Coaster reviews

Fun Intensity Duration Theming Capacity

I've ridden Spinball Whizzer 2 times and it's a fun ride (especially at night). The biggest problem is the theming and colour scheme; it's completely out of place and robs from the beautiful surrounding environment. I was impressed with how smooth it was and the comfort of the restraints in the cars. Keep in mind that it's four riders per train meaning capacity is an issue. Decent pace is maintained throughout and it's difficult to know what element comes next thanks to the free spin which also makes it re-ridable. The compact layout is not as creative as Dragon's Fury at Chessington but it's fine. The most intense highlights are the overbanked horseshoe turn and the descending helix. The ride is mostly smooth with the exception of an uncomfortable jolt on the final brake run when the spinning mechanism locks in place. It's fun and worth a ride on a quiet day.

Theming Pace Fun Too short Capacity Lap Bar

I rode Avalanche 1 time.

Theming Fun Duration Dead spots

This version of Thunder Mountain was awesome. It was not too fast and had great theming. It's a very long ride.

Rattle Headbanging Discomfort

I rode Big Dipper 1 time. This is a very rough and shaky ride. The worst part was a diving banked turn midway through the ride. The cushioned seats did not help the roughness of the ride.

Theming Inversions Layout Headbanging Harness Discomfort

I've ridden Colossus 4 times. Colossus is an iconic Thorpe Park coaster but suffers from comfort issues. The ride entrance sign has been updated with a fresh colour scheme supported by yellow columns on either side. The cosmic designs, celestial imagery, overgrown vegetation, theming, and ominous music in the ride area are great. It provides a mythological ambience and makes the rider feel like they're journeying through a lost civilization. The queue winds underneath the track in a jungle-like environment building anticipation. This allows riders to feel the train's vibrations and roar overhead. The station has dimly lit orange lanterns hanging from the ceiling and wall ornaments that enhance the mythological atmosphere. Unfortunately, the ride itself is hampered by restrictive OTSR and limited legroom in the cars. This causes noticeable head banging in the vertical loop and cobra roll. The roughness mostly subsides during the rest of the layout. Highlights include the intense final heart line roll near the ground and ejector airtime between the loop and cobra roll despite the rough spots. The four consecutive heart line rolls deliver decent hang time. Lap bars like Sik at Flamingo Land or vest restraints could make Colossus rank among Thorpe Park's top rides. The head banging and discomfort issues holds Colossus back from reaching its full potential.

Rattle Headbanging Discomfort

I rode Grand National 1 time on the right side. It's a very rough and shaky ride. There's not much theming apart from the occasional sign indicating a race at the Grand National. Capacity is an issue due to slow boarding and the age of the train. It is slow to return to the station and process riders. The seats themselves are very comfortable with thick cushions on the seats. However, this does not help with how rough and shaky the ride is. It was very uncomfortable the entire time especially on the first double dip.

Airtimes Comfort Smoothness Theming Launch Intensity

I rode Icon 8 times. The theming is lacking in the queue, station and exit path. The exit path in particular is a long passage that looks like a construction site path. This is disappointing but the ride experience more than makes up for it. The seats are very comfortable with over the shoulder lap bars and feet dangling off the ground. The train is painted to look like Dragon scales (the lack of theming makes it difficult to interpret this). The entire ride experience was smooth with no jolts anywhere. The LSM launch and boost are glass smooth but lacking intensity. It's like gliding along the track but it does not detract from the ride experience. The in-line twist was great providing serious hangtime. The rapid banking whilst weaving around other rides provides great near misses near the other rides. The Jr. Immelmann and first hill provide great airtime and are highlights of the ride. The rider will feel more floater airtime near the front and strong ejector airtime near the back on these elements. Icon is very much an airtime machine providing pops of airtime throughout including on a final outer banked turn. There is a general lack of intensity being a more graceful ride experience. I recommend the front row which is special because of the great view. It's a great coaster and worth riding.

Airtimes Nice surprise! Intensity Theming Capacity Discomfort

I rode Revolution 1 time. This is a fun and intense ride. There's no distinct theming anywhere in the ride area. There is a clear capacity given the show boarding and shuttle class of the ride. There are no air gates in the station either. This combined with the station rattling add the train deploys as to the anticipation. The OTSR are not bad and there's decent leg room in the cars It was surprisingly smooth with no jolts or bumps. The vertical loop is forceful (especially backwards) and there is powerful ejector airtime. It's worth a ride.

Duration Rattle Capacity Discomfort

I rode Steeplechase 1 time on the left track.

Rattle Headbanging Discomfort

I rode Grand National 1 time on the left side.

