While some see them as nauseating and enough to paralyse you with fear, the white-knuckle, endorphin-emitting thrills of G-forces are enough to make my rippling skin beam with glee. Centrifugal forces, inertia, and the complicated physics aside, humans actually like being thrown around mechanic rails unpredictably for amusement. We are a strange species right?!
They are the iconic features of amusement parks: the rollercoaster. The reason the adults go. Sure, meeting Spongebob is great, but it’s about those death-defying loops and reintroductions to gravity! The UK is home to some pretty great coasters and so we thought we share some of the best!
Colossus, Thorpe Park
Colossus was actually Thorpe Park’s first major attraction. And it’s a very decent ride. It flaunts a very rewarding 1 minute 45 second duration, which is quite long for a typical coaster and not to mention, a huge loop and the four ‘heartline rolls’ in a row. One of the older rollercoasters on the British Isles but one of the best.
Nemesis, Alton Towers
The dreaded hanging coaster. Once you leave the station, your feet dangle and seemingly brush disturbingly close to objects below as you take on corkscrews and a zero-G roll. Riders of Nemesis experience between 3 and 4 times the force of gravity on the minute and 20 second ride.
The Big One, Pleasure Beach Blackpool
When the formerly entitled Pepsi Max opened in 1994, it was both the tallest and steepest rollercoaster in the world. The Blackpool beast boasts a 205 foot drop. Yeah. 205 feet. Oh and not to mention a top speed of 74 mph which is enough to push any emerging wrinkles back a few years. However, it’s not the fastest in the UK…
Stealth, Thorpe Park
The fastest rollercoaster in the UK accolade goes to Stealth; the launch sequence start has you 0-80 mph in 1.9 seconds. Also, no matter where you live in the UK, you’ll feel like at the it’s cloud-scraping peak, you’ll be able to see your house. Not for the faint-hearted. It’s for the brave.
Odyssey, Fantasy Island
Relatively unknown, the Jubilee Odyssey was originally built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Dropping the ‘Jubilee’ Odyssey now commemorates G’s. You can get up to 4.8 of them on the Skegness rollercoaster. The third tallest coaster in the UK after Stealth and The Big One, it’s one to tick off.
THE SWARM, Thorpe Park
One of the country’s newest coasters, THE SWARM navigates and meanders a disaster site in style. As you worry as your head is hurtled towards the plane debris, the sounds of wreckages and sirens surround you in a swirling mix of swoops and sounds. A must visit for any future visitor to Thorpe Park.
Get out there and enjoy!
