IT’S FULL STEAM AHEAD!
YAKUB QURESHI MEETS THOMAS...
WITH his cheeky smile and irascible nose for trouble, Thomas is an unlikely icon of childhood. A sort of Justin Bieber of transport.
The engine and his friends are unquestionably one of the world’s most recognisable franchises. Their gentle adventures on the Island of Sodor have entertained youngsters for generations.
Despite having two children of my own, it was a surprise for me to learn that an entire theme park dedicated to Thomas the Tank engine was just a short drive from Manchester.
First opened in 1949, Drayton Manor theme park near Tamworth in Staffordshire was previously the location of a stately home and then an Army training ground.
But now it is one of the UK’s most popular attractions pulling in some 1.5m people every year
And since 2008 it has also been home to Thomas Land and an array of rail-themed rides to delight children of all ages.
Created by the Rev WA Awdry back in the 1940s, Thomas and his friends have been an enduring mainstay of British childhood as well as a global phenomenon with audiences around the world (not least in Japan where the very first Thomas Land opened some years ago).
Aged four and seven, I thought my two children might be a fraction too old for Thomas. I thought wrong. We arrive bright and early in time for the rides to begin operating at 10.30am.
Even with an early start, there is certainly more to see in one just day.
We were fortunate enough to visit the park on a day which wasn’t ridiculously busy and did not face any significant delays to get any of the rides (the longest was the queue for the Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster, a sort of miniature rollercoaster for young visitors, where we waited to longer than 20 mins).
More gentle rides are on hand in the form of the engine rides where you can take a trip on board Harold the Helicopter skyride or a train pulled by Thomas, Percy or Rosie, taking in the sights from across the park on the way.
For tired-out parents, there is also an impressive Thomas-themed indoor play area where the children can run off some extra steam while mums and dads can catch a few minutes on the comfy sofas (although during our visit play was restricted to 20 minutes to ensure everyone had a turn).
And, while not exactly sedate, we also enjoyed the 4D cinema experience featuring a Yogi Bear in which the audience enjoys water, wind and shudders along with the cartoon bear.
But for the most part, any delays in getting on to chosen rides were minimal and there was more than enough sights and sounds to keep children constantly occupied.
Outside of Thomas Land itself, the park is also home to a number of high-octane rollercoasters and water rides, none of which we ventured upon on this particular visit.
There are some height and age restrictions which make rides unsuitable for younger children. However, we enjoyed a spin in the Flying Dutchman and there are also traditional Victorian carousels.
And if you still have time left there is also an impressive zoo featuring red pandas, lynxes, meercats, as well as a large variety of monkeys and apes.
We got a quick chance to explore some of this zone – although by this point our poor legs couldn’t take any more! Covering an extensive 15-acre zone, the zoo has its own conservation programme and is soon due to undergo an extensive revamp.
So that we could make the most of our visit, we stayed the previous night at the park’s four-star hotel which is just a few minutes walk away from the entrance.
With its own grounds and enclosed outdoor playpark, parents can enjoy some peace and quiet in the outdoor seating area while children keep themselves entertained. Here our two enjoyed roaming through the wooded areas, climbing trees and looking for caterpillars.
We slept in a deluxe family room but the hotel also features its own Thomas-themed suites where children can slumber in rail-shed bunkbeds, train track rugs cover the carpet, and murals of the famous engine and his chums adorn the walls.
And at both dinner time and breakfast, a series of park characters, including the Fat Controller and his assistants, wander through the dining area to shake hands and pose for selfies with the crowd.
Just off the M6, it takes slightly more than two hours to drive from Manchester to Drayton Manor, making the site more than viable as a day trip.
However, ‘the stay and play option’ is certainly a more civilised option compared to a round trip after a busy day of activities.
For the month of August, the hotel and park are offering a 30 per cent discount on their combined hotel and park bookings, with prices starting from £139 based on two adults and two children staying in a standard family room, breakfast and theme park tickets.
Certainly it is an enjoyable and affordable option for anyone looking for a short family break before the summer holidays come to an end.