What’s your favourite theme park? If you’re a Brit, there’s a pretty high chance that your answer is either Alton Towers or Thorpe Park. Maybe Legoland. While those are all excellent days out, according to a democratic vote, they are not the best in the country. In fact, four other British theme parks are among the best in the entire world, let alone the nation.
But according to who? Well, TripAdvisor, and the hundreds of thousands of people across the globe who use it every day. Each year, the website releases its picks for its Travellers' Choice Awards, which includes winners in various categories including ‘Amusement & Water Parks’.
For each category, TripAdvisor’s experts picks the top 25 places in the world with a ‘high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions’ and rank them in order, resulting in a definitive ‘best of the best’ list. Less than one percent of attractions will ever earn this label, so it’s a pretty big deal. This year, we really excelled when it came to theme parks, with three of the top 10 on Earth being in Britain, and a fourth at 17th place.
So where exactly should you thrill-seekers be heading? According to TripAdvisor, The Web Adventure Park in York which was seventh overall. Okay, this one is maybe not the best for any adrenaline junkies, instead being more for children and families, but for its target audience, it checks all the boxes. Think loads of places to play, fairground rides, a ninja course, and even some goats to say hi to; there’s something for anyone, no matter your age.
Next, in eighth place, was Paulton’s Park, perhaps best known for being home of Peppa Pig world. But it’s not just little ones who will enjoy a day out at the southern park; it’s got plenty for grown-ups too. Whether you want to get your heart racing on a Jurassic-themed inverted rollercoaster or just enjoy a picnic amongst the trees, you’ll have a great day.
Coming right after Paultons, Drayton Manor theme park was the last UK spot to make it into the top 10, coming ninth. The Staffordshire resort is packed full of rides for everyone from its very youngest patrons – in fact it’s actually home to an entire land dedicated to Thomas the Tank Engine – to its most adventurous. It’s also got a zoo and a hotel if you’re coming from far away. What’s not to love?
Each of those parks comes highly recommended by those who have visited it, and by the expert team at TripAdvisor themselves. Also mentioned in the top 25 was the Milky Way Theme Park in Cornwall, which states that it has attractions for ‘0-99 years’ of age. It’s also got plenty to do inside – from dodgems to pottery painting – so it’s a great choice whatever the weather.
You can have a look at all of the world’s best theme parks, including reviews for the four in the UK, on TripAdvisor here.
Theme park thrills with Time Out
We’re on top of all the ups and downs of the UK’s theme parks here at Time Out, from rankings of the country’s greatest thrill parks to explaining why a potential Flamingo Land in Loch Lomond has been so controversial. We have also been keeping up to date on the new Universal park which is due to open here in the coming years.
This is the best thing to do in the UK in 2025, according to TripAdvisor.
Plus: An interactive map has just launched of historic seaside attractions in England.
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