Stanley Travel’s Summer of Theme Park Day Trips
If you’re looking for a more thrilling adventure this summer, then one of our varied theme park day trips might be just the ticket!
Throughout this summer we’re taking coach trips to Blackpool, Lightwater Valley, Flamingo Land and Gulliver’s World.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
- Pleasure Beach was founded in 1896 by Alderman William George Bean after he failed in his attempt to become an advertising man on New York’s Madison Avenue [Source]
- When it opened in 1994, the Big One, at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world [Source]
- The Big One, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, holds the record as the tallest roller coaster in the United Kingdom, standing at 213ft (65 m), with a first drop of 205ft (62 m) [Source]
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach is one of only two parks left in the world to operate a traditional wooden Wild Mouse coaster [Source]
- The park was also the first in Europe to introduce a fully inverting steel coaster, Revolution [Source]
- The last remaining park in the world to still operate a Steeplechase roller coaster [Source]
- In 2014 it was voted as the best theme park in the United Kingdom and the ninth best park in Europe by the Travelers’ Choice Awards [Source]
- Pleasure Beach is the only private company in the United Kingdom not imposed by planning restrictions, however attractions over 60 meters in height must meet strict regulations set out by the Civil Aviation Authority [Source]
Lightwater Valley
- Lightwater Valley was founded by Mr Robert Staveley and initially evolved from a small farm attraction [Source]
- In 1990 construction began on the world’s longest rollercoaster – The Ultimate – costing £5.2 million and over 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length [Source]
- The Ultimate, the world’s longest rollercoaster, was opened to the public by Frank Bruno in 1991 [Source]
- This year, Lightwater Valley is celebrating 25 years of the Ultimate rollercoaster [Source]
- The park was sold in 1997 because the park had run into financial difficulties following the heavy expenditure on The Ultimate [Source]
- The Lightwater Holiday Village is now in development, with 106 log cabins due to be built, following lengthy planning permission issues [Source]
Flamingo Land
- Established in 1959 by Edwin Pentland Hick, following the sale of his cinema chain, using these funds to purchase a bankrupt country club to use the land as a zoo [Source]
- The gardens became home to the UK’s first captive bottlenose dolphins in 1963 [Source]
- In the 1970s, amusement rides had become a permanent fixture of the park, along with the zoo, making it the first site to combine both attractions in one location [Source]
- Flamingo Land was originally known as Flamingo Park Zoo, until 1974 when the park underwent a huge revamp [Source]
- One of the celebrity guests that appeared at the park in the 1970s was legendary racehorse Red Rum! [Source]
- The zoo is home to more than 120 different species of animals, with black rhinos being introduced in 2015 [Source]
Gulliver’s World
- Opening in 1989, Guilliver’s World is a small theme park set in a forest and includes a man-made lake,
near Old Hall and Callands, Warrington [Source] - Gulliver’s World has two sister parks – Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath and Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes [Source]
Come along on one of our theme park trips this summer!
Blackpool or Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Dates: Saturday 30th July 2016
Ticket prices start from £13.00
Lightwater Valley
Dates: Wednesday 10th August 2016
Ticket prices start from £11.00 (admission not included)
Flamingo Land
Dates: Wednesday 24th August 2016
Ticket prices start from £11.00 (admission not included)
Gulliver’s World Theme Park, Warrington
Dates: Wednesday 3rd August 2016
Ticket prices start from £14.00 (admission not included)
Find out more about Stanley Travel’s extensive range of day trips and holidays now, or book your trip by calling 01207 237 424.
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