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Theme
Parks - Day Trips Out from Manchester
Alton
Towers
Alton,
Staffordshire ST10 4DB. Guest Services Tel: 0990-20 40 60.
Hotel Reservations: 0990-00 11 00. Web: www.alton-towers.co.uk
Perhaps the most famous theme park in Britain, Alton Towers is
a complete day out, though rather expensive, for the family set
in the Staffordshire countryside a few miles from Uttoxeter, and
about 1 hour's drive from central Manchester. Rides, attractions
and over 200 acres of landscaped garden and parkland.


LOCATION
42 miles from Manchester. By Car: travelling north M1 Motorway
Junction 23A, M6 Junction 15. Travelling south M1 Junction 28,
M6 Junction 16. By Rail the Intercity service offers inclusive
travel-entry tickets from London Euston and many other parts of
the country, with bus transfers from Stoke-on-Trent station to
Alton. Telephone British Rail: 0171-387 7070 for times and prices.
Buses from Stoke-on-Trent to Alton.
ENTRY
In 2009 entry was about £35.00 per adult, car parking free, with
concessions (children 4-11 years £27.50, Seniors and Disabled
Persons around £17.50) and family tickets at around £100.00
for a day, with substantial discounts for online advance booking.
But please check - prices may have changed since publication.
Prices include admission and entry to all rides and attractions.
Special group rates available for parties of 12 or more by coach
or minibus. Contact Guest Services for details.
OPENING
In 2009, the park opens from 9.30am with rides and attractions
opening at 10.00am. Rides and attractions open 7 days a week from
around the 28th March to 1st November. Times may change - please
check before setting out. Closing times vary throughout the season,
but are typically between 5.00pm and 7.00pm.
FACILITIES
Extensive facilities for the disabled, including toilets and Medical
Centre on site, but some attractions and rides are restricted.
See Medical Centre for advice and explanatory leaflet "Guide for
Disabled Visitors". Food concessions throughout the park including
several Alton Eats Restaurants and Explorers Restaurant, Bagshaws
Family Restaurant and Corner Coffee Shop, the Katanga Cookhouse,
Garden Terrace Restaurant, Cadbury's Chocolate House and the Haagen-Dazs
World of Ice Cream. No dogs allowed except guide dogs. Numerous
souvenir and merchandising shops, educational packs available
for school parties - contact Guest Services on Telephone : 0990-20-40-60.

Alton Towers. Aerial photograoh courtesy of Webb Aviation ©
2008 - all rights reserved www.webbaviation.co.uk
Alton
Towers Attractions & Rides
Adventure
Land
With
ball pools, slides, playgrounds and the Beastie Children's Rollercoaster,
the fantastic Spinball Whizzer spinning roller coaster offers thrills
and spills for the whole family in a giant pinball machine experience
and you can travel through the tree-tops on the Squirrel Nutty Ride.
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Visit the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Ride, and travel through
the amazing chocolate factory and above the park in the great glass
elevator. Kids can get their own driving licence at the Driving
School. Other rides and attractions include the Twirling Toadstool,
Frog Hopper, Gallopers Carousel, Wobble World indoor play area,
and the Cloud Cuckoo Land Theatre.
Forbidden Valley
The "Edge of the Earth" zone with some amazingly terrifying
rides including the famous Nemesis inverted roller coaster, and
Air where riders assume the flying position for an amazing experience
as well as the swinging ship Blade and the twisting, rolling Ripsaw
.
Katanga Canyon
A recreated African village with a Runaway Minetrain, and the ferocious
Congo River Rapids.
X-Sector
Enter the X-Sector, with the foreboding "Oblivion" vertical
drop rollercoaster, the gravity-defying vertical spinning
ride "Enterprise" and "Submission".
Gloomy Wood
Explore a forest cemetery and enter what is reputedly the most haunted
house in Britain.
UGLand
See the prehistoric age and have fun in UG Land.
Old MacDonalds Farm
Take a trip round the Riverbank Eye-Spy or drive a tractor on the
Tractor Ride.
