London, UK, 24 July 2018 – Paultons Park, home of Peppa Pig World, has been named the UK’s best-rated amusement park in this year’s Travellers’ Choice® awards for Amusement Parks and Water Parks, announced by TripAdvisor®, the travel planning and booking site.
For the third consecutive year, the Hampshire amusement park, boasting attractions such as the Edge and Peppa’s Big Balloon Ride, continues to capture hearts and imaginations, topping the UK list of winners while also placing 9th in Europe and 24th in the world.
Globally, Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, USA was the favourite among travellers, topping the rankings for best Amusement Park for the fourth year in a row. In Europe, however, it is France’s Le Puy du Fou that beat out all other European amusement parks to take top prize.
For water parks, Siam Park continues to thrill visitors to Tenerife, Spain with its Thai architecture, winding rivers and free-fall slides as the world’s top Water Park for the fifth consecutive year. But, in the UK it is not just Hampshire that has cause to celebrate this year, as it is revealed that The LC water park in Swansea is ranked among the top five water parks in Europe.
Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for amusement parks and water parks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.
“These fantastic UK amusement parks are the ideal fun-filled day out with the kids during the summer holidays. It’s worth remembering though that the fun takes a whole lot longer to start when you’re stuck waiting in queues, particularly during this busy time of year, so be smart, think ahead and make sure you, book your passes in advance so you can spend more time playing and less time waiting,” said Hayley Coleman, a TripAdvisor spokesperson.”
Top 10 Amusement Parks in the UK:
1. Paultons Park – Romsey, England
Travellers’ favourite amusement park for 2018 features exciting rides and attractions. 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. “This park is excellent,” commented a TripAdvisor Reviewer. “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, England
Blackpool Pleasure Beach boasts highlights like the ICON – the UK’s first double launch rollercoaster – and Nickelodeon land. “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!” commented a TripAdvisor reviewer.
3. Alton Towers – Alton, England
England’s largest theme park offers more than 500 acres of attractions and rides the whole family will enjoy. These include X-Sector, Forbidden Valley, Dark Forest, CBeebies Land. “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!” commented a TripAdvisor reviewer. Visitors to Alton Towers can guarantee their admission and refuel with lunch with the Alton Towers Resort Admission Ticket with Meal Deal from £42 on TripAdvisor.
4. The Milky Way Adventure Park – Clovelly, England
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. “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. Love it!” commented a TripAdvisor reviewer.
5. Crealy Adventure Park & Resort – Exeter, England
Complete with wild rides, masses of indoor play areas, live shows, and Buddy Bear’s Kingdom, there’s no shortage of 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. Complete with rides, animals, a soft play area, and food, all set in the beautiful Devon countryside.”
6. Sundown Adventureland – Retford, England
From a Rodeo Corral Indoor Play Area to the Rocky Mountain Railroad, Angry Birds Activity Park, tractors rides and much more, there’s plenty of adventure to be had for the entire family at Sundown Adventureland. “An amazing place for young children, with SO much to do, to see, to ride on and explore. Best of all the park caters to adults too, with plenty of seating areas in the shade to have a picnic and keep an eye on everything.” said a TripAdvisor reviewer.
7. Landmark Forest Adventure Park – Carribridge, Scotland
Visitors to Landmark Forest Adventure Park will enjoy the many activities it has to offer. From the world’s first Bamboozeleum and the Tarzan Trail to rollercoasters and Skydive, there’s plenty of adventures for travellers to enjoy in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. A TripAdvisor reviewer noted “What a fantastic place! Many fun rides and big play parks for toddlers to early teens as well as bigger rides and attractions for big teens to adults. As forest parks go, this is the best I've been to.”
8. Brighton Palace Pier – Brighton, England
The charming Bighton Palace Pier is brimming with rides and attractions for the whole family, from thrilling rides and traditional fairground favourites to the latest in arcade gaming. A TripAdvisor reviewer noted, “The pier has so many rides on it and fun activities, we could easily have spent a whole day on it! I really to recommend coming here, especially if you have older children.”
9. Adventure Island – Southend-on-Sea, England
Located along Southend-on-Sea’s charming seafront, Adventure Island boasts over 40rides and attractions, offering something that everyone will enjoy. “Well worth a visit whatever your age, whatever the weather,” commented a TripAdvisor reviewer. “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, England
Travellers can enjoy the full day at this fantastic theme park. 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 noted, “The Drayton Manor Theme Park admission ticket ensures that you have a great fun day out, with plenty of rides and entertainment. Whether your preference is bare knuckle scary stuff or gentle carousels there is something to suit all ages and tastes. Brilliant value, great day out.” Travellers can purchase a Drayton Manor Theme Park Admission Ticket on TripAdvisor from £30.
Top 10 Amusement Parks in Europe:
- Le Puy du Fou – Les Epesses, France
- Europa-Park – Rust, Germany
- Tivoli Gardens – Copenhagen, Denmark
- Disneyland Park – Marne-la-Vallée, France
- Walt Disney Studios Park – Marne-la-Vallée, France
- PortAventura – Salou, Spain
- Efteling – Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands
- Leolandia – Capriate San Gervasio, Italy
- Paultons Park – Romsey, England
- Tibidabo Amusement Park – Barcelona, Spain
Top 10 Water Parks in Europe:
- Siam Park – Tenerife, Spain
- Aquapark Istralandia – Novigrad, Croatia
- Etnaland – Belpasso, Sicily
- H2O Aquapark – Rostov-on-Don, Russia
- The LC – Swansea, Wales
- WaterWorld Waterpark – Ayia Napa, Cyprus
- Water Park – Faliraki, Greece
- Druskininkai Aquapark – Druskininkai, Lithuania
- Slide & Splash - Water Slide Park – Lagoa, Portugal
- Action Aquapark – Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
Top 10 Amusement Parks in the World:
- Universal's Islands of Adventure – Orlando, Florida
- Magic Kingdom – Orlando, Florida
- Le Puy du Fou – Les Epesses, France
- Universal Studios Hollywood – Los Angeles, California
- Universal Studios Florida – Orlando, Florida
- Disney's Animal Kingdom – Orlando, Florida
- Europa-Park – Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
- Tivoli Gardens – Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Island in Pigeon Forge – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Disneyland Park – Marne-la-Vallee, France
Top 10 Water Parks in the World:
- Siam Park – Tenerife, Spain
- Waterbom Bali – Kuta, Indonesia
- Beach Park – Aquiraz, State of Ceara, Brazil
- Thermas dos Laranjais – Olimpia, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park – Orlando, Florida
- Aquapark Istralandia – Novigrad, Croatia
- Wild Wadi Waterpark – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Makadi Water World – Hurghada, Egypt
- Eco Parque Arraial d’Ajuda – Porto Seguro, Brazil
- WetSide Water Park – Hervey Bay, Australia
For the complete list of 2018 Travellers’ Choice Amusement Parks and Water Parks winners, as well as reviews and candid traveller photos, go to: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravelersChoice-Attractions. Travellers can also follow the conversation on Twitter at #travellerschoice.
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