Can you recommend any good theme parks in the UK

Asks Esme Harrison

A. With the foot and mouth epidemic continuing to keep visitors out of the countryside, seaside resorts (Hastings has just announced record visitor figures for the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend) and theme parks in particular, are currently enjoying a massive boost in their popularity. Theme parks provide a traditional, if somewhat expensive day out, for all the family. In the UK we have a lot of choose from. We list some of the best below:

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Alton Towers, Staffordshire: Alton Towers has great rides including Oblivion (a white knuckle ride if ever there was one, you drop 200ft at 70mph and feel very sick afterwards - but it gives you such an adrenalin rush that you want to get back in the queue for another go. Unfortunately you can wait over�two hours in the queue when it's busy), Nemesis (a very fast weightless fall through the air), the Black Hole (roller coaster in the dark) and the Hex (a haunted swing ride through a haunted room).

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Admission: Adults �17; Children (up to 12) �14; Family ticket (family of 4) �60; Under 4's free. Opens at 9.30am. Closes for the winter at the end of October.

Telephone: 08705 204060. Website: http://www.altontowers.com

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Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Lancashire: If you're a roller coaster aficionado Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the place for you (but then, you know that already). It has more roller coasters than anywhere else in the world. It has five wooden and five steel roller coasters, the favourite (wooden) still being the Grand National which is 60-years-old this year. If you're into a more modern ride the Pepsi Max (steel) roller coaster is the fastest and biggest in Europe - and it is so scary! It speeds along at 85mph, with a 60-degree drop right at the beginning of the ride - just so you know what you've let yourself in for. Blackpool also has the added attraction of family shows if you're on holiday here and not just day-tripping. This year's offerings include aerial acrobatics with 'Eclipse at the Globe' starring aerial artiste Vladimir and the Hot Ice Show at the Pleasure Beach Arena, which returns to the Pleasurebeach for its 63rd year!

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Admission: Different wristbands allow you onto different rides - e.g. unlimited wristbands for all rides cost �25 for the whole day, Beaver Creek children's wristbands cost �10.95 or you can buy sheets of tickets that start at �10 for a strip up to �24 for white knuckle rides. Opens at 9.30am. Closes for the winter on 4 November.

Telephone: 0870 4445566. Website: http://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.co.uk

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Chessington World of Adventures, Chessington, Surrey: There are not as many scary rides here as there are in Blackpool (but Samurai and Ramses Revenge are pretty hairy), but this park is more family-oriented and geared towards younger children. Toytown and Beanoland are great favourites with the tots, and this year's new attraction is the jungle themed Trail of the Kings.

Admission: Adults �19.95; Children (up to 12) �16; Family ticket (family of 4) �63; Under 4's free. Opens at 10am. Closes for the winter at the end of October.

Telephone: 0870 4447777.

Website: http://www.chessington.com

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Thorpe Park, Chertsey, Surrey: This theme park grew in popularity when it was visited by Princess Diana and the two young princes, and hasn't looked back since. It used to have a similar feel to Chessington, providing a good family day out. But it changes every year, and is now giving the big boys a run for their money in terms of white-knuckle rides and has introduced three new ones this year to run alongside the fantastic Tidal Wave (highest water drop in Europe, bring an extra set of clothes), Thunder River, and Loggers Leap. The new rides are overwhelming: Detonator takes you 100ft in the air before you drop at 65mph; Zodiac makes you really sick after several 360 degree turns and The Vortex provides the ultimate spin experience - with 15 fast rotations per minute.

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Admission: Adults �19; Children (up to 12) �15; Family ticket (family of 4) �59; Under 4's free. Opens at 10am. Closes for the winter at the end of October.

Telephone: 0870 4444466. Website: http://www.thorpepark.com

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Pleasureland, Southport: Traumatizer is the fasted suspended roller coaster in the UK and is pulling in the crowds this year at Southport, which is just as well as it cost the park �5 million. Other great rides include the Cyclone, the Wild Cat, and King Solomon's Mines. For younger children The Big Apple and the Moroccan Fun House provide lots of traditional fun.

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Admission: All admission is uniquely based on height: all day wristbands for those over 1.2 metres, �13.99, 1-1.2 metres �9.99; under 1 metre �5.99. Family ticket (family of 4) �644; Opens at 9.30am (times vary). Closes for the winter on 4 November.

Telephone: 08702 200204.

Website: http://www.pleasureland.uk.com

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Drayton Manor, Staffordshire: The main attractions here take some courage to get on - as the best ones are all standing room only. Apocalypse comprises a 180ft stand-up tower drop (you'll never get in a lift again after this ride) and Shock Wave is the only stand-up roller coaster in the country. Sitting down just makes it more comfortable and easy somehow! Other attractions include Robinsons Land and Stormforce.

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Admission: Adults �14; Children (up to 14) �11; Family ticket (family of 4) �47; Under 4's free. Opens at 9am. Closes for the winter at the end of October.

Telephone: 01827 287979.

Website: http://www.draytonmanor.co.uk

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By Karen Anderson

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