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Joanna Lovell was looking for somewhere to keep three kids and Dad happy... here’s how Flamingo Land helped her achieve just that
If you’ve got children of different ages it can be tough finding a day out or a family holiday which really suits them all.
There are not many places which cater for babies and toddlers and also put a smile on your teenagers’ faces too.
But Flamingo Land is in a league of its own when it comes to having something for everyone – and when your accommodation has its own hot tub, there’s even something for the adults too.
Situated between York and Scarborough, the park is divided into seven unique areas which makes it easy to plan your trip – the only problem is that there is so much to do!
And there is no need to be daunted by the size of the park – there is a land train you can hop on and off, a new monorail, and cable cars to make getting about around quicker and fun too.
If you visit on a warm day, make sure you’ve got costumes for the kids so they can enjoy Splish Splosh – an interactive water play area – which was a hit with our 11, seven and four-yearold children.
They all loved climbing on the pirate ship and manning the water cannons or cooling off by running through the fountains and having a go at water hopscotch.
Our three were all revved up for a go on Flamingo 1 where kids can drive their own race cars – an attraction which was relaunched for the 2018 season.
There’s also the Lost River Ride, Muddy Duck Tractor ride, the Balloon Race ride and the all-time favourite, the Carousel. We also really loved Dino-Stone Park – a prehistoric playground with five themed rides including a children’s rollercoaster and Cyclosoar – where the more you pedal the higher you fly.
A firm favourite for us was the outdoor play area and sand pits which were like little beaches in the Children’s Planet section.
It was just like being abroad, the children happily playing in the sand while the adults could watch from the comfort of the pub which conveniently overlooks the play area. If, like us, you’ve got an older child who craves the thrill of bigger rides, you won’t be disappointed.
There are eight Extreme rides including Cliff Hanger, which is one of the tallest in Europe, so you can’t miss it.
The 180ft vertical drop is guaranteed to have you screaming for more.
Stanley’s personal favourite was Hero – Flamingo Land’s latest coaster which delivers the sensation of free flight.
Sweeping turns and breathtaking drops create the feeling of zero-gravity as you ride. Somehow Stanley managed to drag his dad on this ride no less than five times.
I’m not a massive fan of whiteknuckle rides but I decided to be brave and have a go on Velocity – the UK’s first and only motorbike launch coaster.
Reaching 60mph in just 2.8 seconds and hurtling through more than 2,000 feet of hairpin turns and inclines, this is the tallest and fastest creation of its kind in the world.
We, of course, got on at the front and, despite not being a lover of speed, this ride really blew my mind. Coming back down to earth, you have come to the right place too if you’re an animal lover.
There’s everything from lions, tigers, camels and giraffes as well as sea lions, hippopotamuses, lemurs and kangaroos in the animal collection. You can even help out at feeding time!
In my opinion, there is just far too much to do in one day.
Luckily you can find all the comforts of home right in the park as Flamingo Land has its very own Holiday Village where you can stay in a tent or caravan, a lodge, cottage or holiday home.
This private, self-contained holiday complex has a leisure and fitness centre, so you can go for a swim with great water slides, a nine-hole parkland golf course, supermarket and takeaway restaurants
There is also the entertainment complex so the fun does not have to stop when the theme park closes, and you can enjoy dancing the night away.
The Resort Village is a holiday in itself. And after our visit, I can’t think of anything more the kids could possibly want to do with their time – or anywhere else in the UK where they could spend it other than at Flamingo Land.