Chessington named amongst UK’s best value theme parks

Large cottage accommodation provider Big Domain has crunched the data to find out which of the UK’s theme parks offer the best value for money by comparing the number of rides, cost of entry, parking fees, TripAdvisor ratings and Instagramability. Here are the places that made the top 10 for cheap thrills this summer:

Alton Towers, Staffordshire

Coming in first place is Alton Towers in Staffordshire, and with a 4/5 satisfaction score, it’s no surprise that the park has over 2 million visitors in a typical year. With 40+ rides to choose from, including 10 roller coasters, there is something to please everyone, whether you’re a thrill seeker waiting to drop on Oblivion or keen to spend the day pottering around Cbeebies Land. It’s also the most Instagrammable theme park, racking up just shy of 400,000 hashtags from visitors. Although it costs £162 for a family of four to visit, the sheer number of rides means the price per ride is just 98p. Be sure to book in advance though, as doing so can save you around £14 per ticket, totting up to approximately £56 for a family!

Flamingo Land, North Yorkshire

In second place is Flamingo Land, which has 52+ rides, and if you rode them all on the same day, it would average out at around 67p per ride! It’s home to Mumbo Jumbo, a record-breaking ride for having the most extreme drop in rollercoaster history – one not to miss if you’re an adrenaline junkie. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the park also has around 13 rides with no height restrictions, meaning it’s also a good option for younger kids who may not meet the criteria for some of the larger rides. Its low cost, 3.5/5 satisfaction score and 68k Instagram hashtags have helped Flamingo Land to claim second place.

Legoland, Windsor

Legoland is fantastically inclusive for all ages and all heights, with more than 22 rides without height restrictions, perfect for the little kids. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to appeal to the adults (and big kids) too – with 45+ rides, including 6 water rides and 4 rollercoasters, menaing the cost is just 86p per ride. That’s not to mention the intricate artwork on show at Miniworld, where famous landmarks from across the globe have been recreated in miniature, and LEGO Mythica, the UK’s first flying theatre ride! Be sure to book this adventure in advance as it’ll save you around £16 per ticket, £64 for a family.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool

This iconic theme park has an average satisfaction score of 4/5, and despite it being one of the most expensive to park, it’s worth paying the price to test out 40+ rides. This includes 10 rollercoasters, featuring the UK’s tallest rollercoaster, The Big One, as well as two incredible looping coasters which were UK firsts! With a 4/5 satisfaction score, visitors agree it’s more than worth the £1.05 a ride. The kids will be thrilled by Nickelodeon Land, where they can find Spongebob and some of the Paw Patrol squad.

Crealy, Devon

Coming in at the cheapest average cost for a family of our top 10, and the cheapest average cost per ride (just 36p!) Crealy is certainly one of the most budget friendly options that made our best value. It has 60+ rides making it one of the best for variety, and is situated in Devon, a real family favourite holiday destination. There’s also more than 200 animals that you can meet on-site – which is why we’re not surprised that it’s been voted Devon’s best day out for a staggering eight years running!

Also featured in the top 10 are:

Drayton Manor, Staffordshire
Thorpe Park, Surrey
Paultons Park, Hampshire
Twinlakes, Leicestershire
Chessington, London

Despite not making it into the 10 best value theme parks, there were a few others we thought deserved a special mention, including:

Woodlands in Devon, which had the most budget-friendly overall price at just £60.80 for a family of four.
Lightwater Valley in North Yorkshire, which was the cheapest option for family with babies or toddlers at just £33 for two adults with two babies in tow.
Shannon Keary, PR & Communications Manager at Big Domain commented: “There are so many amazing theme parks dotted all over the UK and it’s been very interesting to research them all to find out what really sets them apart from their competitors, whether it’s the fastest rollercoasters, the most child-friendly or those which have the biggest variety.

“This year everyone is especially excited to get out and explore this summer, so hopefully these cheap thrills will provide inspiration, and help to make the choice just that little bit easier!”