Review: Choo will have plenty of fun at Thomas Land
Chopsy Baby takes a pair of Chopsy Grandparents to visit Thomas Land at Drayton Manor Park. Just how will two tourist phobic grandparents enjoy the island of Sodor with two choo choo mad toddlers?
The railway line that was the inspiration behind the Rev. W. Awdry’s, classic characters was the Great Western Line from Paddington to Bristol.
It was not, however, a train that took us to Thomas Land housed in the imposing Drayton Manor Park, