| Drayton Manor first opened its gates to the public in | | | | there is a 75 pitch camping and caravan site with |
| October 1949 as an inland pleasure resort and was | | | | on-site facilities such as toilets, showers, (for the |
| originally just a normal park with tea rooms, boat rides | | | | disabled too), Elsen points and security. Not only are |
| and a pets corner. Since then it has grown substantially | | | | you situated on the park itself, but you are also close |
| to become the UK's leading family run theme park and | | | | to a host of other local attractions and facilities. |
| the fourth most popular theme park in the UK | | | | A day at Drayton Manor is fun for all the family. |
| (according to visitor numbers - over a million a year). | | | | Unfortunately, there are height restrictions on some of |
| The Parks' motto is "Family Run for Family Fun". | | | | the rides, but the rides for the smaller children can also |
| Situated near Tamworth, Staffordshire, Drayton Manor | | | | be white knuckled rides. Children over 1.4m can ride on |
| Theme Park stands in an area of 280 acres and | | | | all the rides. There are several rides which children |
| boasts 36 rides in total including 4 roller coasters and 3 | | | | under 1m must be accompanied by an adult. There are |
| water rides. In 2006 Drayton Manor received two | | | | numerous places to eat and drink, so you will never |
| prestigious awards, "Best UK Attraction" awarded by | | | | need to go hungry. |
| Group Leisure and "UK Attraction of the Year" | | | | The rides at Drayton Manor and the areas they are in:- |
| awarded by Coach Tourism. Within the park is a 15 | | | | Stormforce 10 is the parks most popular ride and |
| acre zoo which houses over 100 species of animals. | | | | situated in the Fisherman's Wharf area. Included in this |
| Drayton Manor are proud to be the first in the world | | | | area are the Polperro Express Railway, Carousel, and |
| for some of their rides, for instance, the Apocalypse is | | | | the brand new The Bounty. |
| the world's first stand-up tower drop ride and G Force | | | | In the Action Park area of Drayton Manor is the |
| was the world's first X Car Coaster (apart from its | | | | Maelstrom, Chair Lift, Black Revolver, G-Force, |
| prototype in Germany). Also, some of the rides are the | | | | Shockwave and Splash Canyon. |
| only ones in Europe, for instance, Shockwave, which is | | | | Drayton Manors Aerial Park is home to Apocalypse, |
| Europe's only stand-up roller coaster. They were also | | | | Drayton Queen Boat, Sombrero, The Haunting, Big |
| the leaders, in the UK, for having the first water ride to | | | | Wheel, Drunken Barrels, Wild West Shoot Out, Flying |
| have a backwards drop. Coaster enthusiasts | | | | Dutchman, Buffalo Coaster and Pandemonium. |
| recommend Shockwave because of its zero-g roll, this | | | | Pirate Cove is Drayton Manors swashbuckling pirate |
| in fact, makes Shockwave the only stand-up coaster | | | | ride area and houses Excalibur - A Dragon's Tail, |
| in the world to have this inversion. | | | | Pirate Raft Ride, Jolly Buccaneer, Pirate Adventure, |
| Drayton Manor has several theme areas which can | | | | Jolly Roger and the Dodgems. |
| be characterized as: Action Park - where the white | | | | And for the smaller children at Drayton Manor, there is |
| knuckle rides are housed. Aerial Park, with aerial-based | | | | Robinson's Land which has some big news happening |
| rides which create an airborne atmosphere for the | | | | in 2008. The rides in this area are: Cadbury's Junior |
| riders. Pirate Cove - where the swashbuckling rides | | | | Pirate Ship, Vintage Cars, Arriva Crazy Bus, Frog |
| are. Fisherman's Wharf is based on a Cornish Fishing | | | | Hopper, Whirly Wheel, Flying Jumbos, Ladybirds, Junior |
| Village and holds the parks newest ride - The Bounty - | | | | Carousel, Mini Balloons and Super Dragon Roller |
| a pirate ship ride, and finally, Robinson's Land - where | | | | Coaster. |
| the brightly-colored smaller childrens rides are housed. | | | | All in all, Drayton Manor has something for the whole |
| If you fancy a camping holiday at Drayton Manor, | | | | family and is well worth a family day trip this summer. |