England U.K. Theme Parks Blog - News Cheap Tickets Thorpe Park Alton Towers Legoland UK

Camelot theme park saved

2009-04-01T13:51:00.001-07:00

Camelot theme park which went into administration last month has been saved and will open in May.

Theme Park Price Comparison

2009-02-21T05:04:00.000-08:00

Ticket prices for theme parks change on an almost daily basis. Not the gate prices, but the discounted offers available from internet tickets sellers. To compare prices for tickets to Alton Towers, Thorpe park, Thomas land, Drayton manor, Chessington and so on, I have found that the following three sites are the ones to check out. Who has the cheapest tickets or the best deals(for example 2 days for the price of 1) will change from day to day so always check prices on all three.

Buyagift
Lastminute.com
Attractiontix

Theme Park index of economic activity

2009-02-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

Economists often refer to the "skip" index to determine the health of the British economy, i.e if they see a lots of skips outside houses it suggests that the economy is healthy because lots of people are spending money on renovation of properties.

On a global scale I wonder whether a better index is one of theme parks opening and closeing. Whilst we see a lot of closures in the U.K. and the U.S. (Camelot being the latest in the U.K), other areas of the world, such as the Middle and Far east, are seeing a large number of new theme parks being built.

It is hard to image any new theme parks opening in theU.K. at the moment, which says a lot about the wealth of the nation I think.

Camelot theme park goes bust

2009-02-05T04:52:00.000-08:00

Camelot theme park near Chorley in Lancs has gone into receivership, and the park is unlikely to reopen in April for the new season.

The park has been in trouble for some time and there have long been plans to close it and a build new village on the same site.

Thorpe Park, Alton Towers,Thomas Land open for February 2009 half term

2009-01-10T02:53:00.000-08:00

It may be the middle of Winter, but it is only a few weeks before some of the major theme parks open for the 2009 February half term and the start of the main season in March.

Thorpe Park will be open during the February half term and weekends in March, before opening for the main season with all rides on 14th March.

2 day tickets are available for £20.

Alton Towers will also be open during the February half term, and opens for the 2009 season on 28th March.

Thomas Land at Drayton Manor will be open for half-term from 14th to 22nd February 2009.

For cheap tickets visit lastminute.com

Annual Theme Park Pass £90

2009-01-04T09:04:00.001-08:00

Merlin Annual Pass Gift Voucher - 12 Months unlimited Entry to the
U.K's Top Attractions

£90

12 months’ unlimited entry to the UK’s top attractions including The
Alton Towers Resort, LEGOLAND ® Windsor, THORPE PARK, Chessington
World of Adventures & Zoo, Madame Tussauds, Warwick Castle, SEA LIFE
Centres & Sanctuaries, the Dungeons, The London Eye & The London.

Click here for more details

Alton Towers : whats new in 2009

2008-12-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

With the major new ride not due till 2010, 2009 at Alton Towers will see a new Sea Life aquarium where the the old 3D Cinema building is.

Cred Street is to be rethemed and renamed with a new indoor playarea and the relocation of the Ug Swinger from Ug land.

The popular Skyride attraction will also be renovated.

Thorpe Park announces SAW - The Ride

2008-10-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

Thorpe Park's new ride for 2009 has been a hot topic the past year.

What was "Project Dylan", was announced today as "SAW - The Ride"

Its due to open in in Spring 2009.

It'll be based on well known horror film series and is supposedly the "scariest ride in the world".

It has a beyond-vertical drop of 100º from a height of 100 feet, the steepest free-fall drop in the world

In addition there are also has three loops(a Zero-G Roll, an Immelmann Loop and a Dive Loop), and a scary indoor section.

Theme park opening times October, November and December

2008-10-04T04:01:00.000-07:00

The major UK theme parks such as Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington, Drayton Manor, Legoland etc are open until 2nd November.

In Europe many of the major parks are open until later in the year, offering opportunites for half term and Christmas or New Years visits.

PortAvetura nr Barcelona is open evey weekend in November and December and over the Christmas and New Year period.

Disneyland Paris of course never closes. Europa Park in Germay is also open some weekends in November and all December.

