Activity Parks in and near Cheddar

The Grand Pier

Enjoy an enjoyable day out at the Grand Pier. Entertainers, music, fun games & attractions, gift shop and a new licensed bar are all on hand to ensure your day at the Grand Pier is still as enjoyable ... more

If you're looking for a day full of thrilling rides and exciting attractions, look no further than England's fantastic activity parks. The rollercoasters and other exhilarating rides at England's activity parks are among the most innovative and scariest in the world.

With attractions ranging from scream-inducing thrill rides to calmer activities for kids, these fun-filled venues will provide young and old alike with hours of entertainment.

Alton Towers, near Bath, is perhaps the best known of all England's amusement parks. It's home to blockbuster rides like 'Oblivion', the world's first vertical drop rollercoaster, that plunges you sharply downwards at jaw-dropping speed. 'Nemesis' is an inverted rollercoaster, that exerts a breathtaking 4Gs of force on its riders, and 'Submission' subjects you to 90 seconds of stomach-churning spinning and inversion, rotating 15m above ground level.

Thorpe Park near Reading is a must-do theme park for adrenaline junkies, with over 25 white knuckle rides and attractions. Rollercoaster addicts will be blown away by 'Stealth', Europe's fastest rollercoaster that accelerates from zero to 80 mph in under two seconds, and Nemesis Inferno, a crazy 4.5 G-force ride. If you're still craving more of your adrenaline fix, try Vortex, an exciting high-swinging ride, or climb on 'Rush', the world's biggest air-powered speed swing. Thorpe Park also has Europe's highest water ride, 'Tidal Wive'.

The tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the world is at the popular coastal attraction of Blackpool Pleasure Beach: the 'Pepsi Max Big One' is a thrilling, twirling and looping ride that you'll never forget. The Pleasure Beach also has a whopping 145 other rides, including the classic twin tracked coaster, 'The Grand National', which has been delighting riders since 1935. Your train leaves the lovely Art Deco station and 'competes' with a rival coaster on the other side at an exciting speed. Or get turned upside down several times on the 'Revolution'. You'll also get the chance to see the superb live shows that are performed at Pleasure Beach.

For some really unique and unpredictable rides that will have you screaming like a banshee, head to Drayton Manor Theme Park at Tamworth, near Birmingham for a real family adventure. 'The Apocalypse' lives up to its daunting name, as it's the world's first stand-up tower drop and has been called Britain's scariest ride. It takes riders to a height of 54m and then leans them forward at an insane 15 degree angle, before they drop and experience the feeling of lightning-speed freefall! As if the ride needed to be more scary, there are also no footrests and riders are only held on by their shoulder restraints.

Drayton Manor also has the electrifying 'Shockwave', the only stand-up rollercoaster in Europe, which twists and turns at a startling speed. For something different, try their spectacular water ride, 'Stormforce 10', which recreates a lifeboat rescue with three intense drops. For younger thrill-seekers, Drayton Manor has a variety of cute themed rides, including the 'Pirate Adventure' and 'Wild West Adventure'. And kids will be delighted by Circus World, where they can experience the fun of the Big Top.

There's no shortage of fun to be had for little ones in England's activity parks. Children will be entranced by the magical world of entertainment in the top quality theme parks.

If you have a budding knight or princess, they'll adore Camelot Theme Park in Southport, a fantasy world of Arthurian legend. They'll be mystified by the illusions of Merlin the Wizard, and can watch a spectacular jousting tournament where 'knights' battle it out on horseback just as they did in Medieval times, with jesters, jugglers and fire-eaters adding to the colourful atmosphere. There is also a fun indoor play area, and a number of theme park rides that will delight bigger kids too. 'Whirlwind' allows you experience the chaos of being caught up in a whirlwind as the ride spins through a turbulent storm. Or have some wet and wild fun on Pendragon's Plunge, three twisting water slides.

An epic day out for the kids will be a visit to Legoland in Windsor, a family-oriented theme park based on the creative fun kids can have with Lego blocks. The Dragon roller coaster takes riders through a knight's castle, past Lego models and dungeons to where a scary red dragon guards his treasure, before the ride gains speed and leaves the castle to fly through the trees. The Pirate Falls is an exciting water ride passing animated Lego pirates and ending in a big splash, and the Jungle Coaster takes families on a twisting and turning ride at speeds of up to 60 km/h. For more quiet enjoyment, take the boat ride on the Fairy Tale Brook and see all your favourite storybook characters.