Thorpe Park is an amusement park around an hour away from Central London by car. So, what’s so good about it?
The park is famous for its ‘Fright Nights’ every October and it seems to be what sets the spooky atmosphere for Halloween. A ticket to Thorpe Park usually costs £33 when booked online and £66 when booked on the day at the park. However, Fright Night includes the addition of mazes with actors that scare those walking past and these jump-scares cost an extra £33. Despite the additional price, the mazes are immensely popular and are an attraction for many celebrities and influencers who encourage their followers to go to the park.
For those who don’t want to spend the extra money on the mazes, there is still much to do related to Halloween. The world's first horror movie themed rollercoaster named ‘Saw’ is inspired by the 2004 scary movie and opened in 2009 when it broke the record for the steepest vertical drop rollercoaster in the world. I decided to go to Fright Night this year to learn a bit more about the appeal and interview some members of the public. Carlitos Wallace described it as: “An incredible ride that I would pay to experience for the first time again. There are so many surprises and there is a real ‘freefall’ sensation which I think is the best part.”
Although the park has aspects for both children and adults, many rides such as the ‘Black Mirror Labyrinth’ may not be suitable for everyone which implies that the park is mainly catered to teenagers and adults. However, this AI including labyrinth includes an electronic alien which leads you through a series of mirrors and mazes so although it may not be suitable for younger kids, it seems incredibly fun. To have a more personal insight, I decided to interview Mathilde Mckenna Nyberg, a teenager who experienced the tour. She commented: “It was pretty realistic because they had pictures of us (that were taken before it started), there was smoke and a lot of loud noise so it could be overwhelming for smaller children but overall, it was really fun and super scary! My favourite part was that it was just so interactive and like I said the lights and sound really contributed to it being realistic. It was also quite a challenge to get through the maze which was a bonus. I loved it!”
Apart from these ‘Fright Night’ additions, there are still regular rides such as Thomas Webb’s favourite: ‘Swarm.’ I decided to ask him a bit about it, and he answered: “It’s definitely an adventure! There was a strong feeling of adrenalin that lingered after we’d gone on the ride. I really recommend it”. If that isn’t enough to convince you to go, Thorpe Park also has a KFC and many food stalls with churros and wraps to ensure you can spend as much time as you would like in the park.
Overall, I would say Thorpe Park is the perfect place for a day out with friends or family as the park absolutely has something for everyone. Mathilde also said: “it was definitely worth the price and it’s more appealing because it is cheaper than other parks like Chessington.” I particularly recommend it in October when Fright Night is in full swing or in summer as the water rides are “particularly refreshing and really fun” as Ava Skeete, a schoolgirl in London remarked.
