Little-known UK attraction named 'one of UK's best theme parks' despite no rides
A little-known UK park has been voted as one of the best theme parks in the UK beating out Thorpe Park, Legoland and Chessington - despite having no rollercoasters
A little-known UK attraction has been named as one of the best UK theme parks by Brits - despite the fact that it doesn't have any rollercoasters.
Stockeld Park may not have the high-thrill attractions you'd find at other theme parks, but it's still beaten the likes of Chessington, Legoland and Thorpe Park in rankings on Tripadvisor, based on visitors' reviews. In fact, it's currently ranked as the second best UK theme park, with Alton Towers leading the charge.
Approximately 275,000 visitors head to the attraction every year, and it's not difficult to see why; although there are no rollercoasters, there's plenty of fun to be had for families. We're talking zip lines, tunnels, an outdoor maze, and even PlayHive, one of Europe's largest indoor play centres (think everything from dedicated toddler zones to giant slides!).
In fact, it's one of plenty of themed playgrounds across the attractions, whether you're braving a Spider's Lair or having an adventure in Woodsands Cove. Other highlights include a lake where you can even have a go on 'Buccaneer boats', an Enchanted Forest with plenty of woodland adventures on offer for little ones, and the 'The Flying Stocksman', a little purple train that takes you on a 10-15 minute tour of the forest.
READ MORE: Beautiful UK beach 'rivals Spanish coastline' with white sands and clear waters
There are various spots where you can grab a bite to eat across the park, but the good news is that there are plenty of picnic spots if you'd rather bring your own food along, from outdoor seating to picnic benches. However be warned, no barbecues are allowed anywhere on the site.
The attraction has proven a hit with visitors, and its Tripadvisor reviews have seen it catapulted in rankings of the best UK's theme parks to second place. "Lovely day. The grounds are stunning," wrote one happy holidaymaker who visited in June. "The attention to detail is brilliant so much to do for the children. There's so much to do make sure you take a full day to get around everything."
Another added: "Great place for a family day out whatever the weather. Loads to do. My granddaughters absolutely loved it, plenty of climbing, sliding, swinging both indoor and outdoor. They also liked the go-karts and the inflatable boats. Great day out."
Meanwhile one parent praised the plethora of activities for different ages. They explained: "Such a great day out. So much for children to do. We had a 3, 4 and 9 year old with us and they all had so much fun. We didn't visit the restaurant as we brought sandwiches so can't comment on that, but all of the things we looked at and and played on were perfect. Everything was clean and well looked after as well. We will definitely be back!"
Want to check it out for yourself? Day tickets start from £13.50 per person. You can find out more and book online at stockeldpark.co.uk.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Drivers without three documents in their glovebox this summer face £640 fine
Drivers without three documents in their glovebox this summer face £640 fine A new holiday warning has been issued to motorists over the massive fines you could get while driving abroad A holiday warning has been issued to road users and motorists over massive fines you could get while driving abroad this summer (Image: Getty ) Motorists are being cautioned that they could face fines of up to £640 this summer if their vehicles lack three essential documents. A holiday warning has been issued to drivers over the hefty fines they could incur while driving abroad. British drivers venturing overseas need to ensure they are fully equipped with the necessary items when motoring in Europe. Essentials such as a warning triangle, a high-visibility jacket, and a first aid kit should not be overlooked. Also included on the checklist is a magnetic UK sticker. Brits must clearly display a UK sticker on their vehicle if the number plate features a GB identifier with the Union Flag, a Euro symbol, a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales, or simply numbers and letters – without any flag or identifier. In Europe, Brits who fail to display the correct sticker could face a fine of €140 or £120 whilst on the continent. It's crucial for every driver to thoroughly check their paperwork before setting off overseas. A valid driving licence, car insurance details, and vehicle registration documents must be carried at all times. Failing to have any of these could significantly disrupt your travel plans and result in fines up to €750, which equates to around £640. Motorists are being urged to ensure they're fully prepared to avoid any setbacks, with vehicle experts BigWantsYourCar stating: "As of April 1, 2024, the DVLA requires that anyone seeking an International Driving Permit must visit a participating PayPoint location, equipped with their full valid photo-card licence, a standard passport photograph, and possibly a valid passport if they have an older paper version licence. Article continues below "This new procedure is a departure from the past and underscores the need for drivers to be thoroughly prepared before heading to their PayPoint location. "Not every country requires an International Driving Permit, but for over 140 countries that do, including key destinations like Turkey, Mexico, Canada, and Australia, being prepared with the correct type of IDP is crucial for lawful and hassle-free driving." Moreover, when using sat-navs abroad, drivers should be aware of local restrictions. For instance, in France and Cyprus, the use of sat-navs that alert drivers to speed cameras is illegal and can result in fines up to €1,500, reports Birmingham Live. Drivers are advised to check if they can disable the speed camera detection feature on their devices. It's also essential to note that speed limits vary widely across European nations and are rigorously enforced. Article continues below Being knowledgeable about and compliant with these speed limits is critical, as penalties for speeding can be quite severe. It's important for drivers to do their homework and adhere to the traffic laws of each country they drive in.