Terra Mitica is open less often but is open some weekends until the end of the year.

So, winter may be approaching but there are still chances to visit a theme park.

For tickets click the links on the right

European Theme Parks

2008-08-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

What a depressing summer its been for theme park fans in the U.K. Dreadful weather, an economy on the edge of recession and few if any new rides to get excited about.

Because of this I'm thinking of making the blog a European wide blog so that it can cover the parks that people are increasingly visiting, such as Port Aventura, Terra Mitica and so on. I think it would be great to have some more information about these parks on the blog. What do you think?

Alton Towers tickets are 40% off

2008-07-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

Alton Towers tickets are 40% off until Friday 1st August 11 amFor entry on Mon-Wed in August, these special offer tickets are pricedat £21 - which is a massive 40% off gate prices (for adult tickets).Every ticket purchase will receive a free paintballing experience anda Jongleurs comedy club voucher!Visit http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=273&id=47279

Legoland tickets half price

2008-07-21T05:04:00.000-07:00

Visit http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-1565331-10296531?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lastminute.com%2Fsite%2Fentertainment%2Fdaysout%2Ftheme-parks.html

Half price Thorpe Park tickets £16.50

2008-07-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

Available only for a few days. Visit Loial Travel http://www.loial.co.uk/ and click on "Cheap Thorpe Park tickets"

Alton Towers 48% off

2008-06-16T04:22:00.000-07:00

Lastminute.com are offering 48% off Alton Towers tickets but only for 48 hours

2 for 1 theme park vouchers : the downside

2008-05-31T06:56:00.000-07:00

No doubt the 2008 season at the theme parks in England will be little different from 2007 in that there will be numerous offers from the theme parks to induce you to attend.
The favourite method , particularly from Merlin, who own Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventure and Thorpe Park is the 2 for 1 voucher. 2 for 1 vouchers will be popping up everywhere from the Sun newspaper to tins of beans. And of course these appear to be very good news. A free ticket to your favourite theme park! Hey, who can say no to that?

Well before you get the scissors out to clip out the vouchers this year, here are a few things to consider before deciding whether 2 for 1 theme park tickets will really save you money.

1. You will be required to buy 1 full price adult ticket for each "free" ticket you get. This can often eliminate any savings, since a full price adult ticket bought at the turnstiles might be twice the price of a similar theme park ticket purchased from discount vendors such as Loial Travel which provide cheap tickets to Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington, Legoland, Drayton Manor, Lightwater Valley, Blackpool Pleasere Beach and other U.K. theme parks.

Do the sums first to see whether 2 for 1 vouchers will really save you money or not.

2.The "free" theme park ticket is often available only for children. Given that you have to buy a full priced adult ticket, how much are you saving? Check out what a child's ticket would cost you at a discount seller and you may find you are throwing money away by using a 2 for 1 ticket.

3. You can usually only use one voucher per transaction, so if you have a large group then buying discount theme park tickets will often work out cheaper than using a 2 for 1 voucher.

4. To use your 2 for 1 vouchers you have to queue at the turnstiles. This can often be a long and frustrating experience that will cut the time you spend in the theme park. If you buy discounted tickets from someone like Loial Travel, you can usually take your booking confirmation email and go straight to pick your tickets up at the advance booking office.

5. Check the times when you can use the vouchers. Theme parks use 2 for 1 vouchers to fill the parks on days when demand is low. This often means school days. Check the small print (the VERY small print) to ensure you can use the vouchers on the days you want to go.

2008 opening Theme Park ticket prices

2008-03-15T04:13:00.000-07:00

As usual opening theme park ticket prices are not the cheapest, particularly with Easter being early, but you can still gets significant discounts on gate prices.

Alton Towers discount tickets £25. Save £9 on gate price
Thorpe Park discount tikcets £24. Save £8 on gate price
Legoland Windsor discount tickets £18.50 . Save £25.50 on gate price.
Chessington World of Adventures discount tickets £23. Save £8 on gate price.
Lightwater Valley discount tickets £11.95. save £5 on gate price.
Camelot theme park discount tickets £12.50. Save £6.50 on gate price.
Dickens World tickets £12.50

Click here to buy cheap tickets for Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland, Chessington, Drayton Manor, Lightwater Vallet etc

Alton Towers Resort 2 day Theme Park break - two day tickets and hotel package from £54

Hans Christian Andersen theme park

2008-01-28T11:18:00.000-08:00

A Theme park based upon the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen could be built in South Yorkshire. The park would be built underground to avoid the English weather.
A number of locations are being considered.

