A family holiday on a working farm is a great way to unwind and relax. But when you’re in the mood for a little excitement, nothing beats a day out at a theme park.
There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from thrilling rides and colourful attractions to opportunities for children to meet their favourite characters from books and TV shows. And if you don’t mind getting soaked, a splash-filled water ride is guaranteed to bring plenty of laughter and squeals of delight.
After a day packed with excitement, you’ll appreciate returning to the peace and quiet of the countryside. Fire up the barbecue as the sun goes down, or sink into a hot tub to soothe tired muscles and reflect on the day’s fun.
We’ve picked some of the best theme parks in the UK, along with recommendations for family-friendly farm stays nearby.
Alton Towers is Britain’s largest theme park, set within 500 acres of landscaped grounds and offering more than 40 rides and attractions for the whole family to enjoy.
Among the highlights is Nemesis Sub-Terra, an intense drop-tower dark ride in Forbidden Valley that plunges guests deep into the Earth’s core to a secret research facility for a close encounter with the mysterious Nemesis egg. Thrill-seekers can also experience The Smiler, the world’s first 14-loop rollercoaster, reaching speeds of over 50 mph and designed to challenge both body and mind. Meanwhile, Wicker Man, a wooden coaster, sends riders racing through a labyrinth of smoke-filled tunnels before bursting dramatically through the flaming Wicker Man effigy.
Younger visitors will love CBeebies Land, where they can meet and play alongside favourite characters from popular shows such as Octonauts, In the Night Garden, JoJo & GranGran, and Something Special.
When it’s time to refuel, choose from a range of themed restaurants serving an eclectic mix of British and international dishes. A standout option is the UK’s first Rollercoaster Restaurant, set beneath a vast network of looping track where diners can watch their orders travel along gravity-defying rails before spiralling down to the table.
Alton Towers is open from March to the end of October. Day passes booked online start from £32.
Where to stay: Pine Cottage at Broadhurst Farm
Operating since 1896, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is a classic seaside amusement park offering a wide range of thrilling rides for visitors of all ages. Its rollercoasters include the iconic Big One, where the clunking ascent of the lift hill slowly builds anticipation before riders plunge 205 feet down the first dramatic drop. For an even bigger challenge, brave Valhalla, widely regarded as one of the world’s best water rides, which pushes riders to their limits as they experience all four elements through high-speed action, state-of-the-art special effects, and immersive storytelling.
Nickelodeon Land is specially designed for younger visitors, giving children the chance to meet their favourite characters, soar to the sky on Diego’s Rainforest Rescue, solve mysteries with the PAW Patrol pups, and dance with SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick, and Squidward in Bikini Bottom.
The park offers a wide variety of food and drink options, whether you’re looking for a sit-down meal or a quick bite on the go. While food and drink cannot be taken into the park, a picnic area is available just outside the entrance, along with lockers where you can store refreshments during your visit.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is open from March to the end of November. Day passes booked online start from £30.
With 25 of the UK’s most exhilarating rides, Thorpe Park is a fantastic day out for thrill-seekers. Brave the record-breaking Hyperia, the country’s tallest, fastest, and most weightless rollercoaster, featuring two inversions, a barrel-roll downdrop, and a stalled dive loop. Feel the horsepower of two Formula 1 cars on Stealth, which launches riders from 0 to 80 mph in just 1.8 seconds, guaranteed to get the adrenaline pumping. Or take on The Swarm, reaching speeds of over 60 mph as you soar through a post-apocalyptic landscape, narrowly dodging the spinning blades of a crashed helicopter and sweeping past a blazing fire engine.
Thorpe Park also offers a great selection of water rides for anyone keen to embrace the thrill of getting soaked. For a change of pace, head to the park’s cinema for an immersive 4D movie experience, complete with motion seats and special effects such as mist, bubbles, air blasts, and flashing lights.
When it’s time for a bite to eat, you’ll be spoilt for choice with plenty of restaurants and cafés serving everything from fast-food favourites and light lunches to snacks and sweet treats.
Thorpe Park is open from the end of March to mid-December. Day passes booked online start from £32.
Where to stay: Hawthorn Farmhouse
Chessington World of Adventures covers 128 acres with 11 themed lands offering more than 40 rides and attractions. Popular highlights include Mandrill Mayhem, where riders race through the world of Jumanji, flying past iconic locations, tackling Chessington’s first inversion, and dodging the hazards of the jungle. On Ostrich Stampede, guests weave through the dunes while avoiding a herd of charging ostriches, while the daring Croc Drop sends visitors plunging more than 80 feet into the giant open jaws of a crocodile below.
The park is also home to a zoo with over 1,000 animals, many of which are endangered or extinct in the wild. Children will love coming face to face with giraffes, zebras, monkeys, penguins, and sea lions, while animal experiences offer opportunities for feeding sessions, safari-style adventures, and close-up encounters. At the SEA LIFE centre, visitors can discover a wide variety of marine creatures, including piranhas, rays, sharks, seahorses, octopuses, and clownfish. A touch pool allows younger visitors to safely interact with some of the sea life.
When it’s time to eat, there is a fantastic range of restaurants and cafés catering for the whole family, serving everything from pizza, burgers, hot dogs, fish and chips, and barbecue dishes to sandwiches, snacks, and hot drinks.
Chessington is open all year round with the main season running from March to October. Day passes booked online start from £32.
