Al's Auto Academy at Paultons Park

A garage-themed driving school ride with 30 electric cars from Garmendale, allowing young visitors and accompanying adults to take a classic American car out for a spin. The cars are based on the classic Hudson Hornet which cruised the streets of the USA during the 1950s.

Before riding, the queue passes through a mechanics workshop with a full size car displayed in the centre and surrounded by props, followed by Al's safety briefing.

The cars use a simple one pedal and auto braking system so are very easy to control, and are just the right speed for novice drivers. Children 0.8 metres tall and above can ride, but must be between 6 and 12 years old to drive alone.

One particularly well designed feature is the large overhead viewing platform, allowing family members to get a great view of of their children enjoying the new attraction.

After the ride, you can purchase a Tornado Springs Driving Licence from Al's Shop & Service.

Our review of Tornado Springs at Paultons Park

Black Mirror Labyrinth at Thorpe Park

The new Black Mirror Labyrinth live experience opened at Thorpe Park on 21st May 2021.

Described as the world’s first live Black Mirror experience, the new walkthrough attraction is a maze combined with cutting-edge visual technology.

A great deal of mystery has surrounded the attraction ever since it was first announced, so we were going in not really knowing what to expect.

We're very familiar with the British dystopian science fiction anthology Black Mirror, first shown on Channel 4 before moving to Netflix in 2016. It examines modern society and the unanticipated consequences of new technologies, which is a strong and relatively unique concept for a theme park attraction.

Our review of Black Mirror Labyrinth at Thorpe Park

Croc Drop at Chessington World of Adventures

The new 25-metre drop tower ride Croc Drop opened at Chessington World of Adventures on 12th April 2021.

Based on Sobek, the ancient Egyptian Crocodile God, riders will freefall into the 12-metre high jaws of a crocodile.

The new ride has been manufactured by SBF Visa Group and can accommodate 16 people at a time.

Cyclonator at Paultons Park

This is an impressive Gyro Swing rotating pendulum ride from Zamperla, carrying 30 people at a time and rising to around 25 metres – it is by far the most thrilling ride at Paultons Park. The placement of the ride has made it a focal point, drawing the attention of visitors and providing onlookers with much entertainment. Despite the fairly intense ride experience, it's accessible to anyone over 6 years old and 1.2 metres tall.

Cyclonator has been themed as a wind-powered crop harvester invented by the townspeople of Tornado Springs. The queue features various amusing themed elements, to help establish the story.

Our review of Tornado Springs at Paultons Park

Flight of the Sky Lion at LEGOLAND Windsor

Standing at a whopping 25 metres tall, the magnificent exterior disguises the huge indoor attraction. Taking pride of place on the front of the building is the majestic Sky Lion called Maximus, built from 685,530 LEGO bricks.

There were audible gasps as we were taken under the Sky Lion’s wing and transported into a mythical world. As you swoop, duck and dive over the incredible landscape, you come face-to-face with the realm’s many creatures, including the two-headed Hydra (Duo), Fire and Ice Bird (Crystal Flame) and Chimera.

The thrilling ride and 4K film are perfectly synchronised with immersive effects including mist, wind and smells. Because of the current requirement to wear a face mask, the latter was less effective, but it was still noticeable. The m-Ride system from Brogent Technologies ensures a panoramic view from every seat.

Flight of the Sky Lion is by far the most thrilling attraction at LEGOLAND Windsor and with a height requirement of just 1 metre it can be enjoyed by a large proportion of guests.

Our review of LEGO MTHICA at LEGOLAND Windsor

Gangsta Granny: The Ride at Alton Towers

The thrilling new multi-sensory ride experience will see guests join the main characters as they attempt the greatest heist in the history of the world: to steal the Crown Jewels.

Guests will aboard a Royal Carriage as they set off on a remarkable tour of London’s Crown Jewels, only to be swept-up in Ben and Granny’s exhilarating escapade. The ride will whizz, twist and spin through the sewers on a 360° special effect laden wild ride to break into the Crown Jewels vault.

Passengers will see, feel, hear and smell this unique re-telling of the Gangsta Granny story as they descend with Ben and Granny into the sewers, get chased through the streets of London and even come face to face with the Queen.

Grand Prix Racers at Gulliver's Valley

A new Gulliver's Gears area has opened at Gulliver's Valley with three new rides, including the Grand Prix Racers car-themed roller coaster.

Gulliver's Valley opened last year and is aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 13-years-old. The new park includes a wide variety of rides and attractions in themed areas such as the Lost World, Smugglers Wharf, Western World, Toyland and Gully Town.

The centerpiece of Gulliver's Gears and the perfect new coaster for racing fans. Buckle up for twists and turns on this Race Coaster by SBF Visa Group.

Spinning Racer at Fantasy Island

A selection of fun new rides will be joining the line-up of attractions at Fantasy Island in 2021.

Welcome, the Spinning Racer. Built by Maurer Söhne in 2001, this spinning roller coaster has previously toured in Germany under the ownership of Inge & Angela Bruch.

Experience accelerated spins, uncontrollable belly laughs, and extreme thrills! This coaster not only reaches 70km/h but whirls you in every direction possible – adrenaline junkies, be prepared to feel the ultimate rush. Between 1.2m and 1.4m need to be accompanied by an adult.

Storm Chaser at Paultons Park

The UK’s first free-spinning roller coaster from MACK Rides, trains of carriages are taken to a height of over 20 metres above ground, sending brave riders along 459 metres of twisting and turning track surrounded by themed features. It's an exciting ride but not too forceful and the seats are really comfortable. Due to the free-spinning carriages, it's a bit different every time and quite unpredictable, so very re-rideable.

Everyone except children under 4 years old or 1 metre in height can ride, which makes Storm Chaser the perfect addition to the line-up of coasters at Paultons Park.

A creative use of covered space below the adjacent Buffalo Falls water ride means that the majority of the queue is sheltered from the elements and well themed. There's plenty to keep you occupied while you wait, including some fun lookout points to catch glimpses of the ride in action. The ride station is themed as a giant American barn and full of little details to spot.

Our review of Tornado Springs at Paultons Park

The Retro Squad at Alton Towers

Alton Towers takes guests back to the 80s with three retro pop-up rides for the 2021 season.

This year, visitors to the park will experience a nostalgic spin-back to the 80s with the arrival of Mixtape, Roller Disco and Funk’n’Fly, which make up The Retro Squad. The trio of rides will offer guests a blast from the past.

Each of The Retro Squad will offer a different experience for visitors to enjoy:

• Roller Disco: Waltzer in Dark Forest. 'Get ready to slide and swirl, round and round, faster and faster in a head-spinning, totally rad experience.'
• Mixtape: Smashing Jump in X-Sector. 'The bouncy one in the Retro Squad, guests will be in for some major retrotastic laughs as they bounce up and down, then down and up.'
• Funk’n’Fly: Super Trooper in Forbidden Valley. 'Reach new retrotastic heights and enjoy a thrillingly funktastic flight.'

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