London and its surrounding areas have theme parks that promise a thrilling day out. You can have a chill or stomach-turning rides, depending on what you want.
Whether you’re with family or friends, there’s always a suitable place for your crew. There are numerous adult-friendly and kid-friendly spots that deliver pure joy.
If you have trouble deciding where to go and looking for helpful content, you’re on the right track.
My blog on the best theme parks in and around London will help you plan a wonderful day you won’t forget. So, pack your bags, prepare your crew, and get ready for some fun adventures!
1. Paultons Park
Media credit: paultonspark
Website: https://paultonspark.co.uk/
Address: Romsey SO51 6AL
Contact Details: +44 23 8081 4442
Pricing: £
I brought my niece and nephew here once because my seven-year-old niece loves Peppa Pig very much. It really made me happy seeing her big smile the moment she finally met Peppa and George.
If my niece loves Peppa Pig, my 10-year-old nephew loves dinosaurs! I brought him to the Lost Kingdom, another themed world at the park besides Peppa Pig World. The park lets kids experience what it would be like to live in the prehistoric era.
Overall, Paulston Park is a great spot for kids, thanks to its five amazing themed worlds. I will not hesitate to bring my niblings here again if they tell me they want to visit again.
Pro Tip:
You can book an early play pass at Peppa Pig World at 9 AM, even when the park is not yet open! In addition, booking for Peppa Pig World rides is available as early as 9:30 AM.
2. Thorpe Park
Media credit: thorpeparkofficial
Website: https://www.thorpepark.com/
Address: Staines Rd, Chertsey KT16 8PN
Contact Details: +44 1932 577131
Pricing: £
I love Thorpe Park’s numerous intense rides. This is the place to be if you’re into stomach-turning adventures, with various types of rollercoasters offering different intensities and themes.
Additionally, it’s nice to look forward to their seasonal events. They always have Fright Nights. It’s their yearly Halloween event inspired by an Australian event with the same name. It features horror-themed mazes, rides, and shows in one day.
There’s also the Sunset Cinema that’s definitely worth trying. It’s an immersive experience of watching a 4D movie.
The best is there are themed accommodation rooms if you want to continue having fun the next day. The themed rooms are named after their rides, except for shark cabins.
Pro Tip:
Bring extra clothes if you have plans to try their water attractions, such as the tidal wave and storm surge.
3. Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Media credit: chessingtonworldofadventures
Website: https://www.chessington.com/
Address: Chessington KT9 2NE
Contact Details: +44 1372 731657
Pricing: £
It’s impossible not to have a wonderful day at Chessington World of Adventures Resort. It has over 40 rides, a zoo, and an aquarium. Imagine the thrill of riding various rides and seeing land and water animals in just one visit!
It has a perfect balance of kid and adult rides, making it a fun spot for all ages. One of the attractions we tried was Zufari, a truck journey that will bring you close to African animals. It feels unreal to see giraffes, zebras, and white rhinos at a very short distance.
It has themed hotel rooms inspired by Jumanji that your family will love. You will feel nostalgic when you stay in one of their rooms while telling your children what Jumanji is.
Pro Tip:
Download their app to see the live queue and show times and to get exclusive app offers.
4. LEGOLAND Windsor Resort
Media credit: legolandwindsor
Website: https://www.legoland.co.uk/
Address: Winkfield Rd, Windsor SL4 4AY
Contact Details: +44 1753 626416
Pricing: £
LEGOLAND Windsor Resort is a paradise for Lego lovers of all ages. This Lego-themed park houses rides and attractions that are diligently crafted by assembling thousands of LEGOs.
One of their eye-pleasing rides is the DUPLO Dino Coaster. It’s a dinosaur-themed colourful ride that will take you around the DUPLO Valley. It gives the perfect roller coaster experience for the little ones due to its child-friendly intensity.
The Magical Forest is another attraction you shouldn’t miss for a full-lego experience. It’s an immersive walkthrough attraction with augmented reality features and themed play areas.
Most of all, the highlight here is meeting the LEGOLAND characters. You can have a picture with figures like Buddy, Rebecca, and the wizard Merlin.
Pro Tip:
To guarantee a short queue, visit rides like The Dragon, Driving School, and Pirate Falls early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
5. Adventure Island
Media credit: adventureisland.uk
Website: https://adventureisland.co.uk/
Address: Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea SS1 1EE
Contact Details: +44 1702 443400
Pricing: £
Adventure Island is a seaside park that’s free to enter with pay-per-ride options. This is the place to be if you have companions who want to enjoy joyful scenery without trying any rides. This is perfect for the elderly who cannot hop on rides anymore.
What’s great about this park is that it allows people over 14 to accompany a child to rides for free, if the child is under 120cm in height. I’ve had the privilege of trying Jumping Jolly Rogers for free with my nephew.
When it comes to attractions, they have several family-friendly indoor activities. The most popular is Adventure Inside. It has a six-storey play area for kids under 10, rides like a pirate ship and a carousel, and arcade games with ticket prices.
