I’ve always found it somewhat interesting to see what comes up on Google for the UK’s rated theme park/amusement park. It then surprised me to the fact it’s actually Oakwood Theme Park in Wales. Reading the reviews and looking at the reasoning as to why it just made me reflect on our visit back in 2020 and how we truly felt about the park. So, I thought I’d do a little reaction/chat about our HONEST thoughts from OUR experience only.
The Pricing:
During our visit, we had saved up our Clubcard points to use a weighty discount on entrance. I believe we paid around £30 for us both to enter which given our day here was definitely beneficial in my opinion. After checking their website it seems the typical adult price is around £36 each. I can see why people would see that as quite steep given an advance ticket to somewhere like Alton Towers is approximately the same cost. But for us & how we went about it I can’t find fault with that sum.
Typical Day Duration:
Quite honestly we did struggle to spend the full day here however we’re not the type of enthusiasts who will lap rides until they make us blue in the face. A lot of the rides for us were one-and-done kind of vibes minus Speed. I think Oakwood is somewhere that is very dependent on you as the guests to how little or long you spend there. I can completely get why spending a day here is without a doubt excellent for some but also can see why guests would struggle too.
Quality of Rides:
I think Oakwood has a radiant amount of rides and their quality I think is higher than what can be anticipated. Megafobia for us was a letdown as it was unlucky timing with it not having the typical operating season and not full carriages etc. However, Speed carries the park in my opinion. That’s the star attraction that offers so much more than what you’d predict. It’s smoother than your other Gerstlauers in the UK and I think this coaster alone is worth the visit. There are so many little gems to welcome across the park too. Some real fun attractions that offer something to everyone. That’s the main thing it’s not exclusively catered towards the family market nor is it purely for the thrills it’s equally incorporated.
Theming & Appearance:
This is a weird one in my opinion. During our visit at least it felt like a very diverse match in the theming & styling characteristics. Some areas were gorgeously produced & were immersive. Yet others felt a tad lacklustre in comparison. Near Spooky Town is cute and the Peter Pan-like area again is really pretty on the eyes. It feels as if the park is competent in achieving beautifully themed areas but possibly doesn’t have the confidence or facilities to apply that all over the park.
Enhancements Since Our Trip:
Since our last trip to Oakwood Megafobia has undergone re-tracking work which I can only presume has enriched the experience beautifully. The layout prior was stunning it was the way it was riding which dulled it in my opinion. I’m optimistic our next trip the faith will be rejuvenated and Megafobia will become one of our UK favourites.
Is It Really THAT Bad?
No, I would never dub Oakwood as the worst UK theme park. I quite honestly think that’s far too brutal given it’s not exactly all that dire. Yes, it perhaps is expensive for what’s given to you to experience and some areas did need the TLC during our last trip. But it’s not the worst by any means. There’s a fair share of things to enjoy for the entire family. It has the UK’s best Gerstlauer. I think Oakwood is unfairly evaluated and open minds are needed when visiting. It’s not your grand day out like other popular parks but I think that’s the charisma. You can’t visit parks like this that are generally quite small and walk away comparing it to the big boys in the game that belong in the UK. It’s something I feel shouldn’t be done in comparison to other small parks perhaps like Lightwood Valley is a lot more acceptable and authentic to the expectations you should have in mind.
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What are your thoughts on this matter?
Speak soon x