If you have a Thomas the Tank Engine fan at home then you may have already heard of Drayton Manor Resort as it is home to Thomasland, where the world of Thomas and his Friends comes to life through a whole range of rides and attractions.
If you haven’t heard of it before then Drayton Manor is a fantastic location for a family short break with something for kids of all ages plus excellent onsite food and accommodation.
Here’s what you can expect from a visit…
Drayton Manor Theme Park Rides
Drayton Manor has had some major investment in the last few years and features a whole range of different themed areas and rides for the whole family.
There are several large coasters for the thrill seekers and many of the rides are designed to allow lower height restrictions than other theme parks on the UK. My eight year old was absolutely thrilled to go on a coaster with four inversions, his Dad a little less so!
They have some brilliantly themed coasters like their latest offering Gold Rush, which we all absolutely loved. The rides are all arranged into themed areas including a Viking themed area, the Wild West, a beach themed area called Adventure Cove and, of course Thomasland.
Thomasland
If you have a little train fan in your family, then Thomasland will be a major highlight of your visit. There are lots of rides that are suitable for very little ones including Percy’s Submarine Splash, Jeremy’s Jumbo Jets and of course a chance for a trip on Thomas himself who takes you down to the zoo area of the park.
The entertainment in the area is also a big highlight with the Fat Controller leading a singalong several times a day from Knapford Station. He then comes and meets the children and is happy to stop for a photo and a chat.
Thomasland is one of the best themed areas for little ones in the UK and was a massive hit with both our boys when they were small.
Drayton Manor Zoo
Once you have enjoyed all the rides there is also the zoo to explore plus several play parks to enjoy. This features a range of small animals and birds to meet.
It’s not a zoo that you would make a special trip for but it makes for a nice hour or so to explore away from the busyness of the theme park.
Drayton Manor Food
The park has some lovely food options with availability within most of the themed areas. We loved the Safari Pizza and Pasta restaurant where we picked up some freshly made pizza and pasta. It was great quality and you can eat either in the jungle themed interior or outside at their picnic tables. We loved it!
Drayton Manor Accommodation
If you are making a trip to Drayton Manor then it’s worth considering staying over and there is some great onsite accommodation available. We stayed in a Thomas themed room and there are also Viking themed rooms available as well as regular family rooms and joining rooms for bigger groups.
During the holidays there is evening entertainment at the hotel for kids and there is also restaurant which we really enjoyed – but do book early for this as it gets very busy! Breakfast is also included in your stay which involves a meet and greet with the Fat Controller and his assistants Rusty and Dusty who visit your table and chat to the kids.
One of the biggest bonuses of staying over is that the hotel often offers a package deal including free second day tickets to the theme park so you can continue the fun on your second day!