Fun Smoothness Duration Theming Capacity Lap Bar

I've ridden the Flying Fish 3 times. The Flying Fish is a rather bland junior roller coaster. There is a carefree ambience but lack of theming in the queue and ride area contributing to a generic atmosphere. Slow boarding and a low throughput frequently result in long queues for the rider. The lap bar restraints can staple riders. The layout is devoid of compelling elements It offers a low-intensity experience that might be a welcome respite for those seeking a break from more exhilarating rides. This makes it a suitable option for families. There is a noticeable dead spot on the lengthy straight track section and distinct jolts can be felt along the track despite the overall smoothness. The two descending helixes provide the ride's only moments of light intensity. Ride duration is satisfactory with four laps on quieter days. Some support beams are positioned in a way to provide head chopper moments during banked turns which is a plus. It's fun to ride once but there are other rides worth riding.

Theming Nice surprise! Location Rattle Discomfort Layout

I rode E.R.S 1 time. E.R.S is an indoor roller coaster two floors underground which is an intriguing situation. There is detailed alien theming on the trains and around the ride area which looks great. However, there was no distinct ride music I could hear. This coaster operates with one train which limits capacity. This combined with slow boarding further slows throughput. The lack of leg room in the cars and the lap bars are not contribute to discomfort. I sat in the back row of this train. The ride feels faster than it actually is possibly due to being indoors. There's no serious intensity at any point of the ride. The most intense moment being the descending helix as part of the first drop. The helix is smooth except for sudden turn near the bottom delivering an abrupt jolt. The helix wraps around a drop tower which is a nice touch. The boost wheels on the lift hill are bumpy. I was surprised by the amount of floater airtime on the final bunny hill. However, it was ruined by the lap restraint digging into your abdomen as the train transitions to the straight pieces of track (this is a distinct dead spot). The lateral forces on the final turn are not strongly felt near the back due to the brakes being applied as the front of the train enters the station. The duration is good w. four laps in total and the transition between them is comfortable. The location of Babylon Park is convenient being in the heart of Camden and close to London Underground stations. An added bonus is the ride being resistant to weather that is usually hostile to thrill rides (rain, snow, etc). E.R.S is a decent SBF family ride worth a ride for the coaster cred.

Nice surprise! Fun Smoothness Theming Dead spots Lap Bar

I rode this 1 time at HPWW and was pleasantly surprised. It was a smooth ride with no significant jolts. The effects of the trim brakes were minimal maximising the impact of the lateral forces (they were quite strong on this ride). The lap bar could have been better but it did not detract from the overall ride experience. There was no distinct theming either. I’m not a fan of wild mouse coasters but this was fun and worth a ride. It wasn’t as intense as the Ice Mountain wild mouse ride at HPWW but a fun ride regardless.

Theming Fun Duration Airtimes Dead spots Intensity

I've ridden The Dragon 6 times. The Dragon is the premier roller coaster at Legoland Windsor at present (until Minifigure Speedway is complete). The queue is immersive taking riders through the interior of a themed medieval castle. The queue is complete with Lego models including a dancing bear, wizard's cloaks hanging on a coat rack, and mosaic paintings which is a great touch. The queue ascends wrapping the interior of the Castle structure before entering the station. The station continues the medieval theme with dark with ominous music playing in the dimly lit room with Lego torches. The train itself is designed as a green dragon with red eyes and wings, based on the early 2000s Knight's Kingdom Lego sets. Each pair of riders has an individual seatbelt and a joint lap bar restraint. The lap bar is uncomfortable with large gaps in the incremental locking system making it feel too loose or overly tight. Little leg room and onboard storage for bags does not help, nor do the rigid bench seats that are not comfortable. The ride begins with a slow meander through the castle interior. Riders are treated to the Disco Dragon during Brick or Treat with upbeat disco music/lights replacing the medieval theme here. Extensive Lego theming continues indoors with medieval Lego characters, smoke effects, and an animatronic dragon bellowing smoke from its nostrils. However, there is a consistent screech of rubber that detracts from the indoor experience. As the train exits outdoors, it rapidly picks up speed going up the first booster wheel lift hill. The forces are stronger than expected, with riders whipped over the crest in the back and dangling over it in the front. Banked turns close to the ground rattle noticeably, especially in the middle of the train, and there are distinct dead spots. The highlight of the outdoor section is a quick dive into a tunnel that provides an illusion of greater speed and a head chopper moment from a support beam. The ride finishes anticlimactically, with an awkward second lift hill back into the station. The track itself looks in need of a fresh coat of paint. While not an intense coaster, The Dragon remains a fun family ride worth experiencing.