Hold Tight Europe – our crazy Theme Park tour around Germany and Holland!
Join us for a mega roller coaster holiday through Germany and Holland! What an adventure this one was! Starting and ending in Cologne, the trip included 1570km of driving and 122km of walking. In 10 days we covered 7 theme parks, 1 funfair and 6 hotels.
We’ve done our best to cram it all into a 4 minute film, but there is plenty more to see over the coming months so please do subscribe to our YouTube channel if you like what you see!
Düsseldorf Rheinkirmes 2018 – AMAZING German Funfair!
One of the World’s BEST funfairs, and the largest on the Rhein, join us as we explore the 2018 Düsseldorf Rheinkirmes!
This year’s Kirmes saw a record attendance of around 4.2 million visitors during its 10 day run, from 13th – 22nd July 2018. Attractions include Alpina Bahn, Hangover, Chaos Pendel, Konga, Spinning Racer, Infinity, Mr Gravity, Hollenblitz and many more!
Trip video: Port Aventura, Ferrari Land and Tibidabo
3 days, 3 parks! We’re back with our first trip overseas of 2018. This time we visit Port Aventura, Ferrari Land and Tibidabo.
This 3 night trip is surprisingly affordable and a great way to get your fix on some truly excellent rides, with the promise of some sunshine thrown in. What’s your favourite ride at Port Aventura? Let us know down below!
Winter Wonderland Stoke-on-Trent 2017
Stoke’s Winter Wonderland returns for a second year in Hanley town centre. Plenty of rides and stalls for all the family to enjoy this festive season.
Winter Wonderland runs from 16th November 2017 – 2nd January 2018. You can find it in the Birch Terrace car park, Hanley.
Winter Wonderland ONRIDE FEATURE, mounted camera views!
You may have seen our Winter Wonderland music video a few days ago, well here’s a bit of bonus footage for you!
Check out some full length on ride footage of the biggest and best rides at the 2017 event.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2017
London’s Winter Wonderland is back and better than ever! Take a ride on the biggest attractions with us in this whistle stop tour of the UK’s best Christmas event.
Munich Looping (Olympia Looping), the world’s largest transportable roller coaster is back, along with some new additions – including the 80m tall “The View” Observation Tower. Winter Wonderland takes place in Hyde Park, London from 17th November – 1st January 2017. Video filmed during the Charity Preview evening.
Loughborough Fair 2017
Take a look around one of the biggest street fairs in the UK!
This year the fair featured multiple ride duplications – with a total of 4 jumping frog rides (3 standard and one suspended). The fair was however very busy which was good to see!
Loughborough Fair Model Show 2017
The 2017 Loughborough Fair Model Show. This show is special in that it is one of the only shows where models of different exhibitors are all combined into one big diorama display.
The Nottingham Goose Fair model show 2017
Take a look at the fantastic fairground models on display at the Nottingham Goose Fair Model Show.
The event took place on 7th October 2017, coinciding with the famous Goose Fair. This year’s event featured a new “dark room” where some of the best-lit models were on show.
Folly Farm’s Vintage Fairground
Take a trip back in time and explore the traditional funfair at Folly Farm in Wales. This indoor fair includes a massive selection of working vintage rides.
Nottingham Riverside Festival 2017
Take a look around the funfair at the Nottingham Riverside Festival 2017.
Filmed on Sat 5th August. The event takes place every year, however this year’s funfair was slightly smaller than normal with no rides on the large field at the end of the event.
2 days in Sweden in 56 seconds – Kolmården & Gröna Lund
A very quick look at our 2 day theme park trip to Kolmården & Gröna Lund in Sweden. More in depth videos are to follow!
Big thrills at the Liverpool Pier Head Village
Thrill seekers are in for a treat this summer as three of the UK’s tallest thrill rides take residence at the Liverpool Pier Head Village.
Running from 30th June to 10th September, the Pier Head Village is dubbed as a “summer festival to remember”. Whilst we were naturally drawn in by the rides, the event also boasts live entertainment, food and drink, an urban beach and much more.
The event is beautifully located at the Pier Head, offering some incredible views to those brave enough to take on the tallest rides. These are the UK Power Tower, Around the World and Mach 5. Alongside these are a selection of family rides and inflatables, as well as the brilliant “Das Fun Schiff” pirate ship.
An event that is well worth a visit this summer. Rides are accessed via a token system, with the big rides costing between £5 and £10 a go. More information can be found on the Pier Head Village website.
Conisbrough Ticklecock Fair 2017
Take a look around the annual Ticklecock Funfair held in Conisbrough. This year’s fair featured the brand new Exciter ride under ownership of Dane Crow.
Stamford Mid-Lent Fair 2017
Take a look around the Stamford Mid-Lent fun fair 2017.
This year’s fair was slightly smaller than normal, with there being no rides on the meadows. Despite this the fair still had a great atmosphere and the usual suspects were pulling the crowds in!
A look at the 2017 National Funfair Extravaganza
The National Funfair Extravaganza is one of the biggest and best fairground model shows the UK has to offer. We take a look at some of this year’s exhibits.
The 2017 show was held on 21st January at the Churchdown community centre in Gloucestershire. Over 65 exhibitors were in attendance, displaying a huge range of working models from the past to present day.
