I think it's the best in the world declares Andy Hine
I think it's the best in the world," declares Andy Hine.Where & when: 525 Ocean Boulevard, Festival Coast, Blackpool (01253 341033); 2 Apr to 7 Nov daily; times vary according to the weather (call for details).How much: individual rides from pounds 1, books of tickets from pounds 20.14LEGOLAND, DENMARKAt the grand old age of 30, this is the oldest of the Legolands (others are in California, Denmark and the UK), with the obligatory mini-land scenes of buildings in Germany, Denmark and Norway. There's also a driving school, and a safari park where children can drive through Lego animal scenes. It is similar to Windsor [see No 5] and up to Legoland's high standards. "It's a really great park, and there seems to be more here for little children to do. It's clean and well-organised," says Emma Burgess.Where & when: DK 7190 Billund, Denmark (00 45 75 331333); Mar-Oct 10am- 8pm. How much: adults DKK125; children DKK115.15ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE, FLORIDAIslands of Adventure contains five major themed lands: Seuss Landing, the Lost Continent, Jurassic Park, Toon Lagoon and Marvel SuperHero Island. It's the biggest and newest of the rivals to Disney from Universal Studios, with the first upside-down coasters in Orlando.
"Best is Spiderman, which combines simulator technology with Imax-style screens and 3D projections that simulate the twists of a coaster without putting you through them. Jurassic Park is well themed; its main ride is much better than Disney's equivalent, Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom," says David Churchill.Where & when: Universal Studios, Turkey Lake Rd, Orlando (001 407 363 8220); daily from 9am. How much: adults $44.52, children $36.04 inc tax.16LOTTE WORLD, SOUTH KOREAAged 14, the park is huge in terms of visitor numbers - in 1994, the Guinness Book of Records listed it as the world's biggest indoor theme park. Lotte is a cartoon raccoon - smart and diligent, they tell me, with a girlfriend called Lorry, whom younger children adore There is also an outdoor section called Magic Island. Indoor and outdoor, the attractions add up to 54, including Sinbad's Adventure, musical shows and Gyro Drop - a free-fall ride which runs at 100kph, making it one of the fastest in the world.Where & when: 40-1 Chamsil-Dong Songpaku, Seoul, Korea 138-721 (00 82 8224 112000; info world.lotte.co.kr). How much: adults KrW9,000 (pounds 4.50), children KrW5000 (pounds 2.50).17CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES, SURREYEntertainers plus rare breeds in themed lands draw hordes to Chessington. Rides are supposedly for all ages, though when I went there with three small children, I felt the park was best suited to teenagers.
There is also a pretty well-stocked and managed zoo; the animals get put to bed early, so don't leave it too late. "The Samurai, which spins you round and upside-down and side-to-side, was a little too much. I had to go on four times in a row, and just felt ill after the second go," admits Andy Hine.Where & when: Leatherhead Road, Chessington (01372 727227); 21 Mar to Oct daily 10am-5pm (last admission 3pm), extended hours in summer.How much: adults pounds 19, children pounds 15.18WARNER BROTHERS, GERMANYOnly three years old, this park is firmly fixed on fun lovers' maps. The theme is Hollywood in Germany, so expect Batman and Robin on every corner. The Batman ride is a hi-tech simulation chase through Gotham City - great for teenagers There are also plenty of shows throughout the day. "People are raving about it, and I think the new ride will do them wonders. Wooden rollercoasters are just great fun," say Andy Hine.Where & when: Warner Allee, 1D-46244 Bottrup-Kirchhellen (00 49 2045 899740); 26 Mar to 24 Oct daily 9.30am-6pm except Jul & Aug (9am-9pm).