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Theme Parks & Fairgrounds in London
Big rides mean a proper drive out for most of London, but there is one on your doorstep too. Camden Market, close to the centre, hides an indoor rollercoaster among its canalside stalls and food halls, useful if you want thrills without leaving town. For the full theme park experience, Chessington World of Adventures Resort in Chessington mixes rides with a zoo and has its own parking, with tickets from £32. Further out at Chertsey, SAW - The Ride puts you through a horror-film rollercoaster with a 100-degree drop, one of roughly 25 rides on that site, also from £32. Chessington suits a full day with younger children thanks to the animals alongside the rides. SAW - The Ride is a longer trip and leans towards older kids and thrill seekers rather than toddlers, so check the age range before booking (it lists ages 1+, but the drop says otherwise for nervous riders). If you want something free and closer to home, Ashburton Park in Croydon gives you an outdoor playground with parking on site and no ticket to buy. Booking ahead is required for both paid rides.
11 places 2 upcoming events 3 free to visit
What's on: theme parks & fairgrounds
Places for theme parks & fairgrounds
FreeAshburton Park
Croydon
A free playground for a quick outdoor run about, with parking on site so you can just turn up.
Outdoor playParkingToilets
Butlins Fairground
Bognor Regis · ages 0+
Dodgems, vintage stalls and a mini fairground for the little ones, plus go-karts and a bungee trampoline if you fancy paying extra.
Food on siteParkingRestaurant
Camden Market
London
A sprawl of canalside stalls, food halls and an indoor rollercoaster, with a market maze that swallows a whole afternoon.
Accessible toiletCaféFood on siteRestaurant+3 more
from £32Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Chessington
Surrey theme park and zoo with rides, animals and on-site parking.
ParkingToiletsAccessible toiletFood on site+6 more
from £32Colossus
Chertsey · ages 0+
A full day of rollercoasters, with a 10-loop giant and a 98ft drop the height-restricted riders will brag about for weeks.
FreeHORTON'S STEAM FAIR
Arundel
Vintage steam-powered fairground rides, a big wheel and old-school games set up for one weekend only in Arundel.
from £3Lagoona Park
Reading · ages 6+
A lake-side aqua park with obstacles, slides and paddleboards, running from June to September for swimmers aged 6 and up.
Accessible toiletBaby changeBirthday partiesBlue badge parking+8 more
from £32SAW - The Ride
Chertsey · ages 1+
A horror-film rollercoaster with a 100-degree drop, plus 25-odd other rides in the same park.
Booking required
from £32Stealth
Chertsey · ages 13+
A hydraulic launch coaster that hits 80mph in under two seconds, plus access to the rest of the park's rides.
Booking required
from £32Thorpe Shark Cabins
Chertsey
A big-coaster theme park day out with UK record-breakers like Hyperia and Stealth, plus water rides to cool off on.
FreeWoodford Park
Reading
A free park with a splash pool for summer, a play area to burn an hour, and a quiet garden if you need five minutes' peace.
CaféFree parkingToilets
Good to know: theme parks & fairgrounds in London
Are any of them free?
Yes, Ashburton Park, HORTON'S STEAM FAIR and Woodford Park are free to visit.
What does a paid visit cost?
Paid entry starts from £3 at Lagoona Park. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.
Whereabouts are they?
You'll find theme parks & fairgrounds in Croydon, Bognor Regis, London, Chessington, Chertsey and 2 more. Every place we list is in or around London, and each listing has the full address and directions.
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