Pro Tip:
Buy an all-day ride wristband through their website to save £10. If you fail to buy online, you can still get it for half price on-site after 5 PM if they are still open later than that time.
6. Babylon Park
Media credit: babylonparkldn
Website: https://babylonpark.com/london/
Address: 8 Castlehaven Rd
Contact Details: +44 20 8819 0044
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 8 PM
Pricing: £
Babylon Park is an indoor space-themed park that operates rain or shine. Here, you don’t need to worry about the weather as there are no outdoor activities in the area.
It’s interesting because it’s the only park in London that provides an indoor roller coaster. The roller coaster brings a different kind of joy compared to outdoor ones. It’s addictive to see the colourful surroundings of the venue while screaming your lungs out.
The numerous virtual reality experiences you can find here are also worth trying. I recommend the one where you will step into the life of aliens and be transported into outer space. It’s a thrilling and unique experience you will not find in most theme parks.
Pro Tip:
Ask their staff about the accessible activities for your deaf or visually impaired companion.
7. The London Bridge Experience
Media credit: thelondonbridgeexperience
Website: https://thelondonbridgeexperience.com/
Address: 2-4 Tooley St
Contact Details: +44 20 7403 6333
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 12 PM to 6 PM
- Saturday and Sunday – 11 AM to 6 PM
Pricing: £
The London Bridge Experience offers an interactive tour of London’s dark past. This place is the ideal spot to visit if you want to have an unforgettable time while learning about the city’s history at the same time.
One of the attractions is the tour of the world-famous London Bridge. The actors will bring the history of the renowned bridge to you through their heartfelt performance. You will also discover the past of famous people like Jack the Ripper and William Wallace.
The London Tombs are the most visited attraction, according to the staff. It has been the UK’s best scare attraction award for over a decade. You will run through the maze under the London Bridge while encountering haunting figures like clowns, zombies, and more.
Pro Tip:
Don’t visit from 12 PM to 3 PM to avoid large crowds. You may go for the Guardian Angel tour if you have younger companions to avoid actors jumping out.
8. Hobbledown Heath
Media credit: littlebrightonian and hobbledownheath
Website: https://hobbledown.com/hounslow
Address: Staines Rd, Hounslow TW14 0HH
Contact Details: +44 20 3885 0074
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Friday – 10 PM to 5:30 PM
- Saturday and Sunday – 10 PM to 6 PM
- Monday – 10 PM to 5:30 PM
Pricing: £
Hobbledown Heath is a unique park in the UK due to its combined indoor and outdoor activities. It has several play areas that encourage kids to run their wild imaginations. It houses The Great Barn, West London’s biggest indoor play area.
Aside from play areas, I appreciate their educational storytelling sessions. Like rides, they are also a great way of having fun for kids and even adults. They tell the stories of the characters from the storybook Hobbledown Heath by E.B. Davies.
What’s great about this park is that it has a picnic area, making it a perfect place for a weekend day out. Feasting on your favourite food while seeing your kids having the time of their lives is the ideal day off.
Pro Tip:
Although not mandatory, the Hobbledown Heath management strongly recommends wearing long sleeves, trousers, and trainers for climbing and other outdoor play areas. You may also buy a physical copy of the Hobbledown Heath storybook at the gift shop.
9. Dreamland Margate
Media credit: dreamlandmargate
Website: https://www.dreamland.co.uk/
Address: Hall by the Sea Rd, Marine Terrace, Margate CT9 1XJ
Contact Details: +44 1843 295887
Operating Hours:
- Saturday to Monday – 10:30 AM to 6 PM
Pricing: £
Dreamland Margate is a vintage park that ticks all the boxes on the fun list. It has rides, art installations, and live music that keep visitors energised throughout their visit. It’s a spot where art meets entertainment.
It has restored rides, such as the classic Scenic Railway. It’s the oldest roller coaster in the UK, running since the early 1900s. We were a bit nervous when we hopped on the wooden seats, but that nervousness turned into happiness once we were up in the air.
Another vintage thing here is the arcade with retro games. I missed playing pinball, and this park allowed me to enjoy the classic game once again.
Pro Tip:
Dreamland Margate is a cashless park. Have your debit and credit cards ready during your visit.
10. Shrek’s Adventure London
Media credit: shreksadventure
Website: https://www.shreksadventure.com/
Address: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd
Contact Details: +44 20 7967 8027
Pricing: £
Shrek’s adventure is, without a doubt, a place for all ages. The place provides an interactive journey through the world of the green ogre we all adore.
Speaking of adorable, the most captivating activity here is the 4D bus ride with Donkey as the guide. It runs through magic, and will run out of gas if you and other riders don’t sing your lungs out and dance while sitting!
Aside from rides, your whole family can enjoy a live show featuring characters from the Shrek universe. This is a great additional activity once you guys are already tired from hopping on different physical activities in the park.
Pro Tip:
Remember that taking pictures is not allowed in select attractions. You can ask the staff about this.
