After a winter full of wind and rain, it's time to break out the barbecues and take the UK's theme parks by storm. To help you cook up a thrilling summer adventure, Ents24 has compiled a guide to the UK's newest theme park rides for you to test out this summer, along with some classic rides that are not to be missed!
With rides for extreme roller coaster enthusiasts such as Colossus at Thorpe Park (right) to new attractions for children, there is plenty for everyone to enjoy this summer. Here are a few challenges that await your arrival.
NEW THRILLS FOR 2009!
Saw The Ride @ Thorpe Park
The world's first ever horror movie themed roller coaster. It is designed to test the nerve of all who dare ride it as they subject themselves to be at the mercy of 'Jigsaw', the notorious villain of the Saw films.
The ultimate test will be a 'beyond vertical' drop of 100° from a height of 100ft, making it the steepest freefall drop in the world.
Edge @ Paultons Park
Riders swoop and spin through the air reaching a height of 15 metres on a giant disc travelling along a 90 metre track at 43mph!
The first in the UK, Edge features a 'camelback' hill to create an amazing floating sensation! At a cost of over £1 million, Edge is only the 8th of its type in the world, and reaches a G-force of over 2.5 G's.
Wipeout @ Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park
The tallest, fastest and most extreme rollercoaster in the East of England.
Passengers are launched along 900 feet of twisted steel at speeds touching 50mph and pulling over 5G's as they hurtle through 3 inversions forwards and then backwards!
Wild River Rapids @ Lightwater Valley
Be prepared to get wet as you spin through raging water, plunge down the ravine as you shoot the rapids aboard this new wet 'n' wild ride.
The new addition to the park requires that riders are a minimum of 1.0m in height when accompanied by an adult or 1.3m to ride unaccompanied.
Mumbo Jumbo @ Flamingo Land
Hold on tight for the ride of your life. This roller coaster provides extreme thrills a plenty as it hurtles round the undulating track.
The new £4m rollercoaster has been named as the world's steepest by Guinness World Records. The ride will climb to a height of 30m (98.4ft) before plunging 112 degrees, subjecting passengers to a gravitational pull in excess of 4Gs.
The Beast @ Crealy Adventure Park, Cornwall
Brave the real Beast of Cornwall! At 15 metres tall and frighteningly fast, The Beast towers high in the sky, looming above those too scared to ride!
Consider your fate as you slowly climb high up in the sky!
NEW FOR KIDS IN 2009!
Sharkbait Reef @ Alton Towers
Alton Towers opens its gates to the brand new Sharkbait Reef by SEA LIFE! This pirate-themed aquarium, near Mutiny Bay, includes over 300 spectacular species of fish, including sharks, rays and seahorses and over 1 million litres of water. It also comprises of the UK's only Tropical Interactive Pool - dip your fingers into the tropical warm waters and let the shrimps give you a manicure!
Cloud Cuckoo Land @ Alton Towers
A brand new land full of surprises! Cloud Cuckoo Land is a new area of the Theme Park where children's imagination comes to life, and dreams become reality. The new land comprises of a magnificent indoor play area and enchanting theatre!
Kingdom of Pharaohs @ LEGOLAND
LEGOLAND Windsor is open for a hugely exciting season and is inviting families to discover the brand new Kingdom of the Pharaohs.
It will not be hard to miss - the latest themed area of LEGOLAND Windsor is dominated by one of the tallest LEGO models in Britain - a massive six metre high statue of a Pharaoh, made from 200,000 LEGO bricks.
Amazonia @ Chessington World Of Adventures
For some spectacular underwater action, Chessington's very own SEA LIFE Centre is launching a brand new Amazonia exotic display housing eight new colourful species including Piranhas, Spitting Archer fish, Mudskippers and Goodieds!
The 250,000-litre aquarium located within Chessington Zoo houses over 20 marine displays, allowing you to come nose to nose with a wide range of sea creatures!
Curse of Skull Rock 4D Theatre @ Drayton Manor Theme Park
This fun filled ride for the whole family uses the latest in technology and 4D effects to ensure the ultimate cinema experience.
The 12 minute Curse of Skull Rock pirate film will play in stereoscopic 3D in a specially constructed 152 seat 4D theatre with an extra dimension of immersive special effects.
Brand new 'Jungle' Bridge @ BeWILDerwood
Perfect for children, mums, dads and even grandparents, the park is based on good old fashioned outdoor adventure play, featuring a maze, zip wires, slides, treehouses and jungle bridges!
Catch the boat at BeWILDerboat Junction, which will take you on a magical boat ride down the Dismal Dyke, across the Scaaary Lake where you will meet Mildred the Crocklebog and into the woodland park, full of curious treehouses.
CLASSIC COASTERS
Oblivion @ Alton Towers
Drop from over 180 feet from this famously fearsome vertical coaster. You know you shouldn't look down, but you won't be able to stop yourself taking a peek at the colossal vertical drop!
Shockwave @ Drayton Manor
Voted 'The Best Stand-Up Rollercoaster in the World' by the Rollercoaster Club of Great Britain. Still the only stand-up rollercoaster in Europe. Over 1600 feet with 4 inversions at 53 mph and 4G's.
Also at Drayton Manor, experience other thrilling rides (including G-Force, Apocalypse, Maelstrom) and the wonderful Zoo.
Megafobia @ Oakwood Theme Park
With a reputation as one of the world's best wooden roller coasters, Megafobia is armed with a variety of drops and turns to keep the adrenaline pumping!
Oakwood is packed with over 30 rides and attractions! There's something there for everyone.
The Vampire @ Chessington World Of Adventures
Fly over tree tops like a bat out of hell with your legs dangling below you. With one of the lowest height restrictions for a coaster in Europe, even the kids can cut their teeth on this frightful ride!
The park also invites you to take a walk on the wild side with tigers, lions and gorillas in the Trail of the Kings and come face to face with sharks and curious stingrays in the park's very own SEA LIFE Centre.
Stealth @ Thorpe Park
Nothing sneaks up on you as quickly as the extreme thrill of going 0-80mph in under 2 seconds to a staggering 205 feet! But that's exactly what to expect when you take on Stealth - Europe's fastest rollercoaster!
Firing on all cylinders and torqued to the max, this ride is a full throttle lap for thrill seekers who live life in the fast lane.
