Amusement Parks in London: 5 Spots to Visit by Car

A car trip to the amusement park is always an exciting experience regardless of age. Some are more suitable for families with small children, some spots will be interesting to adults, while others – to everyone, without exception. 

There are a large number of amusement parks in and around London, and they are a great reason to travel to the British capital. Most of them are located outside the city, so you have to look for alternative ways to get there, or hire a car. 

Yes, a personal car guarantees you freedom and ease of movement. Don’t know where to find it? Pick up car hire from Europcar Stansted airport and you will get quick access to all local amusement parks. Of course, you can choose another suitable location. 

Among all London’s amusement parks, we recommend heading to the following destinations:

Shrek’s Adventure 

Curved Architecture, Shrek's Adventure, London, England.

Do you want to plunge into the fairy-tale world of your favorite cartoon and see the real Shrek? Created in honor of the green ogre from a popular fairy tale, Shrek’s Adventure entertainment center invites you to meet your favorite cartoon characters, as well as take a ride on a magical 4D bus driven by Shrek’s faithful companion – Donkey. 

You will feel the effect of being immersed in a fairy tale with the help of realistic scenery and modern special effects from DreamWorks. They will allow park guests to become characters of a fairy tale and even influence the course of events. 

Guests of Shrek’s Adventure will enjoy exciting rides, visit the Poison Apple Pub, the fortune teller’s house, a mirror room, and relax in the Shrek swamp. Your kids will be able to meet their favorite characters: Donkey, Fiona, Pinocchio, Gingerbread Man, Three Little Pigs, and, of course, Puss in Boots.

Address: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, South Bank, London SE1 7PB

Chessington World of Adventures

Chessington World of Adventures Peeking Heights

Wildlife enthusiasts will surely appreciate Chessington’s set of activities designed for both adults and children. The perfect destination for exciting family adventures is located 17 miles from the British capital. Thus, a hire car is the easiest and fastest way to get there. 

Chessington features the wild and amazing worlds of Transylvania, Africa, Asia, Mexico, Egypt, as well as the land of dragons, pirate caves, forbidden kingdoms, rainforests, and eastern countries. In addition, there’s a puppet town, a zoo with traditional and exotic animals, a maritime center, a monorail railway, laser toys, and a soda factory. 

Animators always work there, and during the warm season, they arrange holidays, shows, and art exhibitions. The whole family will definitely enjoy adventures and new discoveries there!

Address: Leatherhead Rd, Chessington KT9 2NE

Alton Towers 

alton towers | roger blake

Located in Staffordshire, this amazing park offers entertainment for all tastes. Please note that it takes a long time to get to it – you need to spend about 3.5 hours to reach Alton Towers from London in a hire car. On the other hand, you’ll get access to the most amazing activities for the whole there. 

Originally a private estate, Alton Towers was transformed into a theme park in the late 20th century. More than 40 rides, theme zones, water activities, an interactive aquarium, golf, farms, an old manor house, two hotels, and restaurants are located in a beautifully landscaped area. It’s definitely worth taking more than one day to explore this parkland.

Address: Farley Ln, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DB

Paultons Family Theme Park

Grandpa Pigs Little Train Ride at Peppa Pig World Paultons

This is a real paradise for lovers of Peppa Pig. This zone is the world’s first theme park based on the popular cartoon and offers 9 different attractions made in the style of the fictional world of Peppa. Also, there’re children’s playgrounds and the opportunity to take pictures with animators in the costumes of your favorite characters. 

The Paultons Park itself, located in Hampshire, is specifically designed for families: there’s everything to please the youngest guests and at the same time not deprive their parents of fun. Outside of Peppa Pig World, you’ll find even more rides and entertainment areas, such as the Lost Kingdom for dinosaur lovers, Critter Creek with its caterpillar slide, and the Little Africa mini zoo, home to cute African animals. 

There are so many things in the park that one day may not be enough to explore all the spaces. Therefore, you can stay in one of the local hotels, because the road from London by hire car will take 1.5-2 hours.

Address: Ower, Romsey SO51 6AL

Legoland Windsor 

Entrance to Legoland Windsor.

Legoland is a theme park for Lego fans and one of the most famous amusement parks for families with kids. It’s located near Windsor, so you can combine the trip with a tour of Windsor Castle or Hampton Court Palace. If you are traveling in a hire car, it won’t take you long. The distance between the attractions is only 3 miles. 

There are themed game exhibits, construction workshops, interactive routes, as well as Lego city models from all over the world. Some figures can even be climbed! The park will be interesting not only to fans of Lego constructors but also to all fans of fun rides. There are many water slides in Legoland, so it’s especially great to visit it during the warmer months.

Address: Winkfield Rd, Windsor SL4 4AY