Towers Street
The Park offers plenty of quirky shops and cafes to grab
a snack or buy some souvenirs. You can also board the Sky Ride,
which can take you to either the Forbidden Valley or Cred Street.
Alton
Towers Hotel
Opened
in 1996, this 175 room hotel is located within Alton Towers Park,
and is uniquely themed - with 37 foot high Jules Verne flying machine
in the glass atrium, and rooms where fizzy drinks are on tap. Open
365 days a year. Facilities include Cadbury's Chocolate Room with
free constantly supplied chocolates; the Coca-Cola Fizzy Room with
free running Cola fountain; the Secret Garden Restaurant open for
light snacks and meals with daily specials and children's menu; the
Time For Tea Lounge, an Edwardian traditional tea room serving morning
coffee and afternoon teas with wall clocks everywhere; the Dragon
Bar with licensed cocktails, wines and beers; an Amenities Room designed
for safe changing of nappies, baby's food preparation with washing
and ironing facilities; the Nickelodeon TV Lab with children's cable
and satellite TV; the Pirate's Lagoon Leisure Spa with seascape murals,
swimming pool and upstairs games room. Prices from about £80.00 per
night including room and full English Breakfast (off peak), with suites
from £220.00, family rooms with concessions for children, and combined
Hotel and Amusement Park Packages from just over £150.00. VAT is included
in all prices. Telephone Hotel Reservations on 0990-00 11 00. Please
note: Prices are liable to change - check before setting off.
Water Park
& Other Attractions
Extraordinary
Golf
Test your skills with two wacky 9-hole courses featuring outrageous
obstacles themed around some of the famous Alton Towers rides. Putt
your way to Oblivion and meet your Nemesis. A superb extra to your
day.
Splash
Landings Hotel
A tropical hotel offering a taste of the Caribbean all year round,
overlooking the spectacular Cariba Creek Waterpark. Enjoy mouth watering
cuisine at Flambos restaurant and exotic cocktails at Ma Garrita's
Bar!
Cariba Creek Waterpark
An oasis of fun for all the family, boasting hundreds of fantastic
water features, from lazy rivers and crazy cannons to the thrills
of a water coaster. This tropical lagoon offers gallons of excitement
all year round.
Alton Towers
Spa
The luxurious Spa featuring Declor and Elemis products and open
all year round. A tranquil oasis for you to unwind and refresh mind,
body and soul complete with pool, relaxation rooms, steam room,
and sauna.
Camelot
Theme Park
Park Hall Road,
Chorley, Lancashire PR7 5LP. Main Switchboard Tel: 01257 453 044.
Sales & Marketing/ Group Bookings Dept Tel: 01257 455 030.
Hotel/Short breaks Tel: 01257 455 000. Website: www.camelotthemepark.co.uk.
THE PARK ATTRACTIONS
Voted Lancashire's "Family Attraction of the Year 2002"
by the Good Britain Guide. An amusement park with nerve shattering
ides for adults and children alike. The park is divided into five
"magical lands" including 'Squire Bumpkin's Friendly
Farm' and 'Knights Valley'. You can run the 'Gauntlet'
rollercoaster or take the 'Pendragon's Plunge'. For younger
children there's the huge soft playground and a little animal kingdom.
The Jousting area is where King Arthur could choose you to star in
a jousting tournament, and there are 'Dungeons of Doom' to
inspect in King Arthur's Castle with daily shows including juggling
and the like.

Themed weekends
are held regularly with the likes of 'Wizards' Weekend' and
'Scream Week' for Halloween. There is also a 'Cadbury's
Chocolate Themed Room'
OPENING &
PRICES
For details on opening times call the Camelot 24 hour hotline on:
08702 20 48 20 or 01257 452100 .
Special needs? Please ask - we will do our very best to help.
Entrance is £20.00 per person, which includes unlimited rides,
shows, attractions and farm (extra charge for Go-Karts & Driving
School). Children under 1 metre tall go free. Family tickets available
- only £55
for 4 guests for unlimited rides all day long.... BUT Please note
that prices and times may have changed - check before you set out.
