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These are the best UK theme parks – from Pegga Pig to 53mph rollercoasters
PAULTONS Park, home to Peppa Pig, is the UK's most popular theme park according to the 2018 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards.
While Drayton Manor and Blackpool Pleasure Beach also featured on the list, much of the top ten was made up of smaller amusement parks, like The Milky Way Adventure Park in Devon and Sundown Adventureland in Nottinghamshire.
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Parks were ranked based on the quantity and quality of reviews, as well as the ratings for theme parks across the country over a year long period.
Some of the parks don't even charge for entry and all were praised for providing entertainment for both kids and adults.
Read on for your guide to the UK's favourite theme parks....
1. Paultons Park – Romsey, Hants
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Home to Peppa Pig World and the dinosaur theme park Lost Kingdom there’s no shortage of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy at Paultons Park.
One reviewer said: “This park is excellent, there is so much to do. Our first day was spent entirely in Peppa Pig World, which has lots of great rides for the little ones and everything is so well maintained and spotless.
"On the second day we went to other areas of the park, including Lost Kingdom and Critter Creek. We still didn’t cover everything because we wanted to end up back in Peppa Pig World again.”
2. Blackpool Pleasure Beach – Blackpool
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Blackpool Pleasure Beach boasts highlights like the ICON – the UK’s first double launch rollercoaster – and Nickelodeon land.
One reviewer said: “The highlight of the park is the ICON.
"Blackpool Pleasure Beach is always an amazing and memory-filled place to visit – it’s the best thrill location in the UK!”
To read our review of the new ICON rollercoaster, click here.
3. Alton Towers – Alton, Staffs
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England’s largest theme park offer more than 500 acres of attractions and rides for the whole family, including X-Sector, Forbidden Valley, Dark Forest and CBeebies Land.
One reviewer said: “There are sections of the park for all ages. Cloud cuckoo land and Cbeebies land for the tots, beautiful gardens and tours around the castle for the older visitors, and thrilling rides for the teens and adults.
"The entire day was packed with fun, never leaving us bored."
4. The Milky Way Adventure Park – Clovelly, Devon
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The Milky Way Adventure Park offers visitors rides and attractions like the Cosmic Typhoon, Clone Zone, and the Time Warp, and a new collection of Sci-Fi memorabilia.
One reviewer said: “Lovely setting with perfect diverse mix of nature (lush setting, birds of prey shows), Sci-Fi, excellent easy and challenging rides and slides, plus dodgems, balloon room, and more."
5. Crealy Adventure Park & Resort – Exeter
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Complete with wild rides, masses of indoor play areas, live shows, and Buddy Bear’s Kingdom, there are activities for the whole family at Crealy Adventure Park & Resort.
According to one TripAdvisor reviewer: “Crealy is ideal for kids and parents of all ages. With rides, animals, a soft play area, and food, all set in the beautiful Devon countryside.”
6. Sundown Adventureland – Retford, Notts
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Sundown Adventureland features everything from From a Rodeo Corral Indoor Play Area to the Rocky Mountain Railroad, Angry Birds Activity Park, plus firm favourite - tractor rides.
One reviewer said: “An amazing place for young children, with SO much to do, to see, to ride on and explore.
"The park caters to adults too, with plenty of seating areas in the shade to have a picnic and keep an eye on everything.”
7. Landmark Forest Adventure Park – Carrbridge, Scottish Highlands
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Landmark Forest Adventure Park features the world’s first Bamboozeleum and a Tarzan Trail, as well as rollercoasters and the Skydive in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.
A TripAdvisor reviewer said: “As forest parks go, this is the best I've been to.”
8. Brighton Palace Pier – Brighton
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The seaside favourite Bighton Palace Pier features everything from thrilling rides to traditional fairground favourites and the latest in arcade gaming.
A TripAdvisor reviewer said: “The pier has so many rides on it and fun activities, we could easily have spent a whole day on it."
9. Adventure Island – Southend-on-Sea, Essex
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Located along Southend-on-Sea’s seafront, Adventure Island boasts more than 40 rides and attractions.
A TripAdvisor reviewer said: “If it's too wet, there's plenty to do in the arcades. If not, there's a great choice of rides to appeal to all ages.”
10. Drayton Manor Park – Tamworth, Staffs
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With plenty of rollercoasters, a 15-acre zoo, and Thomas Land – specially designed for younger visitors to play and ride, this theme park offers something for the whole family.
One TripAdvisor reviewer said: “The Drayton Manor Theme Park admission ticket ensures that you have a great fun day out, with plenty of rides and entertainment.
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";Whether your preference is bare knuckle scary stuff or gentle carousels there is something for everyone."
Sun Online Travel also recently covered the quirkiest UK theme parks that you need to visit right now – from Diggerland to Chester Ice Cream Farm.
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