Gavin Seljamae-Waite from Yandell Media, which publishes Group Leisure & Travel, reports back from a family day out at Drayton Manor Park’s Thomas Land as it celebrates a special milestone.
A warm welcome awaited us in Thomas Land, as we were greeted by Sir Topham Hatt and his two friendly station assistants, Chloe and Sally. Thomas Land is celebrating its tenth anniversary at Drayton Manor Park in 2018, and with over 25 rides and attractions, plus Thomas Land live shows, it’s a fun day out for all the family.
We began our adventure on Flynn’s Fire Rescue, where little ones (and big ones!) can live out their daring firefighter dreams. Next, we tried Jeremy Jet’s Flying Academy, which gave us great views of the 286 acres of land at Drayton Manor Park. The Troublesome Trucks Runaway Rollercoaster provided exhilarating thrills for young and old alike.
We were lucky to be spending a gloriously hot day at Thomas Land, and so a ride on Captain’s Sea Adventure was the perfect way to cool down, as groups take aim to fire jets of water at each other (and at unwitting bystanders!). There were screeches of excitement echoing in the air and lots of happy faces, as visitors and staff alike enjoyed the celebratory mood of Thomas Land’s anniversary.
Refreshments were served in Sodor Airport Coffee Shop, where tasty treats and hot and cold drinks are available. The weather ensured we added to the 850,000 ice creams purchased since Thomas Land opened in 2008. The gift shops are also a must for any Thomas fanatic, with a huge range of Thomas train toys available, over 20,000 of which have been purchased during the past decade.
Pictured: Gavin and his daughter at Thomas Land.
We spotted Sir Topham Hatt once again as he chatted jovially to visitors, keen to ensure everyone was enjoying their day and handing out balloons to younger guests. It would have been easy to stay all day just in Thomas Land, as over 2.5million visitors have done since 2008, but Drayton Manor also hosts a vast array of other thrills and attractions, including a 15 acre zoo where you can spot stunning Sumatran tigers, monkeys, meerkats and many more wild and wonderful creatures, including a reptile house and menagerie of exotic birds.
If the weather should have turned grey, we would have been able to enjoy the indoor attractions at Drayton Manor to keep warm and dry, such as Emily’s Play Adventure in Thomas Land, and the spacious 152 seat 4D cinema, currently showing Ice Age: No Time for Nuts. Groups may also enjoy the challenge of the VertiGO High Ropes* or a round of crazy golf* (*additional charges apply).
The child friendly toilets and large changing facilities, including a hoist room, make this a highly accessible attraction for groups with differing needs. The numerous restaurants within Drayton Manor Park cater for large groups, with various gluten free, dairy free and Halal options available, together with great value for money family meal deal bundles. There is also the opportunity to ‘Stay and Play’ in the on site 4 star hotel, or glamping is available in Drayton Manor’s very own camping and caravan site!
Thomas Land and Drayton Manor Park is a wonderful place to visit and to create memories which will last a lifetime. Make sure you visit in 2018 to join in the fun!
Group bookings
Free coach and minibus parking is available along with discounted group rates for 12 or more people.
Visit www.draytonmanor.co.uk.