Special Rates Available for senior citizens, disabled visitors and
pre-booked groups of twelve or more. For information on advanced group
bookings call 01257 455030. Pre-booked groups of 12 or more paying
guests can enjoy Camelot's thrilling rides, spectacular live shows
and other exciting attractions for just £8.50 per person and
children under 1 metre tall are free of charge. Plus free entry for
the Group Organiser & Coach Driver, free posters and leaflets
to help promote your visit.
To receive the new information when available email your name and
address to: kingarthur@camelotthemepark.co.uk.
LOCATION
From Manchester take the A56 (Bury New Road) north towards Bury, and
join the M62 at Whitefield (Junction 17) about 5 miles north of Manchester
City Centre. Exit Junction 15 onto M61 follow signposts for Preston
and M6 Motorway. Exit Junction 8 for Camelot (well signposted. Or
from the M6 Motorway, exit Junction 27 northbound or Junction 28 southbound
and follow the signs for Camelot.
CAMELOT'S
PARK HALL HOTEL
Charnock Richard, Chorley, Lancs PR7 5LP.
Tel: 01257 455 000. Fax: 01257 451 838.
Website: www.parkhall-hotel.co.uk.
Drayton Manor
Near Tamworth,
Staffordshire B78 3TW. Tel: 0844 472 1950. Fax: 01827 288916.
Email: info@draytonmanor.co.uk. Website: www.draytonmanor.co.uk.
Drayton Manor is the UK's largest family owned theme park with legendary
rides including Shockwave, Stormforce 10 and Apocalypse. From intense
thrills on Pandemonium and G-Force to family adventures in Thomas
Land and Drayton Manor Zoo. New for 2009, cinematic 4D experience
The Curse of Skull Rock, a fun filled adventure!

Drayton Manor
is made up of six main themed lands - Action Park, Aerial Park, Fisherman's
Wharf, Pirate Cove, Thomas land and the Zoo & Farm Museum.
Opening Times
The theme park is open most days from the 21st of March until the
1st of November (subject to change) On days that the park is closed,
Drayton Manor Zoo remains open to the public. First admission is at
9.30am, closing times are typically between 5.00pm and 6.00pm
When planning your visit please check the current opening times before
setting off
Entry Prices
Adult Tickets: 1 Day Gate Price: £23.00. Online Price: £19.50.
Child Tickets: 1 Day (aged 4-11 years), Gate Price: £19.00.
Online Price: £16.20.
Family Tickets: Family of 4 (2 Adults, 2 Children), Gate Price: £70.00.
Family of 5 (2 Adults, 3 Children) Gate Price: £88.00.
Concessions: Senior: £11.00. Disabled: £18.00
Location
Drayton Manor is situated in the county of Staffordshire and near
the cities of Birmingham and Coventry.
Directions By Car: From the North, M42 - Junction 10. From the South
M42 - Junction 9. Sat Nav: B78 3TW.
Route Planner see: www.transportdirect.info.
Public Transport: You can get to Drayton Manor using a combination
of Train and Bus services, visit www.transportdirect.info to plan
your journey.
Parking
FREE
Pleasure
Island
Lytham
St Annes.
NOW
CLOSED
For the best of family entertainment, St Annes Pleasure Island
offers good value for money for a whole day's worth under covered
protection, with a value family entrance ticket for 4 persons of around
£10.00. There are indoor adventure trails, slides, boating lake, and
a ball pond, as well as evening family discos and live entertainments
throughout the day. Shops and tea shop inside an old railway carriage!!
There is an on-site cinema, and miniature railway rides around the
seafront. Outside there is a courtyard with a play galleon and play
area for younger children, paddling pool, helter-skelter, adventure
golf and a bouncy maze, as well as a sun terrace with deck chairs
and trampolines. Licensed Pirate's Tavern with satellite television
and 2 back hole water chutes. Free parking.
