Thorpe Park Rides for Families: What Can Your Kids Actually Go On?

Planning a Thorpe Park trip with kids in tow? The biggest question isn’t which rides look exciting. It’s which rides your children can actually get on.

Thorpe Park is primarily a thrill park, and that’s worth saying upfront. But there’s more for younger visitors than you might think, and once children hit certain height milestones, the park really opens up. The key is knowing the numbers before you arrive, not after you’ve queued for 45 minutes.

TL;DR: Thorpe Park has 25 rides and attractions in 2026. Children from 90cm can ride with an adult, and at 1.4m every single ride in the park is available. The five key height thresholds are 90cm, 110cm, 120cm, 130cm and 140cm. We’ve broken down exactly what each unlocks below.

This guide is organised by height band so you can jump straight to your child’s section. For the complete ride-by-ride breakdown with full specs, see our Thorpe Park rides full list for 2026.

Not sure where your child sits? Here’s the fast version. Heights are measured at the park on the day, so always check at home first with shoes off.

Height	What unlocks
90cm (with adult)	Flying Fish, Depth Charge, Mr Monkey’s Banana Ride, High Striker
110cm alone	Flying Fish, High Striker (max 130cm)
110cm (with adult)	Storm Surge, Zodiac, Dobble Tea Party, Big Easy Bumpers, Rumba Rapids
120cm alone	Storm Surge, Depth Charge, Mr Monkey’s Banana Ride, Tidal Wave, Quantum
130cm alone	Detonator, Rush, Hyperia (UK’s tallest coaster!)
140cm alone	Stealth, The Swarm, Colossus, SAW: The Ride, Nemesis Inferno, The Walking Dead: The Ride, Samurai, Vortex, Zodiac

Important: An accompanying adult must be aged 16 or over for the adult-supervised rides. Heights are measured in shoes off at the park entrance.

Thorpe Park does cater for younger children, though the selection is smaller than at a park like Chessington. If your little one is under 110cm, plan around these four rides and treat the rest of the day as a spectating adventure while older siblings or parents take turns on the big stuff.

Flying Fish (from 90cm with adult)

The park’s family roller coaster and, for many children, their very first coaster experience. It’s gentle by Thorpe Park standards, with swooping turns and mild dips. Children under 110cm need an adult alongside them. Maximum height: no upper limit. A genuinely lovely starting point before the big coasters beckon.

Depth Charge (from 90cm with adult)

Open-top water slide boats racing down parallel tracks. It’s lighter than Tidal Wave and a brilliant way to cool off in summer. Children under 120cm need an adult. Pack a change of clothes regardless.

Mr Monkey’s Banana Ride (from 90cm with adult)

A swinging ship ride pitched perfectly at younger visitors. Gentle enough for nervous first-timers, fun enough that they’ll want to go again. Children under 120cm ride with an adult.

High Striker (from 90cm with adult)

A junior drop tower designed specifically for smaller children. Note the maximum height of 130cm on this one: it’s built for the little ones, so older siblings won’t be able to join in. Children under 110cm need an adult.

Parent tip: If your child is close to 110cm, it’s worth measuring carefully at home. Hitting that threshold means they can ride Flying Fish and High Striker independently, which feels like a big deal for kids!

 

This is where Thorpe Park starts to feel like a proper theme park day out for kids. At 110cm (with an adult alongside), five more rides open up, giving you a solid half-day of variety even before hitting the bigger stuff.

Storm Surge (110cm with adult, 120cm alone)

A 64ft spinning raft-style water ride with drops and splashes. Expect to get wet. Children between 110cm and 120cm need an adult in the raft with them.

Dobble Tea Party (110cm with adult, 130cm alone)

Classic spinning teacups in a cheerful setting. Gentle enough for most children at this height, and a firm favourite for families looking for something fun without the intensity. Children under 130cm need an adult.

Big Easy Bumpers (110cm with adult, 130cm alone)

Dodgems in a New Orleans-themed setting. Children under 130cm ride as a passenger with an adult driver. At 130cm they can take the wheel themselves, which is a big moment!

Rumba Rapids (110cm with adult, 130cm alone)

A river rapids ride through tropical theming. Twists, turns, and the occasional soaking. Children under 130cm need an adult. Note: Rumba Rapids availability for the 2026 season was unconfirmed at the time of writing, so check the park’s website before your visit.

Zodiac (110cm with adult, 140cm alone)

A spinning enterprise-style wheel. More intense than the other rides in this bracket, so worth gauging your child’s confidence first. Children under 140cm need an adult.

At 120cm, two more rides unlock independently: Tidal Wave (Europe’s tallest water ride, you will get soaked) and Quantum (a magic carpet thrill ride). These are a real step up in intensity, so a good indicator of whether your child is ready for the 130cm+ rides.