One of Britain’s most popular theme parks, Legoland is designed especially for children aged three to twelve. Spanning 150 acres, the park is divided into 11 themed lands housing a colourful mix of Lego-themed rides, intricate models, and hands-on building workshops.
Among the standout attractions is Minifigure Speedway, the world’s first Lego-themed duelling rollercoaster, which races both forwards and backwards. Thrill-seekers can also experience Flight of the Sky Lion, the UK’s first flying theatre ride, where guests come face-to-face with some of Lego Mythica’s rarest and most fearsome creatures. Meanwhile, Lego City Deep Sea Adventure invites visitors to board a submarine and dive beneath the waves, encountering sharks, stingrays, crabs, hundreds of fish, and a giant octopus.
Younger guests are well catered for too. The Duplo Dino Coaster offers the perfect first rollercoaster experience, while L-Drivers lets children take the wheel of their own electric cars along the quieter roads of Lego City. Splash Safari provides a safe and playful water area where toddlers can explore alongside a friendly collection of Duplo-themed animals. Families can also enjoy an indoor mini golf experience, suitable for all ages, alongside a full programme of live shows, character meet-and-greets, and immersive 4D movie screenings.
Food options are varied and family-friendly, with favourites such as pizzas, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, and salads, as well as the park’s signature loaded Lego fries. Ice-cream parlours and a traditional sweet shop offer treats including pick-and-mix, popcorn, candy floss, and novelty confectionery. For those bringing in their own meals, a dedicated picnic area is also available.
Legoland is open from the middle of March to early November. Day passes booked online start from £32.
Built in grounds that once belonged to Sir Robert Peel, the father of modern policing, Drayton Manor is home to more than 100 rides and attractions set within 280 acres of beautiful parkland and lakes.
Among the park’s most popular rides is Gold Rush, set against the backdrop of an old-time mining town, which takes visitors on an exhilarating journey filled with twists, turns, and drops, recreating the sensation of a runaway mine cart. Thrill seekers will love Stormforce 10, a heart-stopping water ride with three dramatic drops and an unexpected twist guaranteed to excite any adrenaline junkie. Meanwhile, Maelstrom, a stomach-churning gyro swing, sends riders soaring with their legs freely suspended, creating an unforgettable sensation of freedom and flight. The park is also home to Thomas Land, where younger visitors can explore the magical Island of Sodor and enjoy themed rides alongside Thomas, Rosie, and Percy.
At the heart of Drayton Manor lies its zoo, with carefully curated exhibits that showcase a diverse range of animals, including mongooses, chameleons, red pandas, spider monkeys, and cockatoos.
Guests can refuel throughout the day with a variety of food and drink options, whether grabbing a quick bite between rides or sitting down for a family meal. Visitors are also welcome to bring their own food and enjoy it in one of the picnic areas or beneath the teashop canopy.
Drayton Manor is open from March to early November. Day passes booked online start from £27.50.
Located in the heart of the New Forest National Park, Paultons Park is a family-friendly amusement park set within 140 acres of beautiful grounds, offering more than 70 rides and attractions for all ages. Popular rides include Storm Chaser, a high-energy spinning rollercoaster packed with unpredictable twists and turns; Ghostly Manor, a spine-tingling adventure where mysterious artefacts come to life and eerie apparitions lurk around every corner; and Splash Lagoon, a gentle mini flume perfect for younger visitors, who will delight in discovering new species of dinosaurs along the way.
Paultons Park is also home to Peppa Pig World, where children can meet Peppa and her friends while enjoying themed train, balloon, boat, and helicopter rides designed especially for little ones. Beyond the rides, the park houses a collection of animals, including penguins, ring-tailed lemurs, mongooses, meerkats, and giant tortoises.
Visitors are well catered for with a wide range of restaurants and cafés where you can grab from breakfast baps, burgers, pizzas, burritos, fish and chips, and deep-filled sandwiches between rides. Guests are also welcome to bring their own picnic, with numerous designated areas throughout the park ideal for enjoying a relaxed meal outdoors.
Drayton Manor is open from the end of March to early October. Day passes booked online start from £46.75.
Overlooking the picturesque village of Carrbridge in the heart of the Cairngorms, Landmark Adventure Park is set within a beautiful Caledonian pine forest. The park has more than 20 rides and attractions, including the exhilarating Wild Water Coasters, where riders brave near-vertical drops and three cascading waterfalls, ending in spectacular splashes.
For those seeking adventure in the treetops, Networx offers a unique aerial experience, inviting families to climb high into the forest canopy and navigate a network of giant bouncy nets. Thrill-seekers can take on Skydive, a parachute jump simulation from the top of the pines that’s sure to test even the steadiest nerves. Alternatively, climb the 105 steps of the wooden Forest Tower and enjoy breathtaking views across the surrounding mountains.
In Dinosaur Kingdom, younger visitors will love coming face-to-face with 22 life-sized, moving, and roaring dinosaurs, including an imposing 22-foot-tall T-Rex. Those who prefer something a little gentler can explore the enchanting Butterfly House, home to a stunning collection of exotic butterflies set among vibrant tropical flowers and a tranquil fish pond.
When it’s time to eat, the café offers a selection of light, seasonal dishes alongside classic favourites, while the grill serves crowd-pleasers such as juicy burgers, baked potatoes, and mac ‘n’ cheese. There are also plenty of picnic areas for visitors who wish to bring their own food.
Landmark Forest Adventure Park is open from the end of March to the end of October. Day passed booked online start from £31.00.
