Top theme parks in the UK

From gravity-defying rollercoasters to more family friendly attractions, The UK offers plenty of excitement for thrill seekers. Here's our pick of the best theme parks to visit.

1. Alton Towers

England's largest theme park is also one of its most entertaining. It offers acres of attractions, including the brand new Forbidden Valley – a psychologically and physically terrifying experience in a dark, underground setting. There are also less scary rides, like Old Macdonald's Farm, Ug Land and Katanga Canyon.

2. Thorpe Park

Get your adrenaline pumping at Thorpe Park. Focusing on a slightly older thrill-seeking audience, the park hosts some of the most extreme rides in Europe, including the Nemesis Inferno, dubbed the coaster from hell, and new for 2012 is Europe's tallest winged coaster, The Swarm.

3. Drayton Manor

Famed for its terrifying rollercoaster rides, including Shockwave, Europe’s only rollercoaster where passengers stand upright, Drayton Manor is also a place where younger members of the family can take a ride, such as on Thomas the Tank Engine or one of his many friends.

4. Chessington World of Adventures

Chessington boasts some of the most impressive rides in the country, including a brand new DreamWorks ride opening in 2012: Madagascar Live! Join all your favourite characters in a spectacular live show in between thrilling rides and their Sea Life Centre.

5. Legoland

Legoland in Windsor is an attraction like no other. As well as Lego building workshops, where kids can construct their very own Lego lands, there are also over 55 attractions to take advantage of, all spread across a huge expanse of parkland.

6. Camelot

Experience the land of Arthurian legend, witness magical sorcery from spellbinding wizards and watch in awe as knights do battle in spectacular jousting tournaments. Not just for peasants, there's wizardry, birds of prey and plenty of rides at this medieval theme park.

7. Crealy

Crealy has long been established as a firm theme park favourite in the south of England. There's one in Cornwall and another in Devon. Here you'll find log flume rides, rollercoasters and animal barns, where children can pet animals and even take a pony ride.

8. Woodlands

Woodlands Theme Park in Devon is a brilliant place to spend the day with enough to please the whole family. There’s a zoo, fun farm, rides and even a falconry centre and wildlife sanctuary where you can get up close to the animals.

9. Adventure Wonderland

Dorset's number one family theme park offers three parks for the price of one. Experience the thrills and exhilarating rides of Adventure Wonderland, the fun and games of the Alice in Wonderland story and the Aztec play centre, Wild Thing!

10. Oakwood Theme Park
The whole family will enjoy the atmosphere at Oakwood, where there's everything from minigolf to treetop coasters and much more. Located in the heart of beautiful Pembrokeshire in Wales, it is home to such rides as Speed, Megafobia, Drenched and Vertigo.