I visited the oldest theme park on mainland UK – it’s free to enter and perfect for young riders
WHEN a theme park advertises its brand new ride, you’re expecting a thrilling rollercoaster or splash-tastic log flume.
But that’s not the Wicksteed way and it’s typical of the oldest theme park in mainland Britain, based in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
It’s headline ride for 2024 is a genteel ride around a track on a pretend pony, something the whole family can enjoy together.
That’s one of the reasons why Wicksteed is the perfect place to take your theme park first-timer.
Another it is free to enter, so you only need to pay for one or two turns to find out if they’re a thrill seeker or not quite ready for rides just yet.
Jolly Jockeys takes the place of a much-loved helicopter monorail pedal ride, that had been providing parents with a chance to get leg day in while on a family day out for as long as I can remember.
More than one mum or dad had got stuck trying to pedal their kids round some of the tight turns on the old track high in the sky, but even so, it’s always sad when an iconic ride you remember from days gone by is retired.
We were among the first visitors to go on the Jolly Jockeys ride, which involves significantly less parental pain as there’s not a pedal in sight.
It’s perfect for primary age children as you need to be 1.1m to have a go, with my five-year-old just about the right height, so it’s not the ride for anyone younger than that.
My three boys spent their time pretending that they were cowboys chasing each other on their horses and there was plenty of hollering and high spirits all the way round.
It’s just good old-fashioned fun, which sits well with the heritage ethos of a park that has given visitors a free day out for more than a century.
Entry remains free, so you only pay for car parking and ride wristbands or tickets, making it a cost-effective option if some of your party aren’t interested in taking a turn around the track.
There’s a huge 147-acre parkland to wander around and a lake for spotting wildlife, as well as a massive playground that showcases some of the equipment produced by Wicksteed, which supplies parks across the world with swings, slides and climbing frames.
As well as swapping pedals for ponies, the park has also installed a Ferris wheel and a new climbing frame based on Jack and the Beanstalk this season, so we gave those a go while we were there too.
And there’s fun viewing scopes all over the parkland, showing scenes from its century in existence of how people from the past enjoyed their day out.
Among the 30 attractions are a farmyard with giant rabbits, pigs, goats, barn owls, ferrets and guinea pigs, an aviary, Meerkat Manor and regular daytime shows at Wicky Bear’s Theatre.
There’s a soft play for little ones if the weather’s not great.
The train which wends its way around the lake has been there almost as long as the park itself and Wicksteed is also home to the oldest water chute in the UK, which has been soaking visitors since 1926.
My bigger ones had lots of fun on the log flume and rollercoaster, while my smallest really loved the hand paddle boats on the lake, which are next to the queue area for Jolly Jockeys.
Other theme parks for first-timers
Here’s some other theme parks that are great for a tiny first-timer:
Thomasland at Drayton Manor is a small area packed with everything train-related, plus there’s a playground, 4D cinema and zoo just a short stroll away.
Cbeebies Land at Alton Towers is right next to the entrance, so you don’t have to walk far to find all your child’s favourite TV characters.
Chessington has several rides based on Julia Donaldson books, including a Gruffalo river ride and Room on the Broom attractions, as well as themed hotel rooms.
Gulliver’s at both Milton Keynes and Matlock Bath include a JCB zone that always proves popular with their smallest visitors.
There is something for everyone here and you can spend as much or as little as you like and get a good day out either way.
That’s why Wicksteed is still proving popular after all these years.