Time travel Scenic Railway ride, Great Yarmouth’s Pleasure Beach

Great Yarmouth’s famous Pleasure Beach has been welcoming thrill-seekers since 1909 when Charles B Cochran opened the first seafront amusement centre.

Apart from the war years and a fire in 1919 that destroyed the original Scenic Railway ride, the Pleasure Beach has been riding high ever since – and, from the 1950s onwards, under the same family-run management team.

Visitors to the iconic Norfolk seaside resort can enjoy more than 25 rides and attractions including the historic Scenic Railway, which has been going strong since 1932 and is celebrating 90 years at the park this year.

Now a designated Grade II listed building, it’s capable of handling 2,500 passengers per hour and has an admirable safety record.

It’s the only remaining wooden coaster of its kind in the UK and one of only two needing a brakeman on the train to control its speed.

Another classic is the 36-horse Gallopers ride, which arrived at the Pleasure Beach in 1954 and still holds pride of place at the entrance to the park.

Other favourites include the dodgems, the Haunted House, the monorail, log flume, Big Apple roller coaster, cups and saucer-style ride and the retro Twister plus Snails and Fairytales rides.

Funfair fans will love the two brand new rides at the park this season.

Floaty Boaty is a 24-seat tugboat ride and, for hardcore thrillseekers, Pendulum builds up momentum before swinging riders on a 360-degree turn 50ft in the air. Wristbands are priced from £13.50 for unlimited rides over three hours.

pleasure-beach.co.uk

A new Magical Forest immersive walk-through experience for younger children will open at Legoland Windsor

theme park’s multi-million-pound MYTHICA: World of Mythical Creatures

on April 30. Families will encounter wonders ranging from Crystal Claw Crabs and Flower Horn Rhinos to Baby Lava Dragons and Venus

Fly Traps. legoland.co.uk