Drayton Manor Theme Park

Drayton Manor Resort stands in the Staffordshire countryside on the site of the former Drayton Manor mansion. The 180-acre grounds contain a family theme park, a zoo and accommodation. Thomas Land and Drayton Manor Zoo occupy separate parts of the park. The zoo houses more than a hundred animals including red pandas and Eurasian lynx. The theme park covers 280 acres and ranks as the fourth-largest amusement park in the UK by land area. The Peel family once owned the estate where the park now sits. Only the clocktower from their 19th-century manor remains at the park entrance. The park grew from a small amusement park opened in 1950 by George and Vera Bryan. A zoo was added in 1954 through a partnership with Molly Badham, who later founded Twycross Zoo. In the late 1980s the park installed larger rides to draw visitors from across the UK. Colin Bryan became managing director in 1992 after his father George. Recent years brought new areas such as Vikings, themed rides like Gold Rush, and family-friendly events throughout the season. Visitors find themed areas including Adventure Cove, Frontier Falls and Thomas Land. The zoo’s 15-acre site shows animals from around the world. The Drayton Manor Hotel offers 150 rooms, fifteen of them themed for Thomas & Friends. A Camping and Caravanning Club site provides ninety pitches and glamping tents. Halloween events bring seasonal shows and activities to the park.