Theme Parks

ONE of the UK’s largest indoor waterparks is set to close next week until next year.

Despite usually remaining open year-round, Aqua Park in Stoke-on-Trent will close for renovations next week.

The park is part of Waterworld and will be closed from November 2 until early next year.

The park is hosting a ‘Last Splash’ party on November 1 before the closure with a DJ between 12pm and 4pm.

Few details have been revealed about the renovation, but the park currently has 30 rides and attractions.

The website simply states that it cannot wait to welcome back visitors with “exciting upgrades”.

Read more on travel inspo

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

Wayne Goodall, Managing Director of Waterworld Leisure Resort, said: “Our closing party is the perfect chance for visitors to make a last splash with us before we close for a short time to make exciting changes across the Aqua Park.

“At its heart, Waterworld offers families a place to spend time together, escape from everyday life and enjoy that holiday feeling, whatever the weather.

“The upgrades we have planned are set to build on that sense of fun and enhance the way we tell our story, creating a more immersive experience for our guests.

“We can’t wait to reveal more about the upcoming investment soon.”

Adventure Mini Golf and Adventure Mini Village will remain open while the Aqua Park undergoes renovation.

Waterworld first opened in 1989 and is heated to a toasty 30C year-round, with numerous different slides such as Cyclone, Hurricane and Stormchaser.

There are racing slides as well and even a water rollercoaster.

If thrill rides aren’t your thing though, you can relax in the wave pool or bubble pools.

There’s also a rapids area, hot tubs and a children’s splash area.

THERE are waterparks all over the world, but this one has just been crowned one of the best – and it’s just hours from the UK.

Aquashow Water Park in Portugal has been crowned Europe’s Leading Water Park 2026 at the World Travel Awards.

The waterpark has a huge seasonal outdoor pool complex which will reopen in May 2027.

It has a splash park called Aqualandia with slides and tipping buckets for little ones – but there’s plenty of high thrills rides too.

The Flash Coaster is one of the biggest rides in the park and it’s quick too at 62mph.

There are also racing slides, flumes, a wave pool and for those brave enough, try out Free Fall.

HAPPY HOLLY-DAYS

The 8 UK holiday parks opening for Christmas this year with £6.62pp stays

GET IN

I went on the UK’s cheapest all-inclusive break from £22pp for food, drink & MORE

It’s the biggest free fall jump in Europe and the only one in the Algarve; there are two slides, each 32 metres high and 129 metres long.

Outside are food stalls serving up burgers, hot dogs, salads, sandwiches, ice cream, pastries and drinks.

Outdoor waterpark tickets for those between 11-64 range from €34 – €38 (£29-£32), junior and senior tickets start from €25 (£21).

When it’s the off-season and it’s a little cooler in the Algarve, make the most of the indoor pools.

There are different kinds to choose from including its wave pool, children’s pool, relax pool and spa.

Then there’s the adventure pool with a climbing wall and a circuit of suspended rings over the water.

Adventure Island is where kids can splash about with smaller slides, and water features.

There are also larger and faster flumes and racing slides too.

It’s not all water activities, the Sky Challenge is a high-ropes course, and there’s an indoor playground with soft play, trampolines and climbing walls.

Tickets for a three- hour sessions at the indoor waterpark start from €25 (£21) for children between 6-12. For adults aged 13-64 tickets are €35 (£29).

For anyone wanting to visit, the waterpark has its own on-site hotel – all its rooms have air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi.

You’ll also find a restaurant, bar and outdoor terrace.

A family of up to six can stay for two nights at the hotel from €884.75 (£740) including breakfast.

The hotel is 2.5 miles from the Quarteira resort centre, where you’ll find shops and restaurants – the nearest beach is about 2.7 miles away.

For more on the World Travel Awards, this theme park with no rides or rollercoasters was named the best in Europe.

And these are the world’s best hotels from beachfront island resorts to mega theme park stays, and there are two in the UK.

ONE UK theme park has announced it will close early today as Storm Austen hits the country with winds up to 80mph.

Paultons Park which has been hosting late-night Halloween evenings will close early tonight.

On its website, it said: “Because of the forecast conditions from Storm Austen, we’ve cancelled tonight’s late night opening. The park will close at 4:30pm today.

“The safety of our guests and team always comes first, and we’re sorry for any disappointment.”

For those visiting today, tickets will be revalidated so you can come back another day.

Anyone who is booking to attend today but wants to change the day can do so free of charge.

HAPPY HOLLY-DAYS

The 8 UK holiday parks opening for Christmas this year with £6.62pp stays

STAY CHEAP

Bargains at Butlins & manor stays… incredible value UK hols from £2.50pp a night

Anyone on a short break will receive a return ticket and those with an annual pass can attend until 4.30pm.

At the Halloween Spooktacular visitors can go on the rides after dark, head to The Little Monsters Ball and go to the Spirit Squad Ghoul School.

For those who still want to go, the late-night events will still run on October 24, 27, 28 and 29.

Camel Creek Family Adventure Park in Wadebridge which is popular with younger families has also announced its closure due to “forecast of strong winds and heavy rain.”

The park will be in touch with those who have already booked a visit.

It hasn’t guaranteed that it will reopen on Saturday so has advised families to watch for updates on its social media and website for updates.

Meanwhile, Thorpe Park is open as is Alton Towers.

At Chessington World of Adventure, the Zufari appears closed on the app and there’s a temporary delay of the opening of Jungle Rangers.

A spokesperson for all three theme parks said that they are open and operating ‘in line with standard weather safety procedures’.

They added that ride availability can vary throughout the ‘day depending on operational and weather conditions, and any temporary closures are assessed by our expert technical teams on a case-by-case basis’.

Marwell Zoo has closed its doors for the day, it said: “The zoo will be closed due to strong winds and heavy rain forecast. We aim to reopen on Saturday 24^th Oct as normal.”

Chester Zoo also announced its closure in order to keep “visitors, animals and staff as safe.” Dartmoor Zoo is also closed.

Storm Austen which has hit the UK today has resulted in schools closed and flights cancelled with the Met Office issuing amber and yellow weather warnings.

WHEN you think of theme parks you probably picture spiralling rollercoasters and splashtastic log flumes.

But one lesser-known theme park with no rides has actually been named the best in Europe.

