Main Attractions
With a selection of high adrenalin rides sitting next to a delightful Thomasland, based on the Thomas the Tank Engines stories for younger children, there’s something for all the family at Drayton Manor Theme Park. For the low down on all the discounts, deals and top tips to beat the queues at Drayton Manor, use this insider guide.
Top tips
When to go to beat the queues
There are no fastrack tickets at this Theme Park, so you will need your wits about you to beat the queues! Choose your day carefully avoiding the school holidays if you can or make use of those teacher training days for quieter days.
As with all Theme Parks, the best way to avoid the queues is by getting there early. The park opens about an hour before the rides, giving you plenty of time to park up, puchase tickets and be ready to go the moment it opens! Your quietest time will be the first hour/90 minutes so best to do the high adrenalin rides at the beginning of the day.
Off-peak, G-Force & Splash Canyon open later in the day so best heading straight for other adrenalin rides on less busy days.
On any day, the busiest queues tend to build for Maelstrom, Stormforce 10 & Shockwave. Stormforce 10 & Splash Canyon, (both water rides) get busier throughout the day with the queue peaking at around 1-2pm. If you don’t mind getting wet early, try these rides around 11/11.30am.
Pandemonium, another adrenalin ride located in Aerial Park, has good queue capacity even though the queues may look very full.
For families with younger children, you will find that Thomasland can get very busy early on as this is the area that little ones head for first. If you are not able to arrive early and beat the queues, the advice would be to leave Thomasland until early afternoon as others begin to explore the rest of the theme park.
Have a break
Take a Picnic: picnics are welcome at Drayton Manor and are an easy way to make some savings whilst also avoiding lengthy queues for lunch! There are lockers located at the theme park to store your picnic. There are plenty of ideal picnic spots around the park but our favourite has to be by Spencer’s Activity Park which hosts an extensive adventure play park for children around the age of 8 or younger.
Places to Eat: here’s our top tip for lunch away from the crowds, try the Rainforest Cafe located close to the entrance to the Zoo. Whilst this serves all you typical theme park junk food, it tends to be much quieter than Central Plaza
On a fortune
Why not combine a day out to Drayton Manor with an overnight stay at The Belfry Hotel, only ten miles away. Set within 550 acres of grounds, The Belfry boasts of a luxourious spa & leisure club as well as three 18 hole golf courses! Try a Golf or a Spa Package for a truly indulgent break.
Something querky
Experience the fun of Thomasland at Christmas time with a live Christmas show and guaranteed snow three times a day. Running from November to January, check out Drayton Manor’s website for further details.
Brought the kids but not interested yourself?
Take a leisurely stroll around the zoo. Although beginning to look quite dated, there are still some interesting sights to see. Why not have a peek in Thomasland whatever the age of your own kids as you’ll still be swept away with the magic of the place.
Parents with young children
Thomasland at Drayton Manor
Children under 3 are free of charge. There is a toddler ticket but frankly not always the best deal at the park. However Thomasland is lovely and quite magical for little ones with an array of rides to suit all young children. The other ‘must’ is Spencer’s Activity Park which will delight young children for quite some time and a great place to take a break.
In wetter weather, check out Emily’s Adventure Play, an indoor play area although you won’t be the only ones with this idea!
Baby changing facilities are available throughout the park with a private room for nursing mothers in Thomasland. Nappies and other essential baby care items can be found at the central toy shop. Buggies can be hired at the entrance to the park for £5 for the day, (deposit required).
Drayton Manor does offer a parent swap deal although both parent and child/ren have to queue together to allow each parent to experience the larger thrill rides.
Parking
Free car parking.
Accommodation
Drayton Manor has it’s own camping & caravan site with all the usual on-site facilities and holds up to 75 pitches. Watch out for the Drayton Manor hotel ready to open in 2011.
And finally..
Try out the Happy Feet 4D film experience in central plaza that uses 3D glasses and special effects to bring in that fourth dimension. Whilst younger children may not like this, older kids most definitely will with moving seats, wind & rain special effects combined with 3D images to keep you on your toes. If you are looking for a soaking the best place to be is down the front of the theatre!
