If you like your days out to be adrenaline-fuelled then you will almost definitely enjoy a trip to one of the theme parks which can be found in London and the surrounding areas. Hair-raising rides, thrilling attractions and plenty of fun for people of all ages, the theme parks in London offer a great day out and whether you are planning to include a trip to one of the theme parks as part of a longer London break or you are only down for a quick overnight stop, we have the lowdown on the best ways to enjoy the various theme parks on offer in London:-
Shrek’s Adventure London
One of London’s newest family attractions, Shrek’s Adventure is located in central London making it very easy to get to wherever you are staying. The experience lasts around 75 minutes and involves boarding a 4D ‘Dreamworks Tours’ bus before being whisked along to 10 different live fairytale themed shows including Shrek’s swamp, a Mirror maze and a trip to the Poison Apple pub.
This is a great option for families with children between the ages of 6-12 years. There are two tube stations which are a 10 minute walk from the hotel, Hounslow and Osterley, which can have you in central London in less than half an hour.
Chessington World of Adventures
Less than an hour’s drive from London (and with free parking on offer) is Chessington World of Adventures which features 10 themed lands, daily shows and activities, a zoo and an aquarium which are home to more than 1,000 animals and so much more. There are more than 40 rides and attractions on offer here including classic options such as rollercoasters and dodgems and plenty for younger visitors to enjoy as well.
If you are booked into the Park Grand London Heathrow Hotel and wanted to make use of public transport to reach Chessington then the nearest train station is Chessington South and you could begin your journey at Syon Lane station, which is just a short distance from the hotel. Using South West trains and the local bus service it would take around an hour and a half to reach the theme park.
Legoland Windsor
Another popular choice for families is the Legoland Windsor Resort, around a 45 minute drive if you are booked into a hotel in Hounslow. Legoland Windsor is a brilliant day out for any fan of Lego with more than 50 interactive rides and attractions to be explored and several themed lands including Heartlake City, Land of the Vikings and Nexo Knights Kingdom.
Older children can learn to drive a Lego car and younger children are catered for too in Duplo® Valley. There is even a splash park if the weather is nice enough; Drench Towers is the largest water play structure in the UK and offers water slides, fountains and plenty of opportunities to get soaked!
Thorpe Park
Just 15 miles from the hotel is Thorpe Park, the perfect option for thrillseekers and families with older children. Thorpe Park was one of the first theme parks to open in the UK and continues to grow in popularity offering rides such as Stealth, which goes from zero to 80mph in just two seconds and takes you up 205ft in the air, The Swarm which is the UK’s first winged rollercoaster and Derren Brown’s Ghost Train which claims to be like nothing else on offer in the country.
There are also plenty of other rides here too such as teacups, dodgems, a jungle maze and a log flume. If you have decided to leave your car at the hotel and make use of the parking available there then you could use public transport to reach Thorpe Park; it would take around an hour and a half to do this.
Warner Bros. Studio The Making of Harry Potter
Although this attraction could be considered less thrilling than others, and doesn’t offer any rollercoasters or rides to speak of, it is still well worth considering if you want a full day out and have a Harry Potter fan or two in the family. Step into the world of Harry Potter and Hogwarts for the day and go behind the scenes to see the props, costumes and sets which were used in the making of the various Harry Potter movies.
Walk through the Great Hall, try your hand at riding a broomstick or enjoy a pint of Butterbeer; there is plenty to do here and with a new addition arriving in March 2017, now is the time to get your tickets booked.
London Dungeon
Another centrally located attraction, but one which is best suited to older children and adults is the London Dungeon. This 90 minute, interactive experience takes you through 1,000 years of London’s bloodiest and murkiest history and features 18 shows, 20 live actors, 2 rides and a whole heap of special effects. This isn’t for the faint of heart but if you like to combine laugh, screams and innovative story-telling then this is the experience for you.
The Park Grand London Heathrow Hotel is the ideal accommodation choice if you would like to visit any of these London theme parks. It has easy access to public transport, including the London tube and over-ground trains, and has parking available for those who would prefer to drive to the attractions instead; the majority of these attractions, bar those in central London, offer parking for the day which makes driving a very easy and straightforward option.
The hotel itself offers a variety of rooms suitable for single travellers, couples or families looking to come to London for an exciting break and is a contemporary hotel with complimentary broadband on offer so you can check in and make plans for your day out with ease. This 4 star hotel is the obvious choice for anyone who wants to enjoy a fun-filled and adventurous break in London.