Named Europe’s leading theme park by the World Travel Awards, Puy du Fou España is a historical theme park on the outskirts of Toledo, Spain – less than an hour from Madrid.

Rather than rollercoasters, visitors can expect large-scale live action shows with falconry displays featuring more than 200 birds.

The theme park is home to five historical villages – The Andalusian Askar, The Royal Town, Isidro’s Sale, The Suburb and Villaneuva del Corral.

The Andalusian Askar, for example, recreates the atmosphere of the 10th-century Córdoba.

Read more on travel inspo

SO FLY

Our fave beach hols under 5 hours from UK with Caribbean dupes & £2 bottles of wine

BOOK IT

20 ultra cheap girly hols – UK trips, city breaks & all inclusive stays from £59

And then in Villanueva del Corral, the theme is centred on a 16th-century Golden Age hamlet with traditional Spanish taverns.

During the day, visitors can watch a number of shows including the 25-minute immersive Beyond the Ocean Sea show which focuses on the Santa Maria ship trying to reach the East by sailing West.

At night, there’s the El Sueño de Toledo spectacular, which is a show about 1,500 years of Spanish history and includes water effects, lighting and hundreds of actors.

The park also has a number of outdoor play areas too and farm areas as well.

Scattered around the park visitors can also explore a number of shops for unique souvenirs.

Tickets cost from €37 (£31.07) per person.

And the even better news is that you won’t have to wait long until heading to similar theme park in the UK.

Ste to open in 2029, there will be a £600million Puy du Fou theme park in the UK.

But instead of focusing on Spanish history, the theme park will focus on British history and folklore.

The park will be near Bicester in Oxfordshire and like the Spanish park, feature no rollercoasters or rides.

Instead, the park will span through woodland and gardens with 13 live shows, including seven indoors.

The shows will all be set around major milestones in British history such as the Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Tudors and Victoria’s reign.

There are also plans to build three hotels onsite that would each be themed around different British eras.

The park plans to operate seasonally each year from April to October.

AUTUMN is theme park season in my house, as the time between summer season and October half-term is quiet with no queues – and I know how to get great deals.

The key to keeping costs down is using a technique I call ‘hack stacking’, and it’s really easy for everyone to do.

The way it works it to combine different deals to get entry for the individuals in your party and maximise the benefits that come with each.

We’ve already enjoyed cheap trips to Warwick Castle and have already lined up visits to Drayton Manor, Alton Towers and Legoland Discovery Centre.

One deal to take advantage of is with Merlin which is currently running an annual pass deal that includes the rest of this year if you pay for 2027.

A gold pass includes car parking, so the £239 cost of one pass could be well worth it just for that if you go once a month plus a couple of extra visits in the summer as lots of the theme parks charge £13 a day for parking.

BAG IT

Cheap summer 2027 holidays you should book NOW for under £60pp – before prices go up

STAY CHEAP

Bargains at Butlins & manor stays… incredible value UK hols from £2.50pp a night

The key to hack stacking is that not everyone uses the same deal to get in.

So someone else could use Tesco Clubcard vouchers or Nectar points to pay for individual entry and others could get parent and toddler tickets if you’ve got children the right age. 

It’s also important to keep an eye out for deals over the course of the year and work out how they could be combined to get the most bang for your buck.

In the spring, Merlin ran a stay and play deal that included annual passes if you booked an overnight stay at one of its parks.

That’s an amazing base for building your hack stacking on. I took two of my sons to stay overnight at Legoland Windsor in June for £270 and now the three of us can get free entry into multiple Merlin attractions until next summer.

If I add on a gold pass for my husband under the current 15 months for the price of 12 deal, I only have to find a final hack to get my third son a ticket to whichever attraction we plan to visit.

So for £510, split over two payments made six months apart, not only have I got annual passes plus car parking for four people, I’ve also enjoyed an overnight theme park stay and even got a little bit of cashback through Quidco.

I did much the same at Drayton Manor, starting with the tickets I claimed through the Sun Club earlier in the year and then using a Blue Light Card discount to buy more.

I could prebook two free tickets through my Sun Club membership over the summer and then buy two more for £20 each.

My final ticket to cover my family of five was £26 using our Blue Light Card and what’s great about this offer is that you can even book it on the day, saving almost £20 on the gate price.

Normally, Drayton Manor pricing is dynamic so it goes up the closer you get to the day of your visit, even if you’re booking online, whereas the Blue Light price is a flat rate.

We paid £66 for the five of us to visit Drayton Manor on a September weekend instead of £200 if we’d turned up and paid on the day.

You can even shave a couple of quid off the parking by prebooking that online too.

And if you visit during September, you get a return visit until the end of October included.

Teachers can get in free on October 3-4, so that’s something to consider if you work in a school.

My hack-stacking trick works at most theme parks as long as you take a bit of time to look at who you’re buying entry for and then work out how to combine deals.

We visited Pleasurewood Hills near Lowestoft, which has just been named theme park of the year, in April and there’s some great deals to be had for tickets there.

You can get a Blue Light discount, but it actually makes better financial sense to use a family ticket for four people for £70 or to buy early bird tickets at £16 each a month in advance.

People with local postcodes could get a reduced price ticket at the start of the season, so it’s worth keeping an eye out to see if that pops up again.

My final tip if you fancy giving hack stacking a go is to keep an eye on discount sites like Planet Offers, Groupon or Wowcher as you can make some great savings, as long as you read the small print to make sure what you’re buying is valid on the date you want to visit.

A family ticket on the Flamingo Land website costs £168 for four people, whereas it’s £98 for the same ticket on one of the discount sites.

And make sure you check rival sites too as there can be a big difference in what they are offering.

HAVE you been dreaming of that bucket-list Orlando holiday? Well, it’s about to get a whole lot cheaper.

AttractionTickets.com are launching a massive Black Friday sale, where you can save up to hundreds of pounds on visits to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and more.

Sign up to the AttractionTickets.com Black Friday sale and receive an EXTRA discount

The sale will include theme park and attraction tickets, as well as combo tickets and holiday packages with hotel or villa stays.

And you’ll want in on these Black Friday deals, as this is the website’s biggest sale of the year.

If you pre-register for the sale ahead of time, you’ll score yourself an EXTRA discount, which will land in your inbox on November 5.

