AS the UK’s newest rollercoaster, Thorpe Park’s Hyperia, has a lot to live up to.
Standing at a whopping 236ft tall, the hypercoaster claims to be the UK’s tallest, swiping the crown from Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s The Big One on its 30th anniversary year, which stands just one foot shorter.
It also smashes coaster speed records, reaching break-neck speeds of 81mph.
That’s just 1mph faster than Thorpe Park’s very own Stealth ride, which currently holds the title of the UK’s fastest.
One thing’s for sure: Hyperia has been massively hyped for the past year, promising to give thrill seekers an experience like nothing else in the UK.
I attended a glitzy VIP preview event to celebrate the coaster’s launch last night, where a select few were invited to test ride before it opens to the public today.
Expectations were high. So what’s it really like to ride, and does it live up to its promises? I rode the rollercoaster three times to find out.
So, the big question: what’s it like to ride the UK’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster?
Despite some inevitable first-night teething problems, which meant that there were some delays due to technical issues, I was still able to ride the steel monster three times, experiencing its exhilarating speeds in the middle of the train, at the front and then, for my last (and best) ride, right at the back.
First impressions: it’s unlike any other rollercoaster in the UK right now.
As someone who has ridden the most intense coasters the UK has to offer, such as Ikon at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and The Smiler and Nemesis at Alton Towers, I know that’s saying something.
In fact, Hyperia is made by the same manufacturer as Ikon, Mac Rides, but is a much different experience.
Not only for the obvious reason that it’s over double the height, but its focus on flinging riders out of their seats and experiencing “weightlessness”.
It’s no surprise that the first drop is what really steals the show on this rollercoaster.
While it’s the tallest in the country, it’s unique in that it twists riders 180 degrees while they plummet down a huge vertical drop right before reaching the ground at top speeds of over 80mph.
The back row is easily the best place to experience this, since you’re catapulted over the crest of the drop at speed, and right into the drop with a free-fall-like feeling.
The coaster then twists up into an air-time hill, diving straight back down as you’re forced upwards into the air – it’s moments like this where you really feel the weightlessness that its makers intended. It’s a euphoric feeling.
Next up is the coaster’s unique outerbank turn element – the first of its kind in the world.
It’s unique in that it twists riders 180 degrees while they plummet down a huge vertical drop
This involves speeding into a hill that twists you outwards, forcing you out of your seat in a way riders won’t have experienced on a rollercoaster before.
It feels awkward but intense, and only in a good way.
Another standout element is a unique zero-gravity stall, which is special in that it holds you upside down for slightly longer than your bog-standard inversion.
It feels never ending, almost like you’re flying.
This is made all the more terrifying thanks to the ride’s high-tech restraint system, which is little more than a lap bar that fixes into place without a seatbelt buckle in sight.
The only downside is it feels disappointingly short, with the ride being around two minutes, but just 14.8 seconds of airtime following the lift climb.
Despite this, it’s an incredible ride that will make you want to ride it again and again.
It’s certainly a coaster that can compete with some of the best in Europe and is easily, in my experience, the best the UK has to offer.
Hyperia is open now for everyone to ride, but expect big queues for the next few weeks.
Those who don’t like long lines can – for the time being – purchase a Hyperia fast track at a whopping £20 a pop.
However, these are super limited and can only be purchased on the day of your visit.
The only way to guarantee Hyperia fast track is to book an overnight stay in one of Thorpe Park’s Hyperia-themed rooms, located in Thorpe Shark Cabins.
Prices start from £239 for two people, but this includes a buffet breakfast, two days entry into the park, and an hour of unlimited fast track on other rides at either the start or the end of the day.
In the mean time, here are some other theme parks in the UK named the best.
Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.
