The UK's 5 best theme parks for kids?

Ready for adventure with thrills and fun at every turn? Well hold onto your hats and enjoy the ride as you experience the UK’s five best kid friendly theme parks. Whether you’re looking for exciting entertainment during school holidays or a wild weekend trip, theme parks for kids are an excellent way to have unbeatable family fun.

Picking the park that is just right for your family

There are a range of theme parks to choose from in the UK but several stand out for their sheer wow factor. The five theme parks below are all fantastic for families but some may be more suited than others to your family depending on the age of your kids, so check below for some guidelines. These theme parks offer better ticket rates if the tickets are purchased online rather than at the gates. There are campsites near all of the parks for fun, outdoor accommodation.

Standing tall: Alton Towers

Within Staffordshire, the Alton Towers resort has it all, from amazing rides and incredible attractions to a water park. Alton Towers is a good option for families with older kids or teenagers as some of the rides can get pretty intense! However there are some attractions for younger children too so don’t rule it out if you have younger and older children. Alton Towers costs £34.65 for an adult, a child ticket is £29.25 and a family ticket is £29.70 per person if booked more than 7 days in advance, with various discounts depending on how early you book.

Find campsites by Alton Towers.

Majestic marvels: Drayton Manor

Also in Staffordshire near Tamworth, Drayton Manor offers both rides and a zoo as well. Drayton Manor has thrill rides that will keep mom and dad entertained along with older children but the Thomas Land attraction is chiefly appealing for younger members of the family, particularly ones who can’t get enough of friendly Thomas the Tank Engine. The Drayton Manor’s online ticket price for ages 12 to 59 is £20 and for age 4 to 11 is £15.

Choose from our Drayton Manor campsites.

The building blocks of fun: Legoland

Perhaps your kids go bonkers over building, in which case Legoland in Windsor in Berkshire is sure to please. Legoland is ideal for young children, though older kids and parents may find themselves getting nostalgic over happy memories of countless hours of Lego fun! The Legoland price for adults 16+ is £34.20 online, for children 3-15 is £29.25 and kids under 3 get free entry.

Browse camping in the area of Legoland Windsor.

Smiles by the seaside: Pleasure Beach

If seaside shenanigans are in order, Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire has a range of shows, activities and rides guaranteed to impress. Pleasure Beach has something for everyone, with an ice rink and Adventure Golf as well as family rides such as Wallace and Gromit and Alice in Wonderland themed rides and more daring entertainments such as rollercoasters. Online rates for Pleasure Beach passes are £6 for access to the park and some of the rides, while wristbands for unlimited rides are £24.

Book a pitch near Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Thrilling rides and wild adventures: Chessington

If your kids love animals, they’ll also love Chessington World of Adventures which is a theme park and zoo located in Surrey. With fun themed areas, educational workshops, a variety of rides such as flying elephants, rollercoasters and bumper cars, plus access to the zoo and sea life centre, Chessington is sure to get a roar of approval from everyone in the family. Tickets for adults and children 12+ years old are £32.40 online, tickets for children under 12 years old and taller than 0.9 metres cost £26.10 and children below 0.9 metres get free entry. Family Saver tickets are also available.

Click through to see campsites close to Chessington World of Adventures.

Choosing the best time to visit

When planning your theme park trip, it’s important to bear in mind that the parks are generally closed over the winter period from November to February. Check with the theme park’s website for special events that may occur at different times throughout the year, for instance Pleasure Beach’s ice skating and magic shows or Chessington’s Halloween and festive Christmas events.

Make use of the range of handy facilities available at the theme parks

The theme parks have a variety of dining venues to keep energy levels up because having so much fun can get tiring! From disabled access to storage lockers, medical centres and baby changing facilities, you can enjoy the convenience of a helping hand while making the most of your family trip.

Get everyone involved for a trip to be cherished

By visiting theme parks, you can create some wonderful family memories with kid friendly attractions for teenagers and tiny tots alike. These theme parks provide marvellous days out where the fun doesn’t stop until you’re ready to drop!

Browse our site listings to find theme park holidays.