or monorail to get from one side to the other.
Thrill-seekers can enjoy attractions like The Smiler, the world’s first 14-loop rollercoaster, and Wicker Man, the UK’s first new wooden coaster in over 20 years. If you’re taking younger visitors, there’s also CBeebies Land and the mini Sea Life Centre at Sharkbait Reef.
How to get there…
Train: From London St Pancras to Uttoxeter, via Derby, takes just over two hours on the train. Or you can travel from London Euston to Stoke-on-Trent in one hour and 45 minutes, but you’ll need to get a taxi from the station to the park.
Drive: To drive to Alton Towers, it takes approximately five hours from Dover or Margate, four hours from Maidstone and three and a half hours from Dartford.
BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH
A trip to Blackpool wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Pleasure Beach, the seaside town’s flagship attraction. The theme park opened in 1896 and has broken many records over the decades, making it a must-visit destination for roller coaster fanatics.
Some of the park’s most popular rides include The Big One which, when it opened, was the tallest and steepest roller coaster in the world; Revolution, Europe’s first fully inverting steel coaster; the Grand National, one of only three Möbius ‘racing coasters’ in the world; and Valhalla, £15 million water ride that is known for being one of the most immersive and expansive indoor dark rides of any theme park.
How to get there…
Train: From London Euston to Blackpool, via Preston, takes almost three hours by train.
Drive: To drive to Blackpool Pleasure Beach from Dover or Margate, it takes just over six hours. From Maidstone or Dartford, it takes between five and five and a half hours, on average.
CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES
This family theme park first opened as a zoo in the 1930s but was forced to close during the Second World War. In the 1980s, the attraction reopened as both a theme park and a wildlife park. It now boasts a safari experience, Sea Life Centre, hotel rooms, glamping and Go Ape.
The park’s newest land, the World of Jumanji, opened last summer and includes Mandrill Mayhem, Chessington’s first roller coaster with an inversion, and two smaller, family-friendly rides. There’s also classic rides like Vampire, Dragon’s Fury, Rattlesnake and Tomb Blaster.
How to get there…
Train: From London Waterloo to Chessington South takes just over 35 minutes on the train.
Drive: To drive to Chessington World of Adventures from Dover or Margate it takes just under two hours. From Maidstone or Dover, the drive is approximately one hour.
LEGOLAND, Windsor
If you’ve got younger kids who aren’t quite ready for white-knuckle rides, Legoland could be a great option for a family day out. The park uses around 47 million bricks to create its incredible Lego sculptures, including the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Times Square, and the Taj Mahal.
The rides are suitable for visitors aged two to 12 and include the world’s first Lego-themed duelling roller coaster and the UK’s first flying theatre ride. There’s also Duplo Valley, an immersive land aimed at the park’s youngest visitors.
How to get there…
Train: From London Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside takes just under one hour by train.
Drive: To drive to Legoland Windsor, it takes approximately just over two hours from Dover or Margate. From Maidstone or Dartford, it takes around one and a half hours.
PAULTONS PARK, Romsey
While Paultons Park opened in 1983, it really made a name for itself in 2011 with the introduction of Peppa Pig World. For fans of the lovable cartoon pig, there are nine rides, such as Grandpa Pig's Little Train, George's Dinosaur Adventure and Daddy Pig's Car Ride, plus the world’s largest Peppa Pig merchandise store.
The park’s other themed lands include Tornado Springs, set in 1950s America; Critter Creek, which has been taken over by strange creatures; and Lost Kingdom, where you can come face-to-face with prehistoric dinosaurs.
How to get there…
Train: From London Waterloo to Southampton Central takes just under one and a half hours on the train.
Drive: To drive to Paultons Park takes just short of three hours from Dover or Margate. It takes just over two hours from Maidstone or Dartford.
THORPE PARK, Chertsey
With the opening of Hyperia, the UK’s tallest and fastest roller coaster, Thorpe Park has become a hotspot for adrenaline junkies this summer. The coaster welcomed its first riders in May, with many more still to experience the ride’s towering 236ft climb and eye-watering 80mph speeds.
The park has many more thrills in store, such as the heart-stopping launch coaster Stealth, the super-soaking log flume Tidal Wave and Saw The Ride, the world’s first horror movie-themed roller coaster. For little visitors, there’s Amity Beach, where you can splash about in the shallow pool, and the kids’ roller coaster Flying Fish.
How to get there…
Train: From London Waterloo to Staines takes 35 minutes on the train.
Drive: To drive to Thorpe Park takes roughly two hours from Dover or Margate. From Maidstone or Dartford, it takes just under one and a half hours.
