What next for Chessington World of Adventures?
It has traditionally been the mid-range, families with growing children, theme park in Merlin Entertainments’ portfolio of UK theme parks. But with Thorpe Park this year shunning its “thrill capital”…
Nemesis: 20 years of a world class rollercoaster
It was built to redefine Britain’s most successful theme park. 20 years on, the Nemesis rollercoaster continues to set the standard at Alton Towers. From claiming countless pairs of loosely-fitted…
Merlin’s new VIP annual pass: Worthy of £500?
Merlin Entertainments has announced a £500 ‘VIP’ annual pass, which offers an extensive number of benefits at its attractions. But how popular will uptake of the product be? We take…
Volunteers helping Dreamland rise from ashes
by Peter Andrews After months – and indeed years – of legal proceedings, court cases and appeals, Dreamland Margate opened its doors on 16 November after an emotional ribbon cutting…
Could the Oblivion rollercoaster ever stall?
By all sensible definitions, it is the steepest rollercoaster in UK – and also has the fastest drop – but could Alton Towers’ Oblivion ever realistically stall? With a 180…
The strange white paint on rollercoaster tracks
If you visit theme parks early in the season, you might have noticed that on some rides there are peculiar-looking patches of white spray paint. Particularly noticeable on Blackpool Pleasure…
Why has The Smiler had so many problems?
If you’ve been to Alton Towers this year and found its latest rollercoaster closed, you are far from alone. The Smiler opened more than two months behind schedule, but even…
The best and worst of the TripAdvisor review
The end of the summer holiday period inches closer, and theme parks prepare to end their busiest time of year. This hive of activity is echoed by the surge in…