Gulliver's
World
Warrington
WA5 9YZ. Tel: 01925-444 888.
THE
PARK
Gulliver's World is a day out of fantasy and fun for the whole family,
with a range of adventure and theme rides and attractions within a
safe controlled environment. Attractions include Alice in Wonderland
with its Mad Hatter's Tea Party Ride, a Maze of Cards, a water lake
ride and a Soft Play Area for small children within the main entrance
complex.

There
is also Circus World, designed mainly for younger visitors, with its
Flying Bug Ride, the Ladybirds, a soft inflatable bouncy castle, a
Ferris wheel and the Horses Carousel. In Western World the visitor
can play cowboys and indians in the Dodge City Fort, with its sheriff's
office, and regular shows held in the Hard Luck Bear Theatre. Smuggler's
Wharf has a Pirate Ship and a Galleon Ride, smugglers buildings, Woodies
Roller Coaster and a mini golf course. There is also Dinosaur World
with its dinosaur ride and the Cine 2000 experience for the more brave-hearted.
Count's Castle, the centrepiece of the park, has a huge castle surrounded
by a Giant Bumpy Ride, Water Shoot, Log Flume, Ghost's House, aerial
Cycle Monorail and Dodgem Cars. Special facilities for celebrating
children's birthdays, and seasonal Christmas Parties, held throughout
December. Bonfire Night Special (November 5th or thereabouts) with
Fireworks Display - telephone to check specific details: 01925-444888.
LOCATION
From Manchester take the M602 motorway from Salford/Eccles towards
Warrington/Liverpool, and continue onto the M62, and exit at Junction
9 and follow the numerous well-placed signs for Gulliver's World.
From the M6 motorway, exit at Junction 21A onto the M62 towards Liverpool,
and exit at Junction 9 from where Gulliver's World is well signposted.
OPENING
TIMES
Open from 10.30am to 5.00pm daily from late March to November, but
closed on certain days, so telephone in advance to check.
ENTRY
Entrance costs about £6.00 per adult (currently - please check - prices
may change), and includes all rides and attractions. Children under
3 feet tall go free. Small discount for Senior Citizens. Discount
entry fee for last hour of opening. Payment accepted in cash, cheque
with banker's card, most major credit cards.
FACILITIES
Lost children centre, Guest Relations, no dogs admitted (except guide
dogs), disabled toilets in Entrance Plaza and Count's Castle. Refreshments
and light meals, selection of fast food outlets and kiosks, Diamond
Lil's Bar offers jacket potatoes and sandwiches. The Woodland Restaurant
offers a full menu of "home-made" dishes - no alcohol available or
allowed in the park.
Gulliver's
Kingdom
Temple Walk, Matlock
Bath, Matlock, DE4. Tel: 01629 57710. Info Line: 01925 444888 or 0871
360 2535.
Part of the Gulliver's Theme Parks, opened in 1978.
Pleasureland
Marine
Drive Southport, Sefton PR8 1RX. Tel: 01704-532717 Fax: 01704-537936.
Party Hotline: 08702 200 205. Website: www.pleasureland.uk.com
Advertised
as "The Amusement Park on the Sands - Full of Eastern Promise",
Southport's Pleasureland offers over 100 rides and attractions set
to "an exotic Moroccan Theme". Rides include the Log Flume, High Flyin'
Rainbow, Cyclone and Wildcat Roller Coasters, River Caves, Ghost Train,
all with a 10-ride discount ticket. Other attractions include a Go
Kart Track, the Moroccan Adventure Golf Course, Funhouse and the Sultan
Towers Theme Park for younger children. Open weekends from early March
and daily from end of May, with special half-price discounts on Friday
nights in July and August. Café and fast food facilities available,
and a free coach park with special facilities for coach drivers. Special
Group and Party Rates.
While
every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information contained
on this web page, details which were correct
at the time of writing may change in time, and no responsibility can
be accepted for the information contained here.
Please check before setting off. Please inform us of any changes and
amendments.
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