THE UK’s best new attractions have been revealed by the UK Theme Park Awards, including some surprise additions.
The public will now get their chance to have their say in the public vote stage of the awards, with the shortlist announced earlier this week.
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Some obvious candidates make the list, including Legoland‘s Minifigure Speedway, in which family and friends race one another on the new rollercoaster.
The UK’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster Hyperia was another big name to make the top 10, which people will now cast their votes on.
However, there are also some lesser-known additions to the list of new attractions that could be named the best in the country later this year.
That includes the Ghost Ship at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, one of three new rides unveiled at the park this summer.
The 52ft Ghost Ship is a classic galleon ride that swings passengers in a pendulum motion from side to side and opened just before the May Bank Holiday.
Lightwater Valley‘s Jeep Safari made the cut too, with guests taken off grid in a 4×4 jeep expedition, bringing them face-to-face with “fearsome larger-than-life model African animals”.
A similar experience can be found on West Midlands Safari Park‘s Jungle Jeeps, against which Lightwater Valley will be competing for top spot.
More model animals can be found at Wicksteed Park‘s Jolly Jockeys, with children sent galloping around a track on the back of a mechanical horse on the new ride, which is also on the list.
Elsewhere, Ocean Beach Pleasure Park in South Shields also finds itself on the shortlist, with its new Space ride impressing judges and nominees.
The final three rides on the list include Paultons Park’s Splash Lagoon, which is described as a “Jurassic water boat adventure”.
Vertigo at Adventure Island in Southend, a ride consisting of a “stomach-churning drop” from 124ft is also among the final 10.
Not all of the newcomers being voted on are even open to the public yet, with Drayton Manor‘s new rollercoaster Gold Rush included in the final list.
The ride is set to open later this summer, although no date has been revealed just yet.
The Sun’s Lee Bell visited Thorpe Park to try the new ride out
“I was 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.
“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.
“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.”
The shortlist has been drawn up by a panel of expert judges including Paul Kelly (Chief Executive of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions) and Andy Hine MBE (Chairman – Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain).
They picked their way through 28,652 nominations, with a total of 38 theme parks nominated across the 22 different awards categories this year.
Other awards up for grabs this year include Theme Park of the Year, for which Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland and Chessington are all nominated.
The best reimagined attraction and best theme park for families will also be named, among the other categories.
The public vote will take place from 22 July until 1 September.
These votes will be combined with those of the expert judges to generate the final results, which will be announced at this year’s awards event on 19 September.
The final list for the best new attractions
Meanwhile, this new theme park with 25 attractions has opened in Europe – and flights are only £15.
And here are five European theme parks that are alternatives to Disneyland.