This means that those pre-registered for Black Friday will have access to the absolute cheapest holidays and attraction tickets available on the website all year long.

ORL YOU WANT

Everything new at Disney World for 2026 including viral snacks & ride upgrades

RISING UP

Universal’s new ‘floating rides’ & ‘AI guides’ as UK theme park plans revealed

Click here to sign up to the Black Friday sale so you’ll be among the first to know as soon as these deals drop.

Last year’s mega Black Friday sale saw 20% off all Orlando tickets, so theme park fans are already expecting big discounts again this year.

The deals will be for 2027 holidays, with major savings to be had during the school summer holidays.

While the exact offers are tightly under wraps until the big day, Attraction Tickets have revealed that the average customer will save hundreds of pounds on their holiday, based on the website’s typical orders.

So where could you go and what could you do with a holiday booked through AttractionTickets.com?

If you’re looking for a Florida holiday, you will be able to bag discounts on Disney, Universal, the Kennedy Space Centre and more, plus hotels and villas if you want to extend the magic by staying on-site.

Sign up to the AttractionTickets.com Black Friday sale and receive an EXTRA discount

The site also offers handy combo ticket deals – which are great if you want to tick off Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort in one trip, for example.

2027 is the ideal time to visit Disney World, with new upgrades including a Muppet takeover of the former Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster as well as the brand new Magic of Disney Animation zone in the Hollywood Studios park.

At Universal Orlando Resort, new coaster Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is set to launch in 2027, and the previews of this coaster have excited theme park fanatics around the world.

And if you’re wanting to visit California, now’s the time to get planning. You’ll also be able to save on tickets for Disneyland Resort California and Universal Studios Hollywood in this sale.

Disneyland Resort California is home to Cars Land, which you won’t find in Orlando, plus you can tick off the world-famous studio tour at Universal Studios Hollywood.

If you prefer a Spain or Tenerife holiday, you’ll be able to bag discounts at PortAventura World, Siam Park and Loro Parque.

Just make sure to pre-register ahead of the Black Friday deal to bag an extra discount to make your trip even cheaper.

Sign up to the AttractionTickets.com Black Friday sale and receive an EXTRA discount

THE spooks and the ghouls are gathering, and this half-term is gearing up to be spine-chillingly fang-tastic.

Superb Halloween events for all the family are being held across the UK, including in city centres, holiday parks, castles and lots of amazing attractions.

Here, Trisha Harbord shares her selection of 13 of the most magical and monstrous activities taking place in the coming weeks.

MAZE MADNESS

DO you have teenage monsters? They’ll love screaming their way through horror mazes at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The attraction’s Journey To Hell features three new mazes: Eternal Abyss, a network of tunnels; The Veil, a house steeped in grief; and Deadline, with its nightmarish corridors.

Other frightening encounters include riding ICON: Into The Void blindfolded, and a ghost train.

HOT TAKE

I’ve visited 58 countries – top cheap winter sun hols with £35 hotels & £1.29 beer

HOT STUFF

Cheap destinations set to rival Spain in 2027 with bargain 5* hols & all-year sun

Journey To Hell tickets, including mazes, start from £50. See blackpoolpleasurebeach.com.

Screamfest at Staffordshire’s National Forest Adventure Farm is celebrating 15 years with its most terrifying attraction. Cortex 17 is a psychic trial set in a 1960s hospital, featuring 20 weird actors.

It’s among seven chilling experiences with thrill rides and roaming characters until October 31, from £34pp. See screamfest.co.uk.

HOLIDAY PARK HELL

HOLIDAY parks across the UK have cut-price half-term deals. Butlin’s Spooktober is landing at Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness, with discounted three-night breaks from £66 per person.

Fairgrounds have become scaregrounds and there are special Halloween shows, eerie silent discos and crafts as well as Splash Waterworld, TV’s The Masked Singer and Maximum Pro Wrestling. See butlins.com.

If you’re in Scotland or the north of England, Verdant Parks has 11 sites in beautiful coastal and countryside locations where Halloween is being celebrated, with three-night family stays from £259.

You could choose Riverside, on the banks of Wooler Water in Northumberland, which has a pool, wellness area, soft play, arcade, entertainment, bar and restaurant.

Kids can get involved in pumpkin carving and zombie battles. See verdantparks.co.uk.

MONSTER MAYHEM

MANCHESTER’s MCR Monsters are back for their tenth anniversary. The giant, inflatable creatures will appear on famous buildings and landmarks such as The Royal Exchange and Corn Exchange from October 24 to 31.

On the first weekend, the free event features real-life characters roaming the streets, plus party games and DJs.

There’s also a new Paul Horror-wood Monster Bake-Off on New Cathedral Street, where you can win a “handshake” and pick up free party bags of sweets. Kids will love the spooky storytelling at the monsters’ library in the Arndale, too.

Dancing puppets, stilt walkers and a brass band will lead a procession to the city centre for a spectacular anniversary party.

All week, the Science And Industry Museum is holding interactive activities about Halloween aliens. See halloweenmcr.com.

PUMPKIN PICKING

GET your wellies on and hitch a ride on a tractor-trailer to pick your own pumpkin. This year, Stockeld Park near Wetherby, Yorkshire, has grown their own to add to their half-term activities from October 24 to November 1.

Enter Halloween fancy dress competitions, complete a forest trail with the help of woodland witches who will share their mischievous skills, explore the Mummy Maze, with a few surprises along the way, and battle it out in the Laser Zombie Experience.

Stockeld also has six playgrounds, a multi-storey playhouse and tree climbing. Tickets from £28pp. See stockeldpark.co.uk.

Still not had enough? There are pumpkins galore – hundreds of thousands to be precise – to be collected at Rougham Estate near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. You’ll also find food trucks, face painting, pedal tractors and ice cream, too! See roughamestate.com.

CHOCCIE HORROR SHOW

HALLOWEEN comes with a sweet twist at Cadbury World. The Birmingham attraction has a new gameshow-style challenge where visitors must guess the characters hiding behind a Trick Or Treat door.

And there’s Freddo’s Spooktacular, with games, songs, magic and chilling surprises, as well as chocolate pumpkins and afternoon tea. Explore 14 zones with activities and a 4D movie. Runs until November 1, tickets from £24. See cadburyworld.co.uk.

