How to bag the UK’s CHEAPEST Drayton Manor tickets
SUN Club members can bag tickets to Drayton Manor Resort for the cheapest rate available anywhere – guaranteed.
Full-price tickets start at £29.50 online and can cost up to £45 at the gate.
However Sun Club members can bag their tickets for £20 each.
To claim them, simply sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month.
Once you’re signed up, head to the Sun Club Offers Hub where you can claim up to four tickets.
Drayton Manor sits just 25 minutes’ drive from Birmingham, and has rides and activities for all ages – from tiny tots to thrill-seeking teenagers.
The theme park is home to over 50 rides and attractions, plus its very own on-site zoo.
We spoke to Ollie Carr, General Manager of Drayton Manor, for his ultimate insider tips on how to make the most of your trip.
He said: “Drayton Manor is unique compared to other parks because we have five bespoke lands that are all completely different.
“We have Thomas Land (Europe’s only Thomas the Tank Engine-themed land), plus we have Vikings land which is great for the braver folk.
“Then there’s Frontier Falls, our Wild West-themed zone with one of our newest attractions, Gold Rush.
“Plus Adventure Cove which is nautical-themed and the Main Park. All of that, plus a 15-acre zoo as well! There really is something for everyone”.
The theme park is an ideal day trip for mixed-age families, with rides that cater to all ages – some of which guests can go on from just 0.9m in height.
Ollie said “For young children, head to Thomas Land. Even if they’re not specifically Thomas The Tank Engine fans, we have lots of different rides for younger kids.
“The rides there are really gentle and we have a huge amount with very low height limits, which is different to other theme parks.
“We have a carousel, Submarine Splash which is a mini flume, and kids can drive their own Terence the Tractor.
“We also have an indoor soft play called Emily’s, which families with little ones really like.
“For slightly older kids, I’d recommend Accelerator, right in the middle of the park.
“It’s our boomerang coaster. It goes really high which is fun, but it’s not too intense.
“And if you’ve got teenagers or some real thrill-seekers in the group, there’s lots for them to.
“We’ve got Stormforce 10, which is a water ride with three drops. Then of course The Wave, a thrilling family coaster with a loop and inversions.
“We’ve also got Maelstrom which is a gyro swing ride, as well as Thor and Loki in Vikings.
“One thing that people might not know about is that one of our newest attractions, Gold Rush, has two settings.
“That means if you ride it in the morning you’ll get one type of experience, and if you come back and ride in the afternoon, it’ll be totally different.
“On one setting it launches you forwards, and on the other one you go backwards. It’s a whole different sensation. It’s like going on two totally different rides“.
Knowing the resort inside-out as General Manager, Ollie shared his other little-known tricks and secrets about Drayton Manor.
“If you want a good way to take in the views of the park, you should ride the Polperro Express.
“It’s a miniature railway which takes you all the way around our lake and through Adventure Cove and Thomas Land.
“It’s a gentle ride that you can do all together as a family, and it gets you really familiar with the park.
“The theme park has been around for 76 years, so it also has a lot of history.
“A lot of people don’t know about the Discover Thomas and Friends Exhibition.
“It’s a model railway with the original models used in the filming of the TV series decades ago. You can see the original engines going around on the set that they used to record the show.
“There’s lots of nice areas outside, too. We have an outdoor play area called Spencer’s down by the zoo, which is a really nice area to sit down with a picnic.
“The zoo has been around for years, and it’s like its own attraction.
“We’ve just had baby meerkats born, and new animals have moved in like Babirusa, which are like giant pigs.
“Another thing that people might not know that our mascots, Rory and Laurie, put on daily shows and meet and greets around the park.
Ollie also shared his top tips for making the most of a family day out at Drayton Manor Resort.
“The gates open at 10:30. My advice to guests would be to arrive 30 minutes early, and that way you’ll be there for the opening show with Rory and Laurie, which is held at the main entrance.
“Then head straight to the attractions that you know you want to go on, just in case they get busy. There are also fast passes if you want to guarantee a quicker queuing experience.
“We have some fun events coming up, too.
“In July we have our Rock ‘n’ Rumble event with live wrestling and a Shania Twain tribute act, which will take over the whole park and takes place on the first two weekends of July.
“In October we’ll be running our first ever Blazing Halloween event, which tickets are available for now. There’ll be a Trick or Treat trail and fireworks shows”.
