In summary
A Staffordshire based family theme park with more than 50 rides and attractions and a 15-acre zoo. Drayton Manor is a must-visit for any Thomas the Tank Engine fans, as it is home to Europe's only Thomas Land. But it's got plenty to offer older kids, teens, and adults too, and this year there have been lots of exciting developments, with the opening of a new themed area and two thrilling new rides.
When do we visit?
Drayton Manor is open from the end of March until the beginning of November, with special dates for Halloween and Christmas. During April, May, September and October, it may be closed some midweek days. Gates open at 10am and rides start at 10.30am. Closing time is usually either 4.30pm or 5pm. I visited with my husband and our sons Odhran, 8, and Reuben, 5, for a short break during the Halloween half term. The rain mostly held off throughout the day but there was a downpour during the last couple of hours of our visit.
What is there to see and do?
Thomas Land
My biggest regret when we arrived at Drayton Manor was not realising Thomas Land existed when Odhran was a Thomas-obsessed toddler. If your child is a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine this is a day out you really don't want to miss out on, as they will absolutely love the many attractions to explore on The Island of Sodor at Drayton Manor. They'll be able to meet all their favourites, whether it's a train ride on Thomas, Percy or Rosie, rocking around on Toby's Tram Express, flying high with Harold or getting splashed on Thomas and Percy's Submarine ride. We loved the Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster and it was difficult to pull the boys away from Spencer's Outdoor Adventure Play. There is a minimum height restriction of on some of the rides. Most three-year-olds should be fine with going on most of the rides. But check in advance and set expectations to avoid disappointment. There's still lots for little ones under 90cm to enjoy with an adult riding alongside them.
Adventure Cove
This is a nautical themed zone and highlights include: the River Rapids, The Bounty Pirate Ship, Stormforce 10 (a thrilling water ride with three drops that for those 1.3m and above so bring a poncho or change of clothes), Maelstrom (swing into the air and rotate a full 360 degrees) and a new and exciting ride The Wave (an exhilarating rollercoaster for young thriller-seekers 1.2m and above).
Vikings
Here you'll find rides and attractions inspired by ancient gods and legends. This is home to one of our favourite rides Loki, which the boys wanted to go on three times! This family ride (minimum height 1.05m, those under 1.2m must be accompanied by a responsible person 16+) inspired by the god of mischief, consists of eight gondolas and four arms rotating in a fast-intermeshing orbit. My stomach felt a bit delicate by the last ride on this, but it's definitely one the boys will be rushing back to on our next visit.
Frontier Falls
Saddle up for some cowboy-themed fun in Drayton Manor's new Frontier Falls, which includes rides and immersive experiences and is home to the thrilling Gold Rush rollercoaster opening on 26 July.
Zoo
Alongside all the family-fun rides, it's easy to forget that there's also a 15 acre zoo with more than 500 animals from across the world to explore, including everything from Red Pandas and Spider Monkeys to exotic birds and reptiles.
Special events
Drayton Manor runs special events throughout the year including Summer Fun Fest (20 July - 31 August) with live entertainment, Viking Festival, spooktacular fun at Halloween, fireworks and a special Christmas Wonderland. During our Halloween short break we found both Drayton Manor Hotel and the grounds around the theme park to be really well decorated for the occasion. There were special halloween activities taking place, including character dress up and a live show.
How much does it cost?
Online day tickets cost from £27.50 for adults and children aged 4+, from £15 for children aged 2-3, free for children under 23 months, an adult and toddler ticket starts from £29.50.
How to save money on a visit to Drayton Manor
Book online - as with all theme parks it saves to plan in advance. You can save up to 40 per cent by booking online in advance.
Sign up to Drayton Manor's newsletter and follow on social media to be the first to hear about special offers and competitions.
Take a picnic and lots of snacks and drinks to save the pennies.
If you're a parent or a grandparent with a pre-school child to keep occupied, then make the most of quieter days with an Adult & Toddler Ticket. During weekdays of off peak periods, an adult with a toddler aged four and under can visit the park for £29.60. And don't forget under 2's go free.
Keep in mind Tesco Clubcard vouchers and Blue Light Card discounts.
What's new at Drayton Manor for 2024?
Visitors will have the first chance to ride on the new rollercoaster, Gold Rush, from Friday 26 July. It opens as part of Frontier Falls, the new Wild West-themed land that opened at Drayton Manor this Spring. Gold Rush has been described at the world's first-ever rollercoaster 'with two unique multi-directional experiences'. This means that riders won't know which route they'll take once they're on the ride, adding an element of excitement and surprise each time. It's the first coaster in the UK to feature a backward launch into an outdoor gravity track. It has a two-minute ride time, and the longest track length for a family coaster in the UK. Best of all, younger family members can ride too, as the minimum height requirement is 1m.
Victoria Lynn, Managing Director at Drayton Manor Resort says: 'We've been so excited to share the full extent of our new Wild West-themed land since the opening of Frontier Falls this Spring. The arrival of Gold Rush plays a key part in our biggest year yet, promising a unique experience unlike anything our guests have experiences before. We can't wait to see what our visitors think of it this Summer!'
In April, Drayton Manor opened The Wave - a revamp of the ride previously known as Shockwave. The ride provides thrills for younger audiences with a reduced height restriction of 1.2m. Prepare for speeds of up to 53mph, experiencing level 4 G-Force at 12 feet high, four inversions, a unique zero-gravity roll, and a double corkscrew structure.
Should we make a short break of our visit to Drayton Manor?
If you want to make more of the occasion, we can highly recommend a stay at Drayton Manor Hotel. Prices start at £72pp for a Stay & Play package, which includes an overnight stay and two day park entry, including exclusive early access on both days. But you'll pay more for the Viking or Thomas the Tank Engine themed rooms. We enjoyed a short stay at Drayton Manor over Halloween. It was the boys first time in a themed hotel room and it was a memorable experience. The boys were excited from the moment we set foot inside the foyer of the hotel and saw all the decorations. We stayed in one of the Viking rooms and the boys ran around excitedly pointing out all the features. There was a telly in each bunk, but it's worth mentioning that these only play DVDs to be hired for £5 from reception. So, if you're staying, you might want to bring your own if you have any.
Breakfast included a hot buffet, and if you're letting the kids indulge their sweet tooth on their break away, they can choose from favourites like pastries, mini muffins, Frosties, Coco Pops and Nutella spread for toast. Lovely hot chocolate is dispensed from the tea and coffee machine too. On selected dates, there's also an appearance from Sir Topham Hatt and friends, adding a special treat for Thomas fans! Over Halloween there was a treasure hunt around the hotel, which the boys loved, free parking and guest wi-fi. Again, if your child is a Thomas fan, a stay in a themed Thomas room and a visit to Thomas Land will be an awe-inspiring experience for them. We also enjoyed relaxing with a drink after a busy day at the theme park, while the boys enjoyed fun and games with an evening children's entertainer.
Take a Break's verdict
We loved our stay at Drayton Manor Resort. Accelerator rollercoaster and Loki were our favourite rides but that may change with the introduction of The Wave and Gold Rush. There's a great variety of rides for children of all ages, making it a great family day out. As seems to be the case with all theme park hotels, there's room for improvement in the standard of the evening food in the restaurant. But there was plenty of choice for the kids and they were happy. We visited on a cold and rainy day in October and have been on many days out since, but Reuben still says our visit to Drayton Manor Resort is his favourite thing we've done in the past year. We rate it 4.5/5.