Until November 1 at Sea Life Birmingham, sea witch Serafina asks kids to become ocean defenders by following a spellbinding trail. They will tackle challenges, solve puzzles and complete Serafina’s missions to discover life under the sea.

Walk through the UK’s only 360-degree ocean tunnel to see turtles, sharks, rays and hundreds of tropical fish. From £19. See visitsealife.com.

HIGH-SPEED THRILLS

TEENS’ hearts will be racing when they get to ride their favourite rollercoasters after dark at Alton Towers.

And new scare maze Final Exhibit will have visitors running for their lives to avoid becoming part of a creepy display.

Younger thrill-seekers will prefer a visit to Trick O’ Treat Town and Amigos In The Afterlife, where they’ll meet friendlier characters.

Scarefest runs until November 1 on selected dates, and tickets cost from £37 for day entry or £80 including all four scare mazes. See altontowers.com.

If after-dark thrills are more your thing, Thorpe Park is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Fright Nights with more spine tingles than ever before. Its new scare maze Tenement will have adrenaline junkies looking for the exit in the pitch black. Entry from £39. See thorpepark.com.

SPOOKY WOOKEY

GET your best Halloween togs on and you could win a year of magical adventures.

The show caves at Wookey Hole, near Wells in Somerset, have been transformed into a spellbinding world of pumpkins, monsters, magic and family fun.

Every family in fancy dress who take a photo there will be entered into a draw to win a year’s membership to the attraction, including access to the new Winter Wonderland.

The Halloween event, which runs until November 1, includes a journey through the caves, where immersive projections bring the story of the Witch of Wookey Hall to life.

Vampires and monsters are taking over the circus, there’s a spooky 4D film, a pumpkin trail and surprises. Adult tickets cost from £24.64, child tickets from £19.54. See wookey.co.uk.

CASTLES IN THE SCARE

STAY in a castle and seek out characters from Horrible Histories. Performers will bring the gruesome stories from the kids’ books to life at Leeds Castle near Maidstone, Kent, until November 1.

Follow a ghost-getter’s trail, uncovering tales of royal spirits, witch trials and strange superstitions. Two nights’ B&B for a family of four in a castle bedroom costs £500, including tickets and free evening meals for kids. See leeds-castle.com.

Warwick Castle will also be full of family frights, including haunted hollows and lurking goblins from October 24 to November 1. But on selected nights, the scares are turned up a notch – with spine-tingling sleepovers including three terrifying ghostly experiences, circus acts and a silent disco. B&B and tickets cost from £85pp. See warwick-castle.com.

HOWLS AND OWLS

WANNABE Harry Potters can learn spells and meet some owls at The Welsh School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry.

It can be found at the British Bird Of Prey Centre, in Carmarthenshire, which has been transformed for a week of mischief from October 26.

Kids are encouraged to wear magical costumes for classes including wand-making, creating potions and spells. Then, they can try being a falconer and fly an owl or a red kite.

Tickets cost from £14 per adult and £8.50 per child. Flying sessions are from £10. See british birdofpreycentre.co.uk.

If you’re further south, a wizard school is also being held at Southampton’s Tudor House on October 26 and 27, costing £8. The house has a free Halloween open day on October 30, with crafts, facepainting, haunted tales and guided ghost tours. See visitsouthampton.co.uk.

THE HAUNTED WOODS

THINGS aren’t just going bump in the night down at BeWILDerwood outdoor family adventure parks in Norfolk, Cheshire and the Lake District.

There’s a whole host of spooky events in the daytime, too. The woodland attractions are asking young visitors to don their scariest outfits to enjoy the play trails and whoosh along zipwires.

There’s also a Twig Or Treat trail until November 1 – where youngsters will be tasked with uncovering characters and collecting letters to discover the scrambled word and claim their prize.

Then, stick around until nightfall to see the Glowing Light Trail twinkle. Tickets cost from £26.50 per adult and £24.50 per child over 92cm.
Families can bag 12.5 per cent off when they book online in advance. See bewilderwood.co.uk.

CREEPY CAPITAL

LONDON is crawling with creepies this half-term. Halloween characters, including the stilt-wearing Peculiar Sisters, are trailing around spookily-decorated shops and houses on Kensington High Street from October 23 to 31.

And on the last day, Holland Park will be transformed into The Playful Park Of Peculiar with live entertainment. See highstreetkensington.co.uk.

London Dungeon has the three-part immersive show Curse Of The Mummy until November 1. From £29 per adult and £23.50 per child. See thedungeons.com.

The dungeon is included in National Rail’s discounted entries to attractions, saving a third off the price. Other offers include Ghosts And Legends at the Tower of London and the Haunted Halls Of Hampton Court Palace. See daysoutguide.co.uk.

BRICK OR TREAT

LEGOLAND Discovery Centres in Birmingham and Manchester have been overtaken by minifigure monsters this Halloween.

Until November 1, budding builders can join creative workshops, bringing their own creations to the Brick Or Treat mosaic boards and testing their skills with glow-in-the-dark Lego bricks.

There are also scavenger hunts, pumpkin carving and dance parties. Tickets cost £19pp or £51 per family of four. See legolanddiscoverycentre.com.

And at Legoland Windsor, half-term sees Lord Vampyre’s Creepy Crypt Trail promising treats across the park, as well as new a harbour show, Monster Rocker’s Pumpkin Trail and the Haunted House Halloween Monster Party. Tickets from £39pp at legoland.co.uk.

LORDS OF THE MANOR

GRAB yourselves a bit of luxury. Kids under 13 can stay at the five-star Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales, for free.

It costs from £123 per night for a family of four, Monday to Thursday, until October 31 – and that includes use of the health club and spa. There are free Halloween crafts and games, while other activities, such as pottery painting and cupcake decorating, can be booked.

If you’re not into spooks, kids are still entertained – there’s archery, laser combat, high ropes, adventure golf, axe-throwing and swimming. And there’s lots of space for biking or walking. The resort has 2,000 acres of grounds and woodland trails.

Larger families can book self-catering Hunter Lodges, with hot tubs and saunas, sleeping up to eight adults and two children. See celtic-manor.com.

IT might not be a traditional theme park, but Kynren – An Epic Tale of England still has plenty to shout about.