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Woman who lives in Spain says there's 'weird' difference she'll 'never' get
Marta Budzyska moved to Madrid in 2022 after having lived and studied in Italy for years - but there's one thing she just can't get her head around when it comes to Spanish culture Spain remains a top holiday hotspot for UK sun-seekers, with a staggering 17.8 million visits from Brits in 2023. That year, Spain emerged as the favourite escape for British holidaymakers, commanding an impressive 21% of all overseas jaunts by those from the UK, according to stats from the Office for National Statistics. It's also believed that thousands of Brits each year also make the sunny Spanish shores their home. But having soaked up Spanish sun and culture beforehand doesn't necessarily mean that people looking to make the country their home won't come across a few surprises when moving to their new country. This was exactly what happened to Marta Budzyska, a Polish woman who moved to Madrid in 2022 after years of living and studying in Italy. Marta thought she was fully clued-up on Spanish and Mediterranean ways of living before moving to the Spanish capital. However she quickly encountered one aspect of daily life in Spain that continues to baffle her – and it has nothing to do with the sunshine. Marta turned to her TikTok account to share her major cultural shock since moving to Spain. "One thing that will never stop surprising me about Spain is that they go to eat so freaking late," Marta said in her video. She continued to explain that she'd gone out for dinner with friends the previous evening, but that their booking hadn't been until 10pm. Even then, people arrived more than half an hour late, which she said is a common occurrence in Spanish culture. "And you know you have to think about the order, gets some starters, the main meal. And literally it took so much time," she said, explaining that they were eating until midnight. "And I'm not complaining, it was so much fun, I love it," she said. "I love to live fully with another culture where I'm living or where I'm at, like at holidays. Spain is my home now, but like, that is just so funny and I think it'll never stop surprising me." Marta went on to advise tourists: "So if you go to Spain, just don't be necessarily on time. Stick [...] with easy and chill, it'll be better for you." People quickly took to the comments to share their own experiences, with many Spanish people relating to what Marta had to say. "As a Spanish this is so true haha," one viewer wrote. A second person said: "It's shocking haha. How do you even work the next day." A third person also confirmed that similar eating habits also existed in Italy, but that the times could differ between 8pm and 10pm depending on what area of the country you were visiting. Have you experienced eating dinner at a later time when you're on holiday? Let us know in the comments.
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
'I moved to Spain and what shocked me most wasn't the weather difference'
Marta Budzyska, who is originally from Poland, moved to the Spanish capital of Madrid in 2022 - but there's one part of her new life that still feels weird to her Spain remains a firm favourite for Brits seeking the perfect sun-soaked getaway. The year 2023 saw roughly 17.8 million trips from the UK to Spanish shores, crowning Spain as the top holiday spot for UK travellers that year. In fact, it accounted for an impressive 21% of all international sojourns made by UK inhabitants, the Office for National Statistics reports. It's estimated that among these sunseekers, thousands opt to permanently relocate to Spain annually. While many Brits acquaint themselves with Spanish customs before their big move, there are elements of life in Spain that can still come as quite a jolt. Marta Budzyska, originally from Poland, encountered just such a surprise after her 2022 move to Madrid, despite feeling well-versed in Spanish and Mediterranean culture due to her previous years living and studying in Italy. She shared her thoughts on TikTok. Albeit acclimatised to the hotter climes, Marta found an aspect of her new existence peculiar – a facet unrelated to the abundant sunshine. Eager to share her experience, Marta turned to her TikTok followers and created a video revealing the most astonishing cultural difference she's faced since settling in Spain. The video kicks off with her exclaiming: "One thing that will never stop surprising me about Spain is that they go to eat so freaking late," indicating just how much this dining habit stands out to her as an anomaly. She recounted how she'd been out for a meal with mates the previous evening, noting their booking wasn't until 10pm and even then, folks rocked up over half an hour tardy, a typical occurrence in Spanish life. "And you know you have to think about the order, gets some starters, the main meal. And literally it took so much time," she shared, detailing that they were noshing away until the stroke of midnight. "And I'm not complaining, it was so much fun, I love it," she enthused. "I love to live fully with another culture where I'm living or where I'm at, like at holidays. Spain is my home now, but like, that is just so funny and I think it'll never stop surprising me." Marta also had a tip for holidaymakers: "So if you go to Spain, just don't be necessarily on time. Stick [...] with easy and chill, it'll be better for you." The comments section soon buzzed with people chiming in with their own tales, with Spaniards nodding along to Marta's observations. "As a Spanish this is so true haha," chuckled one user. Another exclaimed: "It's shocking haha. How do you even work the next day." Another commenter confirmed that Italy shares similar dining customs, though the timing might shift from 8pm to 10pm depending on which part of the country you're in. Have you ever found yourself tucking into dinner later than usual while on your travels? Drop us a line in the comments.
