Theme Park Life - For the Enthusiast in You

Scariest Rides in the UK

Everybody who visits theme parks often will undoubtedly have made their own mental list of which rides send them to sleep and which rides…quite frankly, scare their pants off. Here is what I believe to be the top 10 scariest rides in the United Kingdom in no particular order.

Nemesis (Alton Towers)

This 1994 B&M monster of a roller coaster is often regarded as the best coaster in the UK by many theme park enthusiasts, but to those who see it for the first time, it’s like staring your own death in the face. The track twists, turns and loops all over the place and is a scary sight for most theme park visitors. The theming only adds to that fear, with the station made to look like a strange monster and the track being the steel used to tie the ‘beast’ down along the rivers and cascading waterfalls of dark red blood passing through the ride. After riding once, everyone will want to ride again but Nemesis makes my scariest rides list because of how that first ever ride on the monster feels.

The Obliterator (Pleasure Island)

This is one that most people probably wouldn’t have thought about as one of the scariest rides in the UK, but it makes the list for a few reasons. Firstly, looking at the thing spinning around as it slowly swings you upside down sends shivers down your spine. Secondly, to younger theme park visitors it is a ride that is extremely difficult to build up the courage to go on. Lastly, after riding it once, the thought of riding it again scares you to death. The pain is just awful.

Pepsi Max Big One (Pleasure Beach Blackpool)

Pepsi Max is the next on the list due to the sheer height of its first drop. As you get taken slowly up the lift hill, you see nothing but ocean…the anticipaton is building, then suddenly…the near vertical drop scares the living daylights out of you. After that first terrifying encounter, it’s pretty much smooth sailing, well maybe not smooth, but you get the idea.

Stealth (Thorpe Park)

Zero to 80 mph in under 2 seconds and 205 feet tall, what’s not to be scared about? Thorpe Park added Stealth in 2006 but made it launch even faster in 2007. The top hat part of the ride is what scares most people though, the train flies vertically to the highest point then dives just as steeply back to earth.

Oblivion (Alton Towers)

This dive machine was the very first of it’s kind in the world. There isn’t all that much to the ride other than one drop, but it is that drop that visitors fear. The trains dangle over the edge for a few seconds, then dive straight down at near 90 degrees into the dark pit below. The drop is extremely forceful and takes your breath away for a few seconds.

Apocalypse (Drayton Manor)

Another none coaster makes it onto my scariest rides list. Apocalypse is a drop tower with a difference. It has more than one option when riding, you can either sit down or stand up. Basically the ride takes you slowly to the top, holds you there for a few seconds then drops you straight back down to the ground. There is one main reason this ride makes the list though, and that’s the stand up version. As you are locked in place, you start being taken up the tower, all seems normal until the seats tilt forward, leaving you facing nothing but the ground below.

Nemesis Inferno (Thorpe Park)

Not all that different from it’s older brother at Alton Towers. The main difference is the theming. Nemesis is built into the ground whereas Inferno is built on top of the ground. The station is once again very heavily themed though, this time as a volcano. It might not be quite as scary as Nemesis, but the colour scheme, the theming and the look of the ride certainly makes it a frightening prospect for many theme park visitors.

Absolutely Insane (Fantasy Island)

The type of ride you will see at many fairs and resorts across the country. This one is a much bigger version though and makes the list because these types of rides always look so unsafe. You get catapulted into the sky, held only by a few very thin looking wires. Scary thought!

Hydro (Oakwood)

A water ride? On a scary rides list? That’s right! Hydro gets a place on my list because the drop looks absolutely crazy for a water ride and is something you would only expect on a coaster, where the the train is actually attached to the track. It’s also a scary thought getting that soaked in the cold Welsh weather.

Collosus (Thorpe Park)

The third Thorpe Park ride to make my list is this crazy, unique coaster. Why is it scary? 10 loops is all I need to say!

Summary

There are hundreds more rides in the UK that might be just as scary, maybe even scarier to some people. If you think a ride is missing from the list, let me know in the comment box below.