The UK’s first live action show park hosts immersive historical reenactments and its ‘The Storied Land’ has just been named a ‘European Top New Attraction’.

The accolade was given to Kynren in the 2026 Parksmania Awards.

The award is for theme parks that ‘have introduced the finest new attractions during the recently concluded season are selected’ – these include rollercoasters, dark rides, shows and special events.

Parksmania complimented ‘The Storied Lands’ for its five productions that ‘transform history, myth and nature into a full-day experience’.

The five action shows are ‘Legend of the Wear’ which is a water show performed over a lake – it’s inspired by North East folklore.

STAY CHEAP

Bargains at Butlins & manor stays… incredible value UK hols from £2.50pp a night

BE-LEAF IT

Perfect autumn attractions from £1.95 per kid from pumpkin patches to waterparks

The Lost Feather is a new show where more than 250 birds fly freely in front of the audience from pelicans, to scarlet ibis, African grey crowned cranes, and birds of prey.

Land of the Vikings takes the audience through a traditional Viking village where they’ll see blacksmiths, fires, fisherwomen – and a jousting tournament.

The Trusty Seed is an equestrian show where there are plenty of daring stunts all performed on horseback.

Victorian Imaginariums is a new show which will launch in July 2027.

Here, visitors will be immersed in Victorian Britain where they’ll discover ‘winding passageways, shadowy alleys and atmospheric cobbled streets’ and meet interesting characters along the way.

There are also night shows and the Pyromusical which is an upcoming 25-minute fireworks display which will return for October 31.

If you’re keen to visit, Pyromusical is the only event until next year as the park is now closed for the season.

It will reopen on July 7 until September 11 – tickets are set to go on sale soon.

The theme park first opened in 2016, but its The Storied Lands first opened in July 2026.

One writer who visited Kynren earlier this year said: “If you love knights on horseback, Vikings fighting with flaming axes, exotic birds swooping overhead, clever aquatic acrobatics and a fireworks finale – this is the experience for you.”

She was particularly impressed by the Lost Feather and added: “This is certainly an ambitious undertaking – the sheer range of animals from ravens to cranes, from macaws to birds of prey, is unlike anything I’ve seen at other falconry shows. 

“The stunning set and the theming are quite something to behold, but what I really love is how the whole park feels at one with its surroundings, drawing on the the fields, trees and the 11 arches of the nearby viaduct.”

Here are the list of awards from Parksmania Awards 2026…

EUROPEAN PARK OF THE YEAR
Disney Adventure World – Disneyland Paris Resort

BEST EUROPEAN INITIATIVE
Europa-Park Children’s House Little Heroes – Europa-Park

EUROPEAN TOP NEW ATTRACTION
Astérix et la Potion d’étoiles – Parc Astérix

EUROPEAN TOP NEW ATTRACTION
Cornwall Coaster – Hansa Park

EUROPEAN TOP NEW ATTRACTION
The Storied Lands – Kynren

EUROPEAN TOP NEW ATTRACTION
Fireline Redwood – Fraispertuis City

EUROPEAN TOP NEW ATTRACTION
Konoha Land – Parc Spirou

EUROPEAN TOP NEW ATTRACTION

Valgard – Paultons Park

EUROPEAN TOP NEW ATTRACTION
Dønnervind – Freizeitpark Plohn

Anna Warnecke, Chief Executive of Kynren, said: “To receive international recognition in our very first season is a wonderful moment for everyone who has helped bring The Storied Lands to life.

“We knew when we started that we were attempting something very different. There are extraordinary theme parks across Europe, but our attractions bring the thrills and excitement of live performances directly to audiences.

“To see that recognised alongside some of the best new attractions in Europe is enormously rewarding and a real vote of confidence in what we have created here in Bishop Auckland.”

NEW images have revealed what to expect from Paulton Park’s new holiday resort – the first ever on-site accommodation for the theme park.

Yet to be named, the £20million accommodation will have a range of lodges and cabins to choose from.

Images show lakeside and riverside lodges, treehouses and A-frame cabins.

Suites and ‘burrowed lodges’ that look like grass-covered Hobbit houses are part of the plans too.

The lodges will range from two bedrooms to four, suggesting space for as many eight guests in each.

There will be space for around 600 guests, with 129 lodges to choose from.

RIDE ON

One of Europe’s best theme parks reveals £260m plans including new sci-fi hotel

BE-LEAF IT

Perfect autumn attractions from £1.95 per kid from pumpkin patches to waterparks

Suggestions of a restaurant and supermarket will also be on-site too, so guests will be able to choose from dining or self-catered.

Play areas, indoor entertainment rooms and game rooms will be there too, so there is enough for rainy days as well.

You’ll be waiting a while as they will be built in phases up until 2030.

Plans for the holiday village were first announced back in 2025.

The park’s deputy managing director James Mancey previously said: “Our vision is to deliver 129 units, designed to comfortably accommodate just under 600 guests at full capacity, 100 guests fewer than previously outlined.

“We anticipate it will be several years before our vision for on-site accommodation is brought to fruition; however, we are committed to continually reinvesting in our attraction, providing a world-class experience for our guests, and planning for the long-term.”

In the mean time, Paulton’s Park is also opening a new water coaster called Serpent’s Curse next year.

Or you can visit the Viking-themed Valgard land, which opened back in May.

The Sun’s Head of Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire was one of the first to visit.

She said: ” I loved Drakon – the park’s first-ever inverting coaster starts with a vertical hill and drop, followed by two great inversion flips at speeds of 44mph. 

But for all the speed, drops and twists, I never once felt nauseous – it is easily the smoothest rollercoaster I’ve ever been on and remarkably silent, none of that rattling you get on so many other coasters. 

“The second coaster, Raven, was almost scarier despite not going upside down, thanks to its high-speed bobsleigh style, which whips you round tight hairpin turns and was great fun. 

“There’s also a very cute new ‘Orchard Playground’ for kids up to the age of 10, the kind that Paultons does so well throughout the park, with treehouses, a lookout tower, net bridges and slides. 

“The rollercoaster fan next to me was right, everything felt like the extra quality that you expect of somewhere like Disney.”

HAVING braved Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights in Los Angeles, I thought I knew what terror felt like.

