The trouble with the Thrill Hopper Ticket, which allows two adults and two under 12s entry into four of Staffordshire’s funtastic attractions, is knowing which to visit first.
Costing £142.50, the money-saving ticket runs between March and October each year and can save around £90 compared to what you would pay at the gate. Tickets can be ordered from the Enjoy Staffordshire website (see below) or from Tourist Information Centres in the county.
Once ours had been delivered, we had the tricky job of deciding what order to visit Alton Towers Theme Park, Drayton Manor Theme Park, Waterworld and SnowDome. After much deliberation, we kicked off with Drayton Manor, near Tamworth. Regarded by many as the UK’s best theme park for total family entertainment, I was pleased at how well the rides catered for children of all ages – not just the pure thrill-seekers with an insatiable appetite for the most daring and frightening rides around.
Peter, our five-year-old, and Hollie, eleven, had a wide choice to choose from. Even big kids, like me, found plenty to enjoy. Peter’s favourite was Thomas Land, the only one in Europe, and in particular Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster and Jeremy’s Flying Academy. Hollie, the daredevil of the family, was drawn to the fastest, wettest and scariest rides; she couldn’t get enough of the G-Force rollercoaster.
Drayton Manor is pleasantly designed with plenty of space between rides, lots of places to eat and parking close to the entrance.
It’s a longer walk from Alton Towers’ numerous car parks to the entrance but if you don’t fancy a stroll, you can always jump on the monorail taking you to the door.
Alton Towers is much bigger and you need to dedicate a day in order to do it justice. I’d recommend investing in some Fastrack tickets to beat the queues on the most popular rides – and there are plenty of those.
Divided into several distinct sections, like Adventure Land, Gloomy Wood and Forbidden Valley, you’ll certainly wear out some shoe leather walking around. One place you must head for is Cloud Cuckoo Land, where you’ll find The Ice Age 4D Experience – oh, and be prepared for some “interesting” special effects, such as icy blasts, snow and even bubbles! While you’re in this corner of the park, don’t miss the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Ride.
Again, there are myriad rides for younger children, and plenty for the braver members of the family, such as Hollie. She enjoys rollercoasters and had plenty to choose from, including Air.
Although Drayton Manor and Alton Towers are the more dramatic attractions, plenty of time should be set aside for SnowDome and Waterworld, too. It seemed strange swapping shorts and sandals for boots and gloves when we visited SnowDome in Tamworth.
The Thrill Hopper ticket allows you to enjoy tobogganing and tubing, the latter being split into age groups (Tiny: 3-7; Junior: 7-12; Adrenalin Tubing: 12 plus). These activities need to be pre-booked and sessions last 30 minutes. But this prevents overcrowding and means a better and more exciting experience on the snow. Sliding down the main slope at a rate of knots was one of the highlights of our visit to Staffordshire.
If it’s water that excites you, then head for Waterworld, one of the UK’s most exciting indoor aqua theme parks. With over 30 rides, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and even an indoor rollercoaster ride, it’s not to be missed. Plus, it’s just around the corner from the hotel I’m recommending for your visit to Staffordshire’s “Thrill Hopper” attractions.
Further information:
Contact Enjoy Staffordshire on 01785 277397 or visit www.enjoystaffordshire.com
Drayton Manor Theme Park
Tamworth B78 3TW
Alton Towers Resort
Alton ST10 4DB
SnowDome
Tamworth B79 7ND
T: 08448 000011
Waterworld
Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5PU
T: 01782 205747
Where To Stay
Best Western Stoke-on-Trent Moat House
Etruria Hall, Festival Way, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5BQ
T: 01782 609900
W: www.bw-stokeontrentmoathouse.co.uk
It may not have the most beautiful outlook in the world, but the Moat House is a splendid hotel and ideally situated for the M6, the heart of the Midlands and for visiting each of the Thrill Hopper attractions.
This purpose-built, four-star modern hotel has 147 rooms and a host of facilities, including swimming pool, gym, spa and free wi-fi throughout the building.
The restaurant dished up some exquisite meals. Being a vegetarian family can sometimes prove tricky, even in 2012, when you visit hotels – especially if you’ve got children who can, occasionally, be fussy eaters. But the staff couldn’t have been more helpful or accommodating and were prepared to be flexible with the dishes.
Reception staff were helpful, too, helping with directions and a host of other questions.
I would highly recommend this hotel, whether you’re visiting the area on business or, like us, for pleasure.