UK theme parks are not cheap. £35–60 per person on the gate. The trick is picking the right park for your kids' actual age range — too young and the rides are off-limits, too old and they're bored. Here's our breakdown by age, with what you'll actually pay.
The honest summary
| Park | Best for | Adv. price |
|---|---|---|
| Paultons (Peppa Pig World) | Ages 2–7 | £40 |
| Legoland Windsor | Ages 3–10 | £45 |
| Chessington | Ages 4–11 | £36 |
| Drayton Manor (Thomas Land) | Ages 2–8 | £36 |
| Alton Towers | Ages 8+ (CBeebies Land for younger) | £38 |
| Thorpe Park | Ages 12+ | £36 |
| Flamingo Land | Ages 5–12 | £34 |
| Blackpool Pleasure Beach | All ages (wristband) | £37 |
Prices are advance-online for one day, one person. Gate prices typically 30% higher. Always book online.
🎁 FREE — WIN £50 EVERY MONTH
Get the £50 Inspire Travel Card every month
Subscribe to The Boarding Pass Club newsletter — get our hand-picked UK family day-out ideas + you're auto-entered to win a £50 travel card every month. Spend it at TUI, Jet2, Booking.com, Travelodge, Premier Inn + more.
Paultons Park (Peppa Pig World) — under-7s
If you have a 2–6 year old, this is the answer. Peppa Pig World takes up half the park, but the rest is genuinely brilliant too — Lost Kingdom dinosaur area, Critter Creek, full-size kids' coasters. Less queue than Disneyland Paris, half the price.
Where: Romsey, Hampshire (M27). Adult ticket: ~£40 online. Top tip: book a Paultons hotel for the second-day-free deal.
Legoland Windsor — Lego-mad 4-10s
Premium pricing but world-class experience. Driving school, Miniland (a Lego version of London), water rides, indoor Lego studio. Don't pay gate price (~£72 adult); always pre-book.
Where: Windsor, Berkshire (M3/M25). Adult ticket: from ~£45 advance.
Chessington — first proper theme park
Great gateway theme park for ages 5–10. Combined with a small but real zoo. Some good thrill rides for 9+ as well. Tower of the Tigers is the standout.
Where: Chessington, Surrey (A3/M25). Adult ticket: from ~£36 advance.
Drayton Manor (Thomas Land) — under-8s
Underrated. Thomas Land is brilliant for preschoolers. Rest of the park has decent family coasters too. Far less crowded than Alton Towers.
Where: Tamworth, Staffordshire (M42). Adult ticket: from ~£36 advance.
Alton Towers — older kids + teens
The big one. Best for 10+ who can handle Wicker Man, Nemesis, The Smiler. CBeebies Land caters for under-7s in the same park, so you can do mixed-age groups. Not cheap — but the rides are bucket-list level.
Where: Staffordshire (M6/A50). Adult ticket: from ~£38 advance.
Thorpe Park — teens + thrill-seekers
Brutal coasters. Hyperia. Stealth. Saw. Not for kids under 10. Best for 12+ who want adrenaline.
Where: Chertsey, Surrey (M25). Adult ticket: from ~£36 advance.
Flamingo Land — best North England all-rounder
Theme park + zoo + holiday village. Real value, less London-centric pricing. Good for families based in Yorkshire/Lancashire.
Where: North Yorkshire (A64). Adult ticket: from ~£34 advance.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach — old-school British
If you want a proper traditional British seaside theme-park day. The Big One is still magnificent. Wristband gives you all rides; or pay-per-ride is cheaper if your kids only want a few.
Where: Blackpool. Adult wristband: from ~£37.
How to save money at all of them
- Pre-book online — 30–40% cheaper than gate.
- Tesco Clubcard vouchers — Merlin parks (Alton, Thorpe, Chessington, Legoland, SEA LIFE) accept Tesco vouchers at boosted value (~3×).
- Annual Pass — if you'll do 2+ Merlin parks in the year, the Merlin Annual Pass pays for itself.
- 2-day combos — most parks have on-site hotels with second-day-free deals.
- Bring picnic + water — on-park food is £8 a hot dog, £4 a bottle of water.
More UK family day-out guides
- The big list: 50+ things to do with kids in the UK this summer
- 15 free things to do with kids this summer (UK)
- Best UK theme parks for families 2026
- Cheap days out with kids — every idea under £20
- Best UK beaches for families 2026
- Rainy day? 12 indoor things to do with kids around the UK
🎁 FREE — WIN £50 EVERY MONTH
Get the £50 Inspire Travel Card every month
Subscribe to The Boarding Pass Club newsletter — get our hand-picked UK family day-out ideas + you're auto-entered to win a £50 travel card every month. Spend it at TUI, Jet2, Booking.com, Travelodge, Premier Inn + more.