I was wrong. Nothing can prepare you for the sheer, spine-chilling fear of being shoved into a four-by-four cell, separated from your family and having a twitching, masked lunatic scream repeatedly in your face.

Welcome to Scarefest 2026.

I’d dragged my two thrill-obsessed kids — 12-year-old son Corben and daughter Piper, ten — along to Alton Towers for the grand opening.

We went in expecting a few cheap jump-scares, fake cobwebs and a bit of a laugh. Instead, we got a Hollywood-level masterclass in pure, unadulterated fright.

The big buzz this year is around Final Exhibit — the park’s newest scare maze which promises to “immerse guests in a world of fear”.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

Beyond the doors of the abandoned warehouse lies The Curator’s forgotten collection, where each room reveals a dark secret.

Upon entry, a strange, long-haired woman sits seemingly frozen at a desk.

But as we approach, what I think is a mannequin is in fact a terrifying, ghostly creature that comes to life, furiously thumping the desk with a stamp.

The corridors are filled with archivists — a silent workforce of hypnotised servants whose primary job is to terrify the bejesus out of you.

But this is more than just a scare experience. Visitors are told that those who fail to escape will be transformed into living exhibits, trapped within the archive forever.

The production value is off the charts and it all feels authentic.

Fortunately, my kids and I did eventually escape but we were blown away by the movie-style special effects.

But the real stars of the show are the scare actors — an army of performers that don’t just jump out from behind doors.

They stalk you from the shadows, crawl along the floors and track your every move before “attacking” with menace.

Monsters keep their distance in the other scare mazes, but at Alton Towers they reach out, touch your arms, grab your shoulders and brush past your neck in the dark. It turns a simple walk-through into an immersive nightmare.

Corben gasped in horror as a creature reached out from the shadows and grabbed his arm, sending us sprinting for the exit.

A serious word of warning to parents thinking of taking under-12s inside any of the scare mazes — they are NOT for the faint-hearted.

Visitors are spoiled for choice, with scare mazes including Final Exhibit, Edge of the Forest, Altonville Mine Tours: Tiny’s Revenge and the epic Compound. If Final Exhibit tests your nerves, Compound utterly destroys them.

In this terrifying attraction, visitors are torn away from their group and thrown into individual cells in a brutal mental asylum.

I was shoved into a tiny padded cell with a screaming lunatic frothing at the mouth. It was one of the most intense theme park moments I’ve ever experienced.

Thankfully, Alton Towers hasn’t forgotten about families with younger kids who want the Halloween atmosphere without the trauma.

The park is packed with fantastic, family-friendly frights that hit the sweet spot for younger children.

Piper loved Trick O’ Treat Town, which allows kids to knock on doors down colourful Spooky Avenue, collecting sweet treats along the way.

Another hit for families is Amigos in the Afterlife — a vibrant, Day of the Dead-themed walk-through bursting with brilliant costumes, upbeat music and glowing displays.

And, of course, a trip to Alton Towers wouldn’t be complete without tackling the world-class line-up of rollercoasters and rides, which take on a completely different personality once the sun goes down.

For those who fancy an overnight stay, the monorail will take you to the Alton Towers Hotel where family rooms come with a double bed for the adults, and bunks for the kids.

Good luck getting to sleep after those frights, though.

A EUROPEAN theme park that is a great Disney alternative has revealed it is opening a grand new hotel in just months.

Park Asterix in France, which is cheaper than Disneyland Paris and is under 19miles from the centre of Paris, is opening a themed hotel for up to 750 guests in March.

Opening on March 26, The Odyssey will be the park’s fourth hotel and boast 301 rooms across four themed sections.

The hotel will have a more “mineral theme”, designed around Asterix’s travels to the Orient.

The hotel will be inspired by caravanserais – typical fortified buildings used as a lodging by merchants and their animals in the likes of Egypt.

The hotel will have four facades surrounding a central courtyard with a number of common areas on the ground floor and bedrooms then on the upper floors.

Read more on travel inspo

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

In the courtyard, there will be four areas around a central oasis.

Each will be a garden with a different theme including Persian, Phoenician, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian.

And then the interior of each facade will correspond with one of the four themes.

In the Mesopotamia area, for example, there will be different artisans.

Then in the Phoenicia area, the theme will centre around welcoming merchants.

And finally the Egyptian section will transport guests to the banks of the River Nile.

The entire roof of the hotel will then also feature lots of plants.

When it comes to the bedrooms, each will have a double bed that can be separated into two single beds if needed and an alcove with a bunk bed in.

Rooms will be able to host between three and six people.

And if you fancy something a little more lavish, there will be four suites and large terrace on the second floor as well.

The four-star hotel will be twice the size of the other three hotels at the park.

When it comes to dining options, there will be two all-you-can-eat restaurants – La Table des Rois (The Kings’ Table) and La Table Gourmande (The Gourmet Table).

A bar is also in the plans, at the centre of the gardens.

The new hotel was first announced in October last year when the park was also revealed to be the second most visited theme park in France.

And the hotel is part of a wider €250million (£212.6million) investment project to expand the park by 2030.

This year, the park transformed its Egypt area including the re-theming of the Oxygénarium attraction to become The Descent of the Nile.

Les Chaises Volantes then also became The Flight of Ibis and the Le Cirque restaurant became Le Comptoir d’Epidemaïs.

In 2027, the park will also open a new Greek zone with two family attractions, a playground and a restaurant.

And in 2028, there will be a Londinium Zone which will be an indoor area inspired by Asterix in Britain comic books.

Veronica Lorraine , Gardening Editor and Associate Head of Features, who recently visited the park, said: “With more than 50 attractions, there really is a ride for everyone, regardless of age, or fear factor — you definitely need more than one day if you want to get round all of them.

“Disney certainly has the monopoly on world-renowned characters and a blow-out budget to create that real wow factor, all of which seems impossible to compete with — yet somehow Parc Asterix does.

“The tickets are cheaper, the food is better, the shows are spectacular and the rides are a total revelation.

“Add in a sprawling protected countryside backdrop just 30km outside Paris, with three separate hotels within the grounds at very reasonable prices, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

“It’s pure escapism, based all around the cherished world of Asterix — the man who, in famous French comics, protected France from the Romans.”

PAULTONS Park was recently named the best theme park in the country and it’s about to get even better.

