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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Theme park with big age difference kids

31 replies

Sportbilly · 26/06/2020 10:37

I have boys of nearly 12 years old and 1 year old...the 12 year old loves theme parks (we have done Legoland and Drayton)...looking for somewhere where we can have an overnight stay and enjoy the park, and potentially somewhere with a pool too.

I guess a one year old is too small to do anything at any of the theme parks? Alton Towers seems the obvious choice but Poulton Park gets rave reviews...anybody have any personal experiences on these or perhaps Chessington or Flamingoland are good alternatives

OP posts:
Butternutsqoosh · 26/06/2020 10:44

I'd say Paultons Park is a bit tame for a 12 year old, I love fairly close by, maybe chessington a better option

Quartz2208 · 26/06/2020 10:50

I have to say I think Paultons Park would be amazing for the 1 year old but slightly tame for the 12 year old.

Chessington - I dont think has much for a 1 year old but more for the 12 year old

Paultons Park is in a lovely location for a longer break

LoisLittsLover · 26/06/2020 10:51

Chessington also has the zoo and th3 dea life centre which make it great for families with a wide age range in my opinion

Original poster
Sportbilly · 26/06/2020 10:59

Thanks, some really good feedback. Specifically on P Park...is it that there are plenty of rides but no really for older kids? will check out chessington as that sounds good too

OP posts:
AriettyHomily · 26/06/2020 11:01

Paulton's Park is definitely aimed at younger kids.

Mammaaof · 26/06/2020 11:05

Not much in Chessington for younger, I took my then 2 year old last aug and she couldn't go on anything and spent 2 days stuck in the pram

Original poster
Sportbilly · 26/06/2020 11:21

Lol...not having much luck. Paultons ok for younger and Chessington ok for older grrrrr

OP posts:
Imadreamer44 · 26/06/2020 11:24

How about Blackpool pleasure Beach? They have nickelodeon themed areas and larger rides for the older child.
There's the big sandcastle indoor water park across the road too.

supercalifragilistic123 · 26/06/2020 11:26

Chessington has loads for younger kids. I took my just turned 1yo and she went on most things. I was surprised at how much they'd let you go on as long as you sat next to them. Obviously she couldn't go on the larger roller coasters but there was enough. We had a brilliant time. I took my 4yo too.

We were supposed to go back to stay in May but obviously that was cancelled 😞

Mammaaof · 26/06/2020 11:32

@supercalifragiliatic123 please could you tell me what your child went on? As they were so strict when I went got the measuring stick out every single ride even if she was 1cm under she wasn't allowed on. The height is 90cm and over before allowed to ride anything (you can check their website to confirm this)

Quartz2208 · 26/06/2020 11:50

Actually thinking about it Chessington will be opening the Rainforest area when it opens with one ride rethemed, one fitting in and a new water ride that was 90 cm that looked good when I saw it.

They have also got an elmer ride and a truckers ride as well and then the zoo area

We live near it though and go often and dont find we can spend the whole day whereas we can with Paultons Park (Which zoo aside I think is fairly similar to Drayton Manor Peppa Pig/Thomasland and fairly similar rides for the rest

supercalifragilistic123 · 26/06/2020 12:22

I've just had a look on the website as was doubting myself but there's lots!
We did gruffulo, Elmer, room on the broom, carousel, sea dragons, tiny truckers, tomb blaster and I'm sure there was others I've forgotten.

She didn't go on everything, but did go on the majority of things my 4yo went on.

Original poster
Sportbilly · 26/06/2020 12:29

Thanks. Assume those kiddies rides you mention do not have height restrictions if with an adult then? Sounds good!

OP posts:
bookmum08 · 26/06/2020 12:43

Surely the 1 year old would just be in his buggy and happy to toddle around a play area or picnic area. If you think your older one is responsible enough to go on some rides by themselves I would leave him too it and just hang out with the baby - although it would probably be more fun if he could bring a mate along. I wouldn't bother to find a theme park the baby would be interested in yet. Focus on the older one and in a couple of years when baby is older you find a toddler friendly place and your older one can stay home if they don't want to go. Or leave baby at home (with a babysitter obvs!).

iloveredwine · 26/06/2020 13:01

Thorpe park ironically as it has the beach bit for the little one and loads of rides for 12 year old! We live near there as use it a lot

Original poster
Sportbilly · 26/06/2020 13:08

Thorpe Park..not thought of that. For anybody who has been to both Thorpe or Chessington and why?

OP posts:
ShaunaTheSheep · 26/06/2020 13:10

Chessington over Thorpe park for those ages. Definitely.

okiedokieme · 26/06/2020 13:18

No idea about U.K. parks but my DD's loved Disney as toddlers and loved it at 15&17 (they are begging me to take them for Dd2s 21st!)

GreyishDays · 26/06/2020 13:21

Would your 12 yr old go on rides themselves? That would help.

supercalifragilistic123 · 26/06/2020 13:37

Yep exactly. As long as you have an adult.
Have a look on their website, all the info is there.

supercalifragilistic123 · 26/06/2020 13:37

Sorry I thought I replied but it didn't work...

Original poster
Sportbilly · 26/06/2020 13:40

Disney is the dream but man alive it is expensive....for those prices would want to be sharing a bed with Mickey and Minnie!

OP posts:
Jumblebumblemess · 26/06/2020 13:43

I would Alton towers. Plenty of thrill rides for the eldest and cbeebies land for the 1 year old.

We are season tickets at Paultons and love it with our 3 year old but I think a 12 year old may be bored as only 2 or 3 bigger thrill rides.

FrangipaniBlue · 26/06/2020 21:19

Disney is the dream but man alive it is expensive....for those prices would want to be sharing a bed with Mickey and Minnie!

If you stay offsite at Val d'Europe and arrange your own travel it's not as bad as you think - we went for 4 nights at May half term (not this year!) for the same price as 4 nights at Center Parcs was going to cost us - Eurostar, hotel & park tickets all in.

Luxy · 02/07/2020 16:23

What about Famingo Land, that has rides and a zoo and accommodation, a good pool with flumes, but not sure if that will all be open at the minute.