Land of the Vikings comes to Legoland Windsor this year, and features
the park's biggest and wettest ride, Viking's River Splash, a wild voyage
through a fantasy world of bricks. Join the rest of the Viking fleet on the
Longboat Invader, which is like a traditional pirate ship ride but with a
twisting motion as well as the conventional up and down movement. There's
also a Nordic-themed hedge maze. Other new attractions include an 18-hole
mini-golf course and shows, including Cinderella.
Opens today, 0871 2222001CH, www.legoland.co.uk;
Children 3-15 £26, adults £34
Prefer pirates to Vikings? Then head to Alton Towers, where Mutiny Bay
makes its debut. The main attraction is Battle Galleons, where swashbucklers
take part in the waterfight of a lifetime with other ships and even
spectators as they journey around a lake. There's also a pirate barrel ride
- a version of the tea cup roundabout - and a rocking pirate ship.
Continuing the pirate theme, the hotel Splash Landings has two pirate suites
overlooking Mutiny Bay, done out like the deck of a boat, and holding a
treasure chest.
Opens today, 0870 5204060, www.altontowers.com;
Children 4-12 £17, adults £25
A pirate ship that swings its mateys 60ft in the air is also coming this
season to M&D's Scotland's Family Theme Park in Strathclyde
Country Park. Also new is the sing-a-long show from the US, Rocky Rooster
and his singing chicks.
Open March 15-16, then from March 21, 0870 1123777, www.scotlandsthemepark.com;
Entry free. Unlimited ride writsbands £10.95 for under 1.35m tall, £14.95
over 1.35m.
Toddlewood is coming to Norfolk theme park Bewilderwood. Children under
five have their own entrance through the Twiggle Door, and can play in
colourful treehouses, on the roly poly hill, swings and a climbing course.
Bewilderwood is an imaginative, rural play area with crazy slides, jungle
bridges and a number of characters lurking in the woods, including Mildred
the Crocklebog. It is also launching the Completeley Wild Card, a season
ticket valid for six people but excluding the peak summer period, for £150.
Opens March 17, 0870 0130705, www.bewilderwood.co.uk;
Children 3-4 years £5, Over-fours (including adults) £10
Get nose to nose with creatures ranging from shrimps to sharks at the new Seal
Life Centre at Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo in Surrey. A
250,000-litre aquarium with tunnel walk-through will create the illusion
that it's the visitors rather than the sea life on display. Some 20 other
tanks will house interestingly named fish, such as fox face and the goat
fish, and touchpools will allow you to feel prickly sea urchins and coral.
Opens today, 0870 9990045, www.chessington.com;
Children under one metre free, under-12s £16, adults £23
If cheetahs are more your thing, hotfoot it to Whipsnade Zoo, where you
can view the fastest animals in the world with just floor-to-ceiling glass
separating you. It's part of a campaign to bring down the bars, which saw
sister park London Zoo launch Gorilla Kingdom last year. This year, London
Zoo also has a walk-through tropical birds area with free-flying birdlife
and the only humming birds in the UK on display.
Opens March 20 01582 872171 www.zsl.org;
Children 3-15 £11.90, adults £15.40.
Close encounters with Lemurs is what it's all about at Drusillas Park
in Sussex, where walk-through experience Lemurland opens at Easter.
Drusillas, which has a zoo and an adventure play area, is also home to a
Thomas the Tank Engine train ride, taking passengers past the Fat Controller
and through the llama paddock. It also has a good indoor play area.
Park open year round but Lemurland opens from Easter at weekends and school
holidays, 01323 874100, www.drusillas.co.uk;
Children 2-12 £10.20-£12.45, adults £11.20-£13.45.
Wales gains a new water park this year, in the Pembrokeshire Coast National
Park. Though it will be part of Bluestone, a similar concept to
Center Parks that opens in June, the Blue Lagoon will also be open to the
public. Heated to 85F , the tropical paradise will include rapid rides, a
lazy river and hot tubs, a wave pool, and an interactive play area for
children.
Opens May 24, 01834 862410, www.bluelagoonwales.com;
£12.95 adults and children.
Note: the cheapest entry prices at all of these theme parks can be
obtained by booking online.
