Gulliver’s World theme park resort in Warrington, which has a new “Land of Oz (Image: Gulliver’s)
Manchester Evening News lifestyle editor Dianne Bourne recently visited Gulliver’s World with her children and found it to be a hidden gem for family days out. According to Dianne, the Warrington-based theme park is “arguably one of the best value-for-money family days out in the region”.
Daily passes start from just £14 per person, available through “secret sales” on Gulliver’s official website. Despite visiting during the peak period of school holidays, Dianne reported that day passes were priced at £25 per person, or £16 for afternoon entry, reports the Mirror. She said: “Even at £25 per person, I found it to be excellent value, considering the enjoyable full day I spent here with my two children, aged nine and five.”
The Land of Oz at Gulliver’s World (Image: MEN)
Often overlooked due to its proximity to the larger Alton Towers, Gulliver’s World specifically targets families with attractions tailored for children aged two to 13.
Dianne said: “I was quite impressed that even during peak times, queue lengths never exceeded thirty minutes for any attraction.”
If you haven’t visited this Cheshire theme park recently, you’ll be astounded by the brilliant new additions. The highlight is The Land of Oz, which was the starting point for Dianne’s family day out.
This enchanting new section draws inspiration from the beloved Wizard of Oz tale and its memorable characters.
The Log Flume at Gulliver’s World (Image: Gulliver’s)
Dianne said: “Visitors can stroll, or dash as my children did, along a yellow brick road… inevitably humming ‘follow the yellow brick road’ repeatedly – if you’re anything like me.”
The first sight that welcomes guests is the Upside Down House, where you can roam around and wonder at the rather perplexing spectacle of it all, before exiting via a massive slide (adults included) at the end.
Dianne further commented: “My younger son was particularly fascinated by the twitching limbs of the Wicked Witch pinned beneath the house.”
Adjacent to the house is a child-friendly driving experience where little ones believe they’re in control – and they’ll likely enjoy spotting a munchkin (and other vibrant characters) along the forest path.
However, the most remarkable new feature in this part of the theme park has to be the Winged Monkeys. These creatures from the classic Wizard of Oz have haunted many a dream over the years.
At Gulliver’s World, guests have the opportunity to ride on these eerie creatures as they soar through the air. The beauty of this attraction is that older children (and adults) can opt to press a button to flip upside down for an even more exhilarating experience, while younger ones can simply savour the journey as the monkeys bob up and down.
Dianne shared: “My nine-year-old dared to try one spin in the monkey before deciding to remain upright for the remainder of the ride, much to my relief.”
After experiencing all the excitement of the new Land of Oz, Dianne decided to venture into Western World and was thrilled to find only a short queue for one of the most popular attractions, Apache Falls.
The flying monkeys (Image: Gulliver’s)
She said: “This ride is a bit of a hybrid between a Rapids ride and a log flume, and one thing’s for sure – you’re going to get wet. Not that my children minded, they absolutely loved it.”
Meanwhile, Gully’s Cartoon Studios serves as a fantastic place for lunch and includes an additional soft play zone within the restaurant. Dianne observed: “It’s these little extras that make a day out like this more manageable for parents, I believe. The soft play provided a distraction for the kids while I queued for our hot food at the takeaway.”
There’s so much on offer that Dianne and her family couldn’t experience all the attractions.
She remarked: “One of the things I adore about Gulliver’s World is its compact layout, making it easy to navigate and ensuring everything feels within reach.
The new Land of Oz at Gulliver’s World in Warrington (Image: Gulliver’s World)
“The park is also visually appealing, boasting plenty of greenery and a large pool at its centre, home to numerous ducks and moorhens that kept the children entertained during our brief ice cream break.”
In contrast to other family destinations such as the Trafford Centre Summer Funfair where Dianne previously forked out £64 on rides for two youngsters across merely two hours, plus an admission charge of £10.50 for three of them, Gulliver’s World (which set her back £75 for three) provides exceptional value for a complete day’s entertainment.
Dianne declared: “I would highly recommend it for anyone looking to entertain children under 12 during the school summer holidays. If you can be flexible with your dates, keep an eye out for those £14 tickets too.”