Thorpe Alton Towers Or Chessington

well i am going to england in two weeks time and i only have enough time to visit one of the parks. i am not sure which one i shall go to so if any one can give me some advice please post below also if you can recommend any other good parks i can visit ...

Even though I've never been to any of those parks, I would go to Thorpe Park or Alton Towers. Alton Towers for Air and Nemesis. Thorpe for Nemesis Inferno and Colossuss.

------------------
Shockwave @ SFGAm R.I.P 1988-2002
Top 5 Coasters at SFGAm 1)S:UF 2)RB 3) DV 4)V2 5)Viper
Total number of coasters ridden=43

maybe i might end up going to thorpe park mainly because i heard nemesis inferno and colossus are really good rides. i want to go to alton towers but it is too far away :(

No believe me visit Alton Towers it's worth the extra distance. Thorpe is a great park don't get me wrong but Inferno isn't a patch on Nemesis, Oblivion is very unique and is great and also air might be a bit tame but it has probably got the most unique layout of any coaster.

Thorpe will be a different kettle of fish in 2005 however.

I would say go to either TP or AT don't bother with Chessington, it's pants for thrill rides. It also depends what part of the UK you are coming to, yes AT is worth going to but I really wouldnt say it was worth travelling a lot for, yes some of the rides are better but if its customer service and a nice atmosphere that your after then I would say go to TP. I have already been 5 times this year and I haven't had a bad experience once!

Alton Towers is the most famous of the three parks, so I would say it is definitely worth a visit just to say you have been there. It probably just about has the best selection of coasters with Nemesis (Awesome), Air (Fun, Fun, Fun) and Oblivion (scare the pants off you first time but no need for more than that especially if there are queues) standing out, though Thorpe Park comes a very close second in this catergory. However, there is a lot of walking to do as the park zones are spaced out, so make use of the skyway system where possible. AT has always been busy when I have gone, even when off-peak, so be prepared to queue for the good rides and don't be disappointed if you only get one or two rides on Nem and Air considering if you want to do everything in the park.

But, don't count out Thorpe Park. I recently went and I was very very impressed with the way the place is shaping up. It's impecably clean (there were bins everywhere I looked), smart, well themed in places, and all the areas were fairly close together which meant less walking and more riding time. Nemesis Inferno was soooo good, you must ride it in the front seat even if you have to wait a lot longer - it is worth it. The queue was less than 10mins throughout the day (though I did go when it was off-peak) and from the sounds of it you never have to wait that long to get on. Colossus is also good but don't go on it too many times in a row because the inversions do eventually get to you, after 5 back-to-back rides a headache started to develop. Queues for Colossus were longer than Inferno so be aware of this when you decide what to ride first. There is a good selection of flat rides and water rides and my very best piece of advice if you do go to TP is to leave Tidal Wave to the end, I have never been on a ride which gets you soooo wet - even when your not riding it!

Though I love Alton Towers I actually think Thorpe Park isn't that far away from being better than it - so wherever you go your going to have a good day out. From the coaster enthusiasts point of view if you go to AT you have the chance of riding a world class legendry classic. Though Nem Inferno is one of my all time favourites its not as good as the original - at least not yet.

Good luck in deciding where to go, I hope you have a good experience and get to see what English parks can really offer. I hope this has helped you somehow

-Damandan-

You will have noticed I didn't even mention Chessington, why? well its more family orientated targeting younger kids more than teen/young adult yet you still face long queues to get on to things so its not worth checking out in my book.

I would say Thorpe Park - it is hardly a poor second to Alton Towers.

Highlights include:

- Nemesis Inferno, a well themed, peppy inverted coaster
- Colossus, a unique 10-looping Intamin
- Vortex, a really exhillerating spin ride
- Detonator, a very intense free-fall (Oblivion without the added baggage)
- Loggers Leap and Tidal Wave, both great water rides
- Lovely staff and a very clean, well maintained park
- Restaurants are better than at Alton Towers (quieter too).

i would love to go to Alton but i just dont have enough time from what i have heard so far colossus and nemesis inferno are both great rides but i would also like to know more about any other good amusemant parks in england worthwhile a visit

------------------
abdz

I'm curious myself as a friend will be working in London for the next two years and I'm hoping to make a trip out myself.

How is Blackpool?

------------------
I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

ok i am going to be in london from the 5th until the 17th of august so anybody have any tips on when i shall visit thorpe park and what rides to hit first to avoid long lines ...etc
------------------
abdz

Blackpool is AMAZING. It has a one of a kind atmosphere, some excellent wooden roller coasters (featuring a racer, wild mouse and one without restraints), and a fair few dark rides too.

the only park in the UK that rivals TP and AT is Blackpool pleasure Beach. however this is more than twice as far from london than Alton Towers.

Hitting thorpe park between those dates, the crowds will be large, possibly near full-capacity. Thorpe has really become popular this year because of Inferno, so i'd suggest going in a weekday, somewhere around the 13th of august (is that a weekday?!?). despite this, you will still get many rides, but just a tip; if it's not sunny, i suggest not riding tidal wave untill last or not at all

-mac-
------------------

Colossus [1]
Nemesis: Inferno [6]

Visit my website below & take virtual looks at all of them, then make your own mind up. My recommendation would be Alton!

------------------
www.ukrides.info