Blackpool Pleasure Beach has today been named as the best rated amusement park in the UK in the Travellers’ Choice TM awards for Amusement Parks and Water Parks, announced by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site*.
The Lancashire amusement park, which boasts such attractions as the Big One and Valhalla, is also named in the top ten amusement parks in Europe, alongside the likes of Walt Disney Studios Park in France and Germany’s Europa-Park.
In fact, it is not just Lancashire that has cause to celebrate; as it is revealed that the UK is home to more 2014 award-winning amusement parks than any other European country, with seven winning parks named in Europe’s top 25.
Within the UK, it is the South East that comes up trumps, taking home more TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards for Amusement Parks than anywhere else in the country. Paultons Park, Home of Peppa Pig World in Romsey, Hampshire Thorpe Park Resort in Chertsey, Surrey, Brighton Pier, East Sussex and Fishers Adventure Farm Park in Wisborough Green, West Sussex take second, fifth, sixth and seventh place in the UK respectively. The four South East parks are also all named in Europe’s top 25.
Florida’s Discovery Cove in Orlando earns the coveted position of best amusement park in the world.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Managing Director, Amanda Thompson OBE, said, "We are thrilled to be named the UK's best amusement park in the UK by TripAdvisor, a trusted travel site where the view of our guests count for so much. We are constantly looking to improve the value for money we give our guests.”
Double win for Blackpool as waterpark is named in world’s best
In the water parks category, the seaside town of Blackpool scores a second win as Sandcastle Waterpark is revealed as one of the top 25 in the world and eighth best in Europe. Alton Towers Waterpark in Farley, Staffordshire also ranks in Europe’s top 25. The world’s best rated water park is named as Siam Park in Tenerife.
“Whether you’re a thrill seeker looking for a buzz this summer or a parent planning a family day out during the school holidays, this list of winners should provide plenty of inspiration,” commented TripAdvisor spokesperson, James Kay.
“Blackpool Pleasure Beach is not just the country’s best rated amusement park, it is also one of the cheapest for a family day out among the UK top ten, proving that great value often trumps bigger rides in the eyes of consumers,” James continued.
In addition to announcing the UK’s best rated amusement parks, TripAdvisor can also reveal the cost of visiting each park for a family of four, including an overnight stay in a nearby four star hotel[i]:
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Travellers Choice Ranking |
Amusement Park |
Ticket price (family of four – two adults, two children) |
Hotel price (one night in nearby 4* hotel) |
TOTAL |
|
1 |
Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool |
£94.00 |
£53.23 |
£147.23 |
|
2 |
Paultons Park, Home of Peppa Pig World, Romsey |
£104.00 |
£84.77 |
£188.77 |
|
3 |
Alton Towers, Farley |
£142.56 |
£92.83 |
£235.39 |
|
4 |
Drayton Manor, Tamworth |
£108.00 |
£67.76 |
£175.76 |
|
5 |
Thorpe Park Resort, Chertsey* |
£179.98 |
£92.29 |
£272.27 |
|
6 |
Brighton Pier, Brighton |
£40.00 |
£98.59 |
£138.59 |
|
7 |
Fishers Adventure Farm Park, Wisborough Green |
£53.00 |
£89.30 |
£142.30 |
|
8 |
Sundown Adventureland, Retford |
£52.00 |
£69.23 |
£121.23 |
|
9 |
GreenWood Forest Park, Y Felinheli** |
£42.20 |
£70.86 |
£113.06 |
|
10 |
Adventure Island, Southend-on-Sea |
£74.00 |
£78.34 |
£152.34 |
*Indicates the most expensive amusement park for a family visit and overnight stay.
**Indicates the cheapest amusement park for a family visit and overnight stay.
Travellers’ Choice awards honour top travel spots worldwide based on the millions of valuable reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers. Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews for amusement parks and water parks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.
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Amusement Parks – UK |
Amusement Parks – World |
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Amusement Parks – Europe |
Water Parks – World
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Water Parks – Europe |
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For the complete list of winners from the 2014 Travellers’ Choice Amusement Parks and Water Parks, as well as reviews and candid traveller photos, go to:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravellersChoice-Attractions-cAmusementParks
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravellersChoice-Attractions-cWaterParks
[i] Prices for hotel stays and amusement park tickets were taken between 8 – 9 July. Prices were collected through a the following research methods:
Hotel prices: Specify the average cost of a single night hotel stay for a family of four. Stays are for between 15 July and 22 September 2014 in a double occupancy room, at a hotel located within a 5-mile radius of the amusement park.
Amusement Park ticket prices: Specify the cost of one day’s visit for a family of four. Where available, the cost specifies the price of a family ticket. If not available, the cost specifies the equivalent ticket price for a family of four e.g. two adult tickets combined with the price of two child tickets.
