List of Maps.
About the Authors.
Acknowledgements.
Introduction.
Why ‘Unofficial’?
Best Days Out.
How This Guide Was Researched and Written.
What’s in a Name?
The Sum of All Fears.
The British Aristocracy and Tourist Attractions.
What Makes British Theme Parks Special.
Deciding Which Attractions and Theme Parks to Include.
Theme Parks (Leisure Parks).
Zoological Attractions.
Aquariums and Marine-Life Attractions.
Museums.
Industry.
Farm Experiences.
Letters and Comments from Readers.
P A R T O N E The World of Theme-Park Rides.
Wheels within Wheels: The Evolution of Non-Coaster Thrill Rides.
Other Non-Coaster Thrill Rides.
Roller Coasters.
Types of Roller Coasters.
Coaster Problems: Whiplash and Nausea.
Losing Stuff.
How British Coasters Stack Up.
Understanding Theme Park Rides.
Cutting Your Queuing Time by Understanding the Rides.
Shows.
Cutting Your Queuing Time by Understanding the Shows.
P A R T TWO Organising Your Holiday before Leaving Home.
Gathering Information.
Our Favourite Websites.
Timing Your Holiday or Outing.
Allocating Energy.
Building Rest and Relaxation in to Your Holiday.
Destination versus Local Attractions and Parks.
Admission Types.
Admissions: Where the Deals Are.
Getting There.
Practical Stuff.
Accommodation.
National Quality Assessment Scheme.
Researching and Booking on the Web.
Making the Most of Your Time.
The Cardinal Rules for Successful Touring.
Touring Plans: What They Are and How They Work.
P A R T T H R E E British Theme Parks and Attractions with Kids.
The Ecstasy and the Agony.
It’s about Having Fun.
About the Unofficial Guide Touring Plans.
Stuff to Think About.
Pushchairs.
Lost Children.
How Kids Get Lost.
Kids and Scary Stuff.
The Fright Factor.
A Bit of Preparation.
A Word about Height Requirements.
Queue Strategies for Parents with Young Children.
P A R T F O U R Greater London.
Theme Parks and Attractions.
Chessington World of Adventures.
The London Dungeon.
Sea Life London Aquarium.
ZSL London Zoo.
P A R T F I V E South East England.
Theme Parks and Attractions.
Blue Reef Aquarium–Hastings.
Howletts Wild Animal Park.
Port Lympne Wild Animal Park.
Sea Life Brighton.
Thorpe Park.
Farm Experiences.
P A R T S I X The South of England.
Theme Parks and Attractions.
Blue Reef Aquarium–Southsea/Portsmouth.
Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens.
Legoland Windsor.
Paultons Park.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Farm Experiences.
P A R T S E V E N South West England.
Theme Parks and Attractions.
Blue Reef Aquarium–Bristol.
Blue Reef Aquarium–Newquay.
Brunel’s SS Great Britain.
Cornwall’s Crealy Great Adventure Park.
Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park.
Eden Project.
Longleat House and Safari Park.
National Marine Aquarium.
Oceanarium.
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park.
Sea Life Weymouth.
The Tank Museum.
Weston-Super-Mare SeaQuarium.
Farm Experiences.
P A R T E I G H T The East of England.
Theme Parks and Attractions.
Adventure Island Sunken Gardens.
Africa Alive.
Banham Zoo.
Dinosaur Adventure.
Fantasy Island.
Gulliver’s Dinosaur and Farm Park.
Gulliver’s Land.
Imperial War Museum Duxford.
Pleasure Island Theme Park.
Pleasurewood Hills.
Sea Life Great Yarmouth.
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens.
Woburn Safari Park.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.
Farm Experiences.
P A R T N I N E East and West Midlands.
Theme Parks and Attractions.
Alton Towers.
Bourton-on-the-Water.
Drayton Manor.
Gulliver’s Kingdom.
Morgan Motor Company Factory Tour.
National Sea Life Centre Birmingham.
National Space Centre.
Twycross Zoo.
Warwick Castle.
West Midland Safari & Leisure Park.
Wicksteed Park.
Farm Experiences.
P A R T T E N Yorkshire.
Theme Parks and Attractions.
The Deep.
Flamingo Land.
Jorvik Viking Centre.
Lightwater Valley.
National Coal Mining Museum.
National Railway Museum.
Sea Life Scarborough.
The York Dungeon.
Farm Experiences.
P A R T E L E V E N North West England.
Theme Parks and Attractions.
The Beatles Story.
Blackpool Zoo.
Blue Planet Aquarium.
British Lawnmower Museum.
Camelot Theme Park.
Chester Zoo.
Gulliver’s World.
Knowsley Safari Park.
Pleasure Beach Blackpool.
Sea Life Blackpool.
Farm Experiences.
P A R T T W E L V E North East England.
Attraction.
Blue Reef Aquarium–Tynemouth.
Farm Experiences.
P A R T T H I R T E E N Cumbria and the Lake District.
Attractions.
Lakes Aquarium.
South Lakes Wild Animal Park.
Farm Experiences.
P A R T F O U R T E E N Scotland.
Theme Parks and Attractions.
Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park.
Deep Sea World.
The Edinburgh Dungeon.
M&D’s, Scotland’s Theme Park.
Sea Life Loch Lomond.
St Andrews Aquarium.
Farm Experiences.
P A R T F I F T E E N Wales.
Theme Parks and Attractions.
Big Pit: National Coal Museum.
Oakwood Theme Park.
Rhyl SeaQuarium.
Twr-y-Felin Outdoor Centre.
Welsh Mountain Zoo.
Farm Experiences.
P A R T S I X T E E N In the Footsteps of Harry Potter.
Attractions.
Alnwick Castle.
Durham Cathedral.
Gloucester Cathedral.
Lacock Alley.
University of Oxford.
West Coast Railway Jacobite Steam Train.
ZSL London Zoo.
Appendixes.
Index.
L I S T of MAPS.
England Regions.
Greater London.
Chessington World of Adventures.
South East England.
Thorpe Park.
The South of England.
Legoland Windsor.
South West England.
The East of England.
East and West Midlands.
Alton Towers.
Yorkshire.
North West England.
Pleasure Beach Blackpool.
North East England.
Cumbria and the Lake District.
Scotland.
North Wales.
South Wales.