At 130cm, Thorpe Park transforms. This is the threshold where the park’s biggest headline ride, Hyperia, becomes available, alongside three other seriously exciting attractions.

Hyperia (130cm)

The UK’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster. At 236ft (72m) high and hitting 81mph, this is the park’s crown jewel since opening in 2024. If your child has reached 130cm and loves a thrill, Hyperia is the ride to build the day around. Genuinely world-class.

Detonator (130cm)

A 100ft drop tower that plunges riders towards the ground at 50mph. Short, sharp, and absolutely terrifying in the best possible way. Great for children who’ve built up confidence on the 120cm rides and are ready for something more intense.

Rush (130cm)

A giant swing that reaches 75ft (23m) in the air. Swings back and forth with increasing momentum. Brilliant for children who love the sensation of being thrown through the air but aren’t quite ready for a full-on coaster.

Ghost Train (130cm, age 13+)

An indoor horror dark ride with live actors and intense theming. The 13+ age restriction is the key thing to note here: it’s not just about height. Even at 130cm, children under 13 cannot ride. Worth knowing before you get to the front of the queue.

Parent tip: The jump from 120cm to 130cm is significant. If you have children at different heights on either side of this threshold, plan your day so a parent accompanies the smaller child on the 110-120cm rides while the older one tackles Hyperia with the other parent. Splitting and regrouping works brilliantly at Thorpe Park.

At 1.4m, every ride in the park is available. This is the milestone most thrill-seeking teens are aiming for, and it’s well worth the wait.

The eight rides that unlock at 140cm are the park’s most intense:

• Stealth – 0 to 80mph in under 2 seconds, standing 205ft tall. The UK’s fastest launch coaster. Maximum height 196cm.
• The Swarm – A wing coaster with near-miss elements at 60mph. Riders sit on the edge of the train with nothing above or below. Maximum height 195cm.
• Colossus – The world’s first rollercoaster with ten full loops. A genuine legend. Maximum height 196cm.
• Nemesis Inferno – An inverted coaster where your feet dangle freely through the inversions.
• SAW: The Ride – The world’s first horror movie-themed rollercoaster, featuring a beyond-vertical 100-degree drop. Age 13+ also applies here.
• The Walking Dead: The Ride – An indoor dark coaster with intense horror theming and live actors. Age 13+ applies.
• Samurai – A multi-axis spinning flat ride pulling up to 5G forces.
• Vortex – A suspended swing ride with over-the-shoulder restraints.

Note on maximum heights: Colossus and Stealth both have a 196cm maximum, and The Swarm tops out at 195cm. Taller adults or teenagers should check these before queuing.

Once a child hits 1.4m, the whole park is theirs. It’s a genuinely brilliant day out at that point.

Honestly? It depends on your child’s height and temperament.

If your youngest is under 110cm, Thorpe Park is a harder sell as a dedicated family day out. There are only four rides available to them (with an adult), and the park’s atmosphere is very much geared towards older thrill-seekers. You’ll have a better time, and so will they, if you save Thorpe Park for when they’re a bit taller.

From 110cm upwards, the picture changes significantly. Five more rides open up with an adult alongside, and the park starts to feel like a full day out rather than a half-day with a lot of watching.

From 130cm, Thorpe Park is genuinely fantastic. Hyperia alone is worth the trip.

From 140cm, it’s one of the best theme parks in the UK, full stop.

If you’re visiting with a mix of ages and heights, the key is planning your day in pairs so nobody is stuck waiting around while others ride. The park’s layout makes this fairly easy to manage.

For families with children who aren’t quite tall enough for the big rides, it’s worth looking at what else is nearby. Our Thorpe Park attraction page has full practical details including opening times and getting there.

 

Booking in advance is always cheaper than paying at the gate. Thorpe Park tickets through Day Out With The Kids start from £32, with instant e-tickets delivered straight to your phone. No printing, no faff.

A few final things to know before you go:

• Arrive early. Queues for Hyperia and Stealth build fast, especially in summer. First thing in the morning is the sweet spot.
• Bring a change of clothes if you’re planning on Tidal Wave, Storm Surge or Depth Charge. You will get wet.
• Height is measured at the park, not at home. Check your child’s height without shoes before you travel to avoid disappointment at the gate.
• Ghost Train, SAW: The Ride and The Walking Dead: The Ride all have a 13+ age restriction on top of the height requirement. Check these if you’re visiting with younger teenagers.

Height restrictions are sourced from Thorpe Park’s official ride restrictions guide, updated August 2026. Always verify directly with the park before your visit as restrictions can change.