Festive fun as Winter Wonderland Stoke-on-Trent opens
Ho Ho Ho. Christmas is drawing ever-nearer. With the inevitable stress of deciding which socks to buy for your most-hated loved ones, what better way to escape in to the festive spirit than by visiting Stoke’s new Winter Wonderland?! We’ve been along to take a look for ourselves.
Billed as “The Midlands’ spectacular Christmas destination“, Winter Wonderland Stoke is the first event of its kind to appear at the Birch Terrace car park in Hanley. It promises entertainment for the whole family, with activities including ice skating, spectacular rides, Bavarian food and live music.
On entering the site you’re instantly transported from the bleak familiarities of Stoke into a festive wonderland fit for the big-man himself. The smell of Bavarian sausage wafts up your nostrils, the jingle of Christmas tunes fills the air, and underfoot you are treated to a wooden-decked walkway to help you forget that you’re standing in a carpark in the middle of Winter.
It really is quite impressive. Undeterred by the rain, we were pleased to see a good turnout at the Wonderland, with the ice skating rink proving very popular – even on a week night.
Thrill-seekers are certainly in for a treat. Joining the 60 metre tall Sky Swing are the Airmaxx, No Limit and Super Bowl. For the families there’s the Crazy Mouse rollercoaster, the Sizzler and the Dodgems, amongst others.
Video: Explore Winter Wonderland Stoke with us
Winter Wonderland Stoke is open from 17th November 2016 until 2nd January 2017. Entry is free, with ride tokens sold on-site. It is recommended that you book Ice Skating in advance to guarantee a slot.
Full details can be found on the official website.
Winter Wonderland Stoke gallery
First glimpse: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland opens celebrating 10th Anniversary
Bright lights, festive music and the smell of German sausage fill the air as London’s Winter Wonderland returns for its 10th Anniversary. We went along to the preview evening to see what this year’s event has in store.
Nothing marks the start of Christmas better than the arrival of a festive German market and a bunch of seasonally decorated amusement rides. The Winter Wonderland has taken place in Hyde Park, London for 10 years now. And whilst the event has grown considerably from it’s routes as a Christmas market to the festive theme park of recent years, it has still managed to retain the magical charm that has been accountable for its success.
This year’s theme is strongly focussed on celebrating the tenth year of the event. From the moment you enter the site you’re instantly immersed into a Christmas wonderland that feels comfortably familiar yet strikingly different from the events of preceding years. Take a look around and you’ll notice a variety of new shows to entertain the family, new food and beverage outlets and spectacular new rides.
Never-seen-before Thrilling rides
Thrill seekers are certainly in for a treat at this year’s Winter Wonderland. The Ice Mountain coaster, Star Flyer and The Hangover freefall tower have all returned for 2016 and make up some of the 100 rides and games in attendance. But this year’s show-stopper is undoubtedly the Munich Looping Rollercoaster. Occupying a plot measuring 87 x 39 metres, Munich Looping is the World’s largest transportable rollercoaster and features five vertical loops. It has become famous for its appearances at the Munich Oktoberfest since 1989, however this is the first time the ride has ever opened in the UK.
Shows for all the family
But maybe thrill rides aren’t your cup of mulled-wine. Well that’s OK, Winter Wonderland has something for you too. If the festive atmosphere and the constant fear of having a pram rammed into your ankles isn’t enough to get you in the mood, Hyde Park is offering a variety of shows to cater for all tastes.
Returning for 2016 are the UK’s largest outdoor Ice Rink, the Ice Kingdom and Zippos Circus. Joining them and new for this year are The Nutcracker on Ice, Cirque Berserk (from 7pm) and The Sooty Christmas show (11am daily). Booking is essential to guarantee entry, prices range from £7 – £18.95 per adult per show. Full details can be found on the official website.
Something to drink?
What better way to warm up on a cold winter’s night than to head into a bar made of ice?! Bar Ice offers a sub-zero drinking experience where everything you see, from the tables through to the glass you drink out of, are all sculpted from ice. But don’t worry, as well as one free cocktail, the £15 entry fee also gets you a pair of gloves and a cloak to prevent frostbite.
Fans of more traditional methods of eating and drinking will love the Bavarian Village – a huge complex featuring indoor and outdoor seating, german entertainment and Bratwurst aplenty. Also new for 2016, a range of Winter Wonderland merchandise that can be purchased either on-site or online. Items include a cuddly polar bear and a branded wooly-hat.
2016 is set to be a fantastic year for Winter Wonderland. Whilst there are fewer rides than we saw at last year’s event, what we do have this year is of a remarkably high quality. The layout has again been tweaked and removes some of the dead-ends and bottle-necks of yesteryear. But don’t just take our word for it, check it out for yourself by watching our video!
VIDEO: First glimpse at Winter Wonderland 2016
The nitty-gritty
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland runs from 18th November to 2nd January 2017. It’s open 10am – 10pm every day except Christmas day. Entry is free, no ticket required. You will however need a ticket for Ice Skating, The Magical Ice Kingdom, Nutcracker on Ice, Zippos Christmas Circus, Cirque Berserk, The Sooty Christmas Show, Giant Wheel and Bar Ice.
Ride tickets are all sold separately and available at ticket booths across the site. Contactless payment is available on Munich Looping, Wilde Maus XXL, Ice Mountain, Thriller and the Christmas Coaster.
The best way to get to the event is using Public Transport, the nearest tube stops are Bond Street, Green Park, Knightsbridge, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner.
More information can be found on the official website.