This Yorkshire theme park has been named 'second best value' in the UK ahead of the May bank holiday
This May bank holiday, you don’t need to break the bank for a theme park visit, and you don’t need to go far for value-for-money in Yorkshire either.
As the early May bank holiday weekend approaches, families across the UK are scrambling to find the best outdoor activities to soak up the spring sunshine.
It seems the demand is higher than ever, with Google searches for ‘theme parks near me’ surging by 83% over the past year for families looking for that ultimate white-knuckle experience, while also catering for the younger family members with a slightly more genteel ride or three.
But with the cost of living still weighing on household budgets, the big question for parents is: which parks actually offer the best bang for your buck, and how far are you going to have to travel - petrol prices are not low at the best of times, let alone now?
To find the answer, credit card brand Aqua analysed a range of data points, from peak-season weekend ticket prices, the number of rollercoasters, customer review ratings, parking charges, to the cost of a one-night stay at a nearby hotel, to determine which attractions are truly the most affordable this summer.
The rankings were determined by a value score that weighed up the entry price against the variety of attractions and additional costs like parking:
While the crown has been handed to a North West location this year, there is no shame that a Yorkshire destination managed to get onto the podium on this occasion in second, given the number of theme parks around the UK.
So - where are the best value-for-money theme parks in the UK?
Where are the best value-for-money theme parks in the UK?
According to the data, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has claimed the gold medal for overall value, with a staggering 26 rollercoasters (the highest number of any UK park in the ranking_ and tickets averaging £32, the "cost per ride" drops to a wallet-friendly £1.22.
For families planning to make a weekend of it, Blackpool also offered the most affordable nearby accommodation, with family stays averaging £121 per night.
However, hot on its heels in second place is North Yorkshire’s own Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park.
The Ripon-based attraction secured its silver medal by offering one of the most accessible entry points in the industry, with adult tickets averaging just £25.
Crucially for those worried about the cost of the commute, Lightwater Valley remains one of the few major attractions to offer free parking - a significant "hidden" saving compared to the £13-£15 charges found at some of the UK's larger resorts.
The UK's Top 10 Best Value Theme Parks
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach: £32 ticket | 26 coasters | £1.22 per coaster | £15 parking
- Lightwater Valley: £25 ticket | 11 coasters | £2.23 per coaster | £0 parking
- Fantasy Island: £26 ticket | 10 coasters | £2.61 per coaster | £8 parking
- Gulliver’s Land: £26 ticket | 7 coasters | £3.71 per coaster | £0 parking
- M&D's Scotland: £20 ticket | 8 coasters | £2.49 per coaster | £0 parking
- Codona's: £25 ticket | 7 coasters | £3.57 per coaster | £0 parking
- Drayton Manor: £30 ticket | 12 coasters | £2.46 per coaster | £10 parking
- Alton Towers Resort: £38 ticket | 19 coasters | £2.00 per coaster | £13 parking
- Adventure Island: £25 ticket | 7 coasters | £3.57 per coaster | £7 parking
- Paultons Park: £47 ticket | 10 coasters | £4.68 per coaster | £0 parking