The much-loved theme park in Hampshire has revealed plans for a huge new holiday village which will be the first on-site accommodation for guests.

The new holiday village will have a Scandinavian theme with 129 lodges, cabins and suites, ranging from two to four bedrooms.

The welcome building would act as a “gateway” to the village, with a bag drop-off area and a second entrance directly to the theme park.

A 400sqm restaurant will be part of the village, as well as a small supermarket-style shop.

The new village will also have an entertainment room, as well as a games room for indoor activities.

Read more on travel inspo

SO FLY

Our fave beach hols under 5 hours from UK with Caribbean dupes & £2 bottles of wine

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

James Mancey, deputy managing director at Paultons Park, said: “Our vision is to deliver 129 units, designed to comfortably accommodate just under 600 guests at full capacity, 100 guests fewer than previously outlined.

“We anticipate it will be several years before our vision for on-site accommodation is brought to fruition; however, we are committed to continually reinvesting in our attraction, providing a world-class experience for our guests, and planning for the long-term.”

It isn’t the only addition Paultons Park is planning either.

Set to open in 2027 is a new water coaster called Serpent’s Curse, with twists, a hill and a final lake plunge.

Overall, the water coaster will be 471-metres long and reach speeds of up to 44mph.

Talking about the new ride, Paultons has said it will be one of the ‘biggest rides ever built’ at the park.

The theme park was also recently named the Theme Park of the Year at the UK Theme Park Awards.

The park is home to more than 70 rides and attractions, including the recently opened Valgard: Realm of the Vikings, with Paultons Park’s first inverting coaster, Drakon.

EUROPE is home to a theme park you might not have heard of, but was named one of the best in the world – and it’s about to get some huge upgrades.

Futuroscope in France is often overlooked by its busier neighbour Disneyland Paris.

Yet earlier this year, it was named one of Europe’s best theme parks by Blooloop and was even dubbed the equivalent to Universal Studios in Europe”.

Celebrating its 40th birthday next year – it opened in 1987 – it has since announced huge new multi-million plans.

Called Vision 2025, the €304million (£260million) masterplan has already included the Aquascope waterpark, three rides and and two themed hotels.

One of the biggest upcoming investments will be a fourth hotel at the park, with a science fiction theme throughout.

SLIDE INTO SAVINGS

Best winter family hotels from £70pn with waterparks, theme parks & spas

BUILD UP

First look at epic new Minecraft hotel coming to top UK theme park

The four-star hotel is currently under construction, with 240 rooms randing from premium to suites.

A 400-seat restaurant, an 120-seat bar and a huge spa area are all part of the plans too.

Guests will be able to access the park directly via a pedestrian bridge when it opens.

An official opening date and prices are yet to be confirmed.

Olivier Héral, Creative Director, said it will be a “spectacular and immersive hotel, designed as a world unto itself, where architecture, scenography and services tell a true story”.

Also new next year will be ATHOS, a new IMAX film at the park’s Kinemax.

The new Dance with the Robots attraction will see 10 robots dancing to music, while others include the illusion show Imagine, Live Show.

But there are also some exciting new additions to the park this year too.

From December 5, the new Magical Nights parade will launch with five floats and 23 artists.

In the mean time, there is still loads of things to do with 40 rides and attractions.

This includes the Aquascope indoor waterpark, which have eight slides and a lazy river with four themed universes – and even an “aquatic cinema”.

One visitor previously said:  “Aquascope is a kind of aquatic nightclub crossed with a James Cameron film.“

HALLOWEEN is just around the corner, and Butlin’s has announced some very exciting things coming to the park this autumn.

All three resorts –  Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness – will be transformed in time for the spooky season.

Returning this year are the Spooktober breaks, which will turn the fairgrounds into ‘Scaregrounds’.

New this year is Skyline Gang Monster Mash Up, a Halloween-themed show where guests in the audience will vote for which member is scariest.

There will also be the Eerily Silent Disco and pumpkin carving as well.

Spooktober four-night breaks start from just £39 when staying on October 5 at Skegness.

GO ALL IN

The cheapest all-inclusive deals in the UK you’ve never heard of – from £28pp

DEAD CHEAP

Top UK holiday parks for Halloween fun at October half term from £2.75pp a night

Based on four people sharing a two-bedroom Comfort Room, this works out to £10pp, or just £2.50 each, per night.

All breaks come with access to the Splash Waterworld waterpark, as well as Skypark playgrounds and all live entertainment.

The holiday resort has also revealed what to expect from their October half term breaks too.

It will be the last time to see The Masked Singer Live, which ends later this year.

And they will also include firework displays as well.

October half term breaks start from £49 based on four people, or from £13pp.

Mike Godolphin, Entertainment Director at Butlin’s said: “With autumn well and truly upon us, our teams are busy transforming all three resorts for Spooktober.

“As the Home of Entertainment, next month is one of our favourite moments in the Butlin’s calendar, and we want families to feel the Halloween atmosphere from the moment they arrive on their holiday. 

“There’s a brilliant energy across the resorts during this time of the year and we can’t wait to welcome the tens of thousands of guests visiting us this October.” 

Earlier this month, Butlin’s announced eight new shows launching at the parks next year as well.

This includes Britain’s Got Talent and DreamWorks’ Madagascar musical.

Also new this year at self-serve bars across the parks, which are the first of their kind in Europe.

SOME hotels give you a quiet pool, a basic buffet and a slightly battered table tennis table in the corner.

Others serve up 81 water slides, life-size dinosaurs, hypercoasters, wave machines and entire fairytale kingdoms.

Variety is the spice of life, after all.

These are the resorts where the accommodation isn’t just somewhere to sleep – it is the holiday.

You could venture outside, obviously, but when there’s a full-scale waterpark or theme park right outside your bedroom door, convincing the children to leave the grounds would require a serious family negotiation.

I’ve hunted down eight of the wildest, most action-packed family resorts available this autumn and winter.

We’re talking theme park stays from £353pp and all-inclusive waterpark breaks from £405pp, with prices based on a family of four.

Every deal includes return flights and access to the hotel’s headline attractions too – so here are my eight picks guaranteed to ruin basic swimming pools for your children forever.

Aqua Mirage Club & Aqua Parc, Morocco – from £573pp

You know a resort takes entertainment seriously when its grounds cover 20 full hectares beneath the Atlas Mountains.

