When summer comes around, there’s nothing we Brits love more than a good theme park − aside from a crisp pint or an ice cream, of course. Days out with the family are made all the better with the rides doing all the work, and plenty of games, attractions and exciting entertainment to take part in. Harking back to the days of heading to the seaside for the funfair and time with loved ones, these theme parks near Manchester bring that fun staycation feeling back, offering snacks, games and rides to keep family and friends entertained all day long, plus some thrills for those with a stomach of steel.
1. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool
A favourite for a whopping 125 years, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is still going strong, with new rides and attractions continuing to wow visitors. August 1904 saw the launch of the ever-popular Sir Hiram Maxim Captive Flying Machine – the oldest continuous working amusement park ride not only in Blackpool Pleasure Beach but in Europe too − which is still in operation today.
Since then, rides have come and gone, the park has expanded exponentially, and Blackpool Pleasure Beach is as busy as ever. Drawing crowds due to the convenience of the dedicated train station, and the seafront location, the Pleasure Beach boasts some of the most famous rollercoasters around. Think the Big One, Valhalla, the Big Dipper, the Grand National, and so many more. The park has moved with the times over the years, too, opening Nickelodeon Land in 2011 and creating the much-loved Wallace & Gromit ride, wherein visitors jolly through a trail in a giant slipper.
Experience the G-force of a Formula 1 driver on the UK’s first and only double launch rollercoaster, ICON, race your mates on Steeplechase, or launch and loop, then do it again backwards on Revolution − there’s something for every taste.
🎟️ Book your visit here.
🚂 Blackpool Pleasure Beach station is a 5 min walk away.
📍 525 Ocean Blvd, Blackpool, FY4 1EZ.
2. Alton Towers, Uttoxeter
One of the most popular theme parks for those in the Manchester area, if not the UK, Alton Towers is just under two hours from Manchester in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. The gigantic plot revolves around an impressive, gothic-esque stately home belonging to a wealthy family, giving the park an extra mystical edge. Founded on the site of an Iron Age camp, there were actually many different buildings before the existing Towers, but from 1412 until 1924 they all belonged to the same family – the Talbots (Earls of Shrewsbury).
Although the Park had become a well known tourist attraction throughout the ’60s and ’70s it was not until 1980 that it became known as a ‘Theme Park’, with the introduction of the then revolutionary Corkscrew rollercoaster (the track has been kept as a souvenir to this day outside the entrance). There’s plenty to read on the history and heritage of Alton Towers, but it is now a huge attraction with over 40 rides and attractions, with different themed sectors including CBeebies Land, Mutiny Bay and Dark Forest.
Sample the likes of the terrifying Smiler, super fast Rita Queen of Speed, or the newly re-opened Nemesis Reborn, for a thrilling experience, or take it slower at Sharkbait Reef by SEALIFE, or explore the beautiful tower gardens. What’s more, visitors are welcome to stay over and enjoy early access to attractions, with stargazing pods, treetop cabins, woodland lodges and three different themed hotels!
🎟️ Book your visit here, or stay here.
🚂 Stoke-on-Trent station is 40 mins away by taxi/Uttoxeter station is 20 mins away by bus.
📍 Alton Towers Resort, Alton, Staffordshire, ST10 4DB.
3. Gulliver’s World, Warrington
Generally for the young’uns − not to say big kids can’t enjoy it − Gulliver’s World is of course based on Gulliver’s Travels, meaning everything feels pretty miniature. There are plenty of dinosaur, water and pirate themed rides to get stuck into, plus family favourites like dodgems, tractor rides and a classic carousel.
Gulliver’s World also has its very own water park, play areas and cabin rooms for those wanting to stay a little bit longer. Prices start at £14, and you can bag a full day or just afternoon tickets to suit you.
🎟️ Book here.
🚂 Warrington Central & Warrington Bank Quay stations are a short bus ride away.
📍 Gulliver’s World, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 9YZ.
4. Drayton Manor, Tamworth
Home to the immersive Thomas Land, Drayton Manor boasts over 50 rides and attractions for all ages, making it one of the most age-inclusive theme parks near Manchester. Try thrilling rollercoasters, family fun and plenty of water rides throughout your visit, or explore the desolate vicarage, renowned for its ghostly sightings and unexplained phenomena, if you fancy something spooky.
Drayton Manor even has its own zoo, so you can chill with red pandas, capybaras and gibbons, to name just a few, and book specific zoo experiences with different animals. Find out more about the Drayton Manor zoo here.
🎟️ Book here.
🚂 Tamworth station is a short taxi ride away.
📍 Drayton Manor Dr, Fazeley, Mile Oak, Tamworth, B78 3TW.
5. Diggerland, Castleford
With 20 different rides and drives, Diggerland Yorkshire is one of the more unique theme parks in the vicinity of Manchester, consisting of real diggers. Visitors can go to town when it comes to driving like you’ve always wanted to, with mini Land Rovers, tractors, go karts and dumper trucks to go wild with, plus rides in converted scoops to transport you around the site.
Dig up buried treasure, play hook-a-duck (of sorts), and compete in a game of digger skittles to truly get the most out of the diggers − more than you ever realised you could do! For smaller children, there’s a soft play centre, little tikes play area and a tractor train to enjoy, plus a safari experience for all the family.
🎟️ Book here.
🚂 Castleford station is a short bus ride away.
📍 Willowbridge Ln, Castleford, WF10 5NW.
6. Southport Pleasureland, Southport
Southport Pleasureland one of the most-loved theme parks near Manchester, with four themed lands and a host of family attractions. Pleasureland is one of the UK’s oldest seaside amusement parks – and it’s still going strong more than 100 years later. Now, Steampunk Bay is the UK’s only steampunk theme park – a strange and mystifying land where Victoriana and sci-fi meet. Explore an immersive realm where dreams are powered by steam. If it’s steel and speed you’re after, this is the land for you.
Viking Landing is a land where myths and legends come alive. It’s a fun-packed, family-friendly Viking adventure, inspired by the brave warriors who settled in Merseyside many centuries ago. Or, step back in time for a host of pirate rides, thrilling slides and more at Pirate Cove – the perfect day out for swashbucklers of all ages. Whether you’re taking a trip on the Ghostly Galleon, whizzing down the log flume or exploring Dock Fun House, there’s something for everyone. Plus, Cartoon Boardwalk is a themed land where families make memories to keep, made of a riot of colour and classic seaside games.
🎟️ Visitors can book here.
🚂 Southport station is a 20 min walk away.
📍 Marine Dr, Southport, PR8 1RX.