Cheap 2008 theme park tickets on sale

2008-01-14T11:28:00.000-08:00

With a number of theme parks, including Alton Towers and Thorpe Park opening for the February 2008 school half term holiday, cheap theme park tickets have already gone on sale at http://www.loial.co.uk/

Thomasland to open at Drayton Manor in spring 2008

2007-12-18T07:22:00.000-08:00

Thomasland, a new Thomas The Tank Engine themed park will open in 2008 at Drayton Manor.
Rides are mainly aimed at children from 12 months to five-year-olds and there will also be a Thomas-themed hotel with 145 bedrooms, 40 log cabins and a site for 300 caravans.

Full price tickets for adults to enter the park will cost around £23.

Send the Kids Ape this CHristmas : 2 for 1

2007-12-17T07:04:00.001-08:00

Swing by for some tree-time this Christmas

Climb the trees and slide across high wires, crawl through tunnels, cross rope bridges, walk the planks, and zip down to the ground! Go Ape is an award winning high wire forest adventure course with a network of rope bridges, trapezes and zip slides, all set high up in the tree tops. Appealing to a wide age range, customers are fitted with a climbing harness, given safety instructions, and then trek from tree to tree high above the forest floor, without supervision. Go on� Go Ape and live life adventurously.

Was £58 , now £29. Click here for more info

Alton Towers open in February

2007-12-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

Give Alton Towers for Christmas.

Blast away those winter cobwebs with a family adventure to the Alton Towers Hullabaloo this February half-term (9th – 24th February 2008). As an extra special holiday treat, the theme park will be opening its gates earlier than ever before, unveiling a fantastic selection of rides and attractions for all ages. Tiny tots will enjoy ‘There’s Something in the Dung Heap’ play area and the Riverbank Eye Spy, brave adventurers will love Spinball Whizzer, whilst the true adrenaline junkies will revel in the thrills of Air and Nemesis. Child tickets for age 11 and under; adult tickets for over 11s. Valid from 9-24 February 2008.

Adults £13, Childen £7. Tickets can be bought as gift vouchers now at Buyagift

Whats new for 2008 : Alton Towers

2007-11-22T11:39:00.000-08:00

Pirates are the theme for the 2008 season at Alton Towers with a brand new pirate themed area called Mutiny Bay replaceing Merry England. The area will contain a large new water ride called Battle Galleons. Riders will use water cannons to soak other riders and target other "obstacles"

The Tea Cups will be rethemed into 'Marauders Mayhem' and there are indications of another pirate themed swing boat type ride or muti-media cinema

A pirate stunt show also seems likely.

Vertical theme park for Birmingham

2007-09-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Plans have been announced to build the world's first "vertical theme park" in Birmingham. It will be built next door to Millennium Point.

The plans were outlined in this blog last year, but now we have more detail.

The building will be the fourth tallest in Europe and will host three thrill rides called Flight Trainer, Giant Drop and Seesaw plus 4 other activities: Walk of Fear, Sky Jump, Bungee Jump and Climb to the Top.

This is a welcome boost for the U.K.s jaded theme park industry.

Flooding closes rides at Drayton Manor

2007-07-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterdays heavy rainful has closed some rides at Drayton Manor.
Drayton Queen, Vintage Cars, Raft Ride and Excalibur were affected

Rain forces theme park ticket price cuts

2007-07-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

Even as the schools break up for the summer holidays, the weather has forced early cuts in theme park prices.

Here are the latest theme park ticket prices from Loial Travel

Alton Towers tickets £16
Legoland £16.50
Thorpe Park £18
Chessington World of Adventure £15
Lightwater Valley £9.95
Camelot £12
Flamingoland £15
Blackpool Pleasure Beach £20
Blackgang Chine £8.95
Loudoun Castle £11.99