Aqua Mirage features a massive on-site waterpark packed with free-fall tower slides, a sprawling wave pool and an interactive splash castle for preschoolers.

Away from the water, you get six tennis courts, football pitches, evening shows and several pool areas – including a dedicated adults-only pool and spa for parents trying to remember what silence feels like.

It also gives you two holidays in one: a high-energy waterpark resort and easy access to Marrakech’s historic souks and main square.

I found a five-night all-inclusive break from £573pp, flying direct from Manchester on 26 December 2026.

That means you can swap the post-Christmas slump for slides, sunshine and unlimited food and drink – without having to wrestle another turkey into the oven.

My insider tip at this hotel is to take advantage of its free shuttle into central Marrakech, saving your family a fortune on taxis when you do fancy a break from the slides.

PortAventura Hotel El Paso & Theme Park, Spain – from £353pp

First things first: this isn’t just a hotel with a couple of slides attached – it’s a property built inside one of Europe’s largest theme park resorts.

Designed like a colourful Mexican hacienda, Hotel El Paso sits right on the edge of PortAventura Park, giving you easy access to six themed worlds packed with massive rollercoasters such as Shambhala and, my personal favourite, Furius Baco.

Right next door is Ferrari Land, home to Red Force – the 112-metre-high vertical accelerator that launches riders from 0 to 112mph in five seconds flat. I’m not speaking from experience this time. No, thank you.

The best bit is that PortAventura theme park tickets are included with your stay.

I found a five-night room-only package from £353pp, flying direct from Manchester on 24 October 2026 – right in the school half-term window.

When you consider how much standard admission to the park can cost on its own, getting your hotel, flights and multi-day park entry for £353pp in the school holidays is an absolute steal.

HL Paradise Island, Lanzarote – from £405pp

There are waterpark hotels, and then there are waterpark hotels with giant prehistoric creatures towering over the slides.

Guests staying at HL Paradise Island get free entry to Dino Aquapark, where multi-lane racing chutes and enclosed tubes twist around massive, life-size dinosaurs.

The main resort features several swimming pools, sports courts, live evening entertainment and full all-inclusive dining.

Lanzarote stays pleasantly warm right through autumn and winter, making it a brilliant option for some sunshine when the UK enters full freezer mode.

I found a five-night all-inclusive break from £405pp, flying direct from Birmingham on 13 February 2027.

As those dates fall over the February half-term period for many families, that’s excellent value for a school-holiday escape with food, drink and waterpark entry covered.

My tip here is to book an apartment. Having a separate living space and kitchenette means parents get somewhere to relax once the children crash out after a day of chasing dinosaurs.

LIVVO Costa Taurito & Waterpark, Gran Canaria – from £495pp

Taurito looks like someone has built an enormous holiday resort inside a canyon beside the coast.

At the heart of it is Lago Oasis Waterpark – a massive saltwater park packed with kamikaze chutes, racing slides and a giant pirate-ship splash fortress.

Guests at LIVVO Costa Taurito get access to the park, putting all the water-slide madness just steps from their room.

Southern Gran Canaria is one of Europe’s most reliable winter-sun destinations, and the hotel offers all-inclusive dining to keep the holiday food admin nice and simple.

I found a four-night all-inclusive stay from £495pp, flying direct from London Luton on 14 February 2027.

It’s a compact half-term hit of winter sunshine, with flights, meals, drinks and waterpark access all rolled into one price.

I also love the natural volcanic-sand beach just 200 metres from the hotel, giving you somewhere quieter to escape whenever you need a breather from the slides.

Sol Dunas Family Fun, Cape Verde – from £430pp

Sol Dunas is less of a standard hotel and more of a self-contained holiday town.

This sprawling resort features multiple swimming pools, water slides, splash parks, playgrounds and sports courts, forming part of the wider Melia Dunas mega-complex.

Cape Verde is the closest thing to a long-haul winter-sun holiday on this list, serving up temperatures around 25C, plenty of blue skies and broad golden beaches on the island of Sal.

I found a six-night all-inclusive package from £588pp, flying direct from Bristol on 26 October 2026.

Being in the autumn half-term, this deal gives families almost a full week of reliable warmth without the faff of a connecting flight.

It costs slightly more than some of the Spanish options, but a full week of reliable warmth, direct flights and comprehensive all-inclusive dining at a resort of this size still represents excellent value.

Pickalbatros Aqua Blu Sharm, Egypt – from £638pp

Aqua Blu features enough slides to make your local UK “waterpark” look like a damp garden shed.

Part of the enormous Aqua Park City complex in Sharm El Sheikh, this brightly themed resort boasts high-speed racing chutes, wave pools, raft rides and towers of twisting tubes.

The resort is fully all-inclusive and includes access to a private beach via a quick, free shuttle.

Sharm El Sheikh delivers reliable warmth throughout the year, making it a strong choice for autumn or winter sun.

I spotted an eight-night all-inclusive stay from £638pp, flying from Birmingham on 14 February 2027.

It’s the most expensive deal on this list, but you’re getting more than a week of winter sun, all your food and drink, luggage and unlimited access to an enormous waterpark during a peak family-travel period.

The real insider perk, though, is the dedicated children’s buffet, built at a lower level so little ones can grab their own meals without endless parental manoeuvring. Genius.

Pickalbatros Jungle Aqua Park Resort – Neverland, Hurghada Egypt – from £565pp

This resort features 81 individual water slides.

Eighty-one.

That includes giant family raft rides, multi-lane racers, wave pools and massive themed splash fortresses spread across a complex that feels as though it was designed by a child given an unlimited construction budget.

Beyond the waterpark, Neverland packs in VR gaming arenas, ice skating, huge live productions and an enormous selection of speciality restaurants.

Despite the ridiculous scale of the property, Egypt’s competitive resort market keeps prices shockingly low.

I found a six-night all-inclusive break from £565pp, flying indirectly from Manchester on 16 February 2027, with hold luggage included.

That gives you six nights of all-inclusive dining, luggage and non-stop access to 81 slides during the February half-term period for less than £600pp.

It’s also well worth using the hotel’s internal land train, which runs constantly around the complex, so tired little legs don’t have to walk miles between the slides and your room.