UK’s best value theme park to open all major rides this winter for the first time

A THEME park in the UK has announced it will open all of its major rides throughout the festive season – for the first time.

In previous years, the only open rides were in one just section of the park but now there are Christmas thrills all over.

Drayton Manor in Tamworth has announced all of its major rides will remain open throughout the festive period for the very first time.

Throughout December weekends, Christmas week and Twixmas (the period between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day), Drayton Manor will operate its major rides and attractions.

In previous years, it’s only been a selection of rides in Thomas Land that have been open rather than the bigger coasters.

This year rides that will stay open include Gold Rush, a rollercoaster in the new Wild West area, The Wave and Maelstrom.

There will also be plenty of Christmas experiences between November 22 and December 31.

For the festive season, Drayton Manor has launched its new Elves Behavin’ Badly | Elftoria experience.

Here there’s a Christmas Tree Maze, Snowball Fight Arena, Live Pranking Workshop and Show, Elf Meet and Greet, and elf slide.

There’s festive food and drink too like a pink peppermint milkshake, roast potatoes topped with hot gravy and bacon bits, plus the Christmas classic, pigs in blankets.

There’s even a Yorkshire pudding wrap with chicken, stuffing, roast potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce.

Elves Behavin’ Badly | Elftoria will be open on selected dates up to December 24 between 4pm to 6pm.

There will also be a Christmas Grotto, the Twinkle Express light trail, and pantomime performance of Cinderella.

Plus, at the end of the day, there will be a new festive show that’s the largest of its kind in the UK – which is included in the price of a park ticket.

Called ‘Drayton Manor’s Christmas Miracle’, it transforms the onsite lake into a stunning visual spectacle.

The new show features a 30-metre water screen, with more than 65 choreographed water jets, dramatic fire effects, vibrant lighting and festive animations.

Earlier this year, Drayton Manor picked up the top prize when it came to the ‘Best Value Theme Park’.

The awards were organised by ThemeParks-UK.com, and winners were announced after a series of votes made by 330,000 members of British public along with scores from expert judges.

There were 22 categories including Best New Attraction, Best Theme Park for Families, for Toddlers and for Thrills, the Best Seaside Park and Theme Park of the Year.

Best Value Theme Park wasn’t the only award Drayton Manor won, it also came in second place for Best (Large) Theme Park for Families, and for Best Theme Park for Toddlers.

Drayton Manor came in first place for Best New Accessibility Initiative, and third for Best Use of IP in an Attraction.

It also came second for its 75th Anniversary Fireworks which won Best New Event.

Park entry tickets are £25 for visitors aged between four and 66. Anyone over the age of 66 can grab a ticket for £19.90.

The festive experiences can be bought on top of the park fee. The Elves Behavin’ Badly l Elftoria experience starts from £20.

The Enchanted Santa’s Grotto costs £10 to enter. The Twinkle Express and Cinderella Pantomime are £5 each.

For more theme parks, hear from one writer who went to one of Europe’s biggest theme parks with more than 40 attractions and record-breaking rollercoasters.

Plus, Head of Sun Travel (Digital), went on a day out at the UK’s best theme park and there were no queues for the rides.