Wicksteed Park

WIcksteed Park has a special place in the hearts of many people in the local area as it's been a hugely popular family attraction for generations. In fact, it first opened its doors over a hundred years ago and continues to develop with the latest attraction, the Jolly Jockeys ride having recently opened. So when we were offered the opportunity to check it out with our 3 year old son we were excited to check it out! The park was busy but we were able to get onto most rides without a lengthy queue which was great.

Our first stop was the giant traditional Ferris Wheel which is very much a landmark of Wicksteed Park, visible as you drive in and offering a great view of the whole site. This was actually the longest time we had to wait as although the queue didn't appear to be very long, only a handful of the pods were in operation and it took a long time for each group to be seated on the ride. It was a smooth ride and it does feel very high at the top, so not good if you have vertigo but our son loved it!

We then headed over to the section for younger childten and took our son on his first rollercoaster, the Clown Coaster which had a few gentle bumps and was a good starting point - he loved it and wanted to go on again, so we ran back round to the entrance and the queue was short enough that we were able to ride again straight away. This happened on quite a few rides so it was great to be able to really make the most of our wristbands which let you go on unlimited rides all day so I'd definitely recommend this option.

The traditional Carousel was a firm favourite, although of you do have small kids, I'd watch how high the horses go as it can be deceptive when it's stopped but our son managed to cling on to his horse as it went round!

Then it was off to the petting zoo, Wicky's Farmyard where some very cute pigs, giant rabbits, guinea pigs and goats were being looked after in very clean enclosures which was impressive.

The Meerkat Manor was also a highlight with the chance to get really close to the animals.

With over 30 rides and attractions, there's lots to do and it certainly filled the day. The Train Ride round the park was a hit with our little boy who was enthusiastically waving to everyone we went past. There's only one station on the line so you end up back where you started but it's an intersting ride with a tunnel and a bridge over the lake. We got back just in time to catch the Wicky Bear Show at the Wicky Bear Theatre which was hosted by Jerry and Rudy who talked about the history of the Wicky Bear character before introducing him and playing some games with kids from the audience. The show had a great energy and the team seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves.

We then headed over to the more adrenaline packed rides section, where sadly one of the main rides, Dinosaur Valley was out of action, but our son wouldnt have been tall enough to ride anyway. We were pleased that he was able to go on almost every ride accompanied by a parent depite him only being just over a metre tall which was great.

The Ladybird Ride was one of our favourites, a level up from the ladybird ride with hardly any queue so our little boy would have kept going round all afternoon if he could! Possibly the most extreme ride of the day was the Paratroopers ride which spins round very fast and rises into the air, and continued for a very very long time! Maybe because the queue was quite short but we were very dizzy by the time we were allowed to get off!

Other highlights were the two splash rides - the UK's first Water Chute ride which starts at the top of a steep iron staircase and plunges sharply down into the water before the carriage is pulled back up on a rope! It's a real piece of history but also great fun. We got even wetter on the Rocky River Falls ride which is a boat on a track which goes around a metal canal before sliding down with a great splash and if you pick the wrong seat, you do get soaked!

We also checked out the Rockin Tug which is a crazy sliding boat ride that goes pretty fast, and the brand new Jolly Jockeys ride which takes the carousel horses to another level as they gallop around a track like the famous scene from Mary Poppins. This is one which is just for older children and grown ups (with a higher height restriction) but definitely worth a go even if you feel a bit silly!

Our son's other favourite ride was Mr Wicksteed's Cars where he got to 'drive' a vintage car round a track - another ride with a long history as the original was one of the first attractions at the park.

Unlike some other theme parks, this is very much a park as well, with 147 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens to enjoy, and it's nice that you can walk around the grounds without having to pay for entry, you can just pay for the rides you wish to go on if you don't want to buy a wristband.

There are also plenty of food options from pizza at Carlo’s Courtyard to snacks and coffees at the recently refurbished Garden Café or the new Lighthouse Café.

We had a great family day out at Wicksteed Park - it's friendly, tidy and there's so much to do, you'll never get bored. It's a real treat for younger children too who will go home exhausted!

For tickets or more information, please visit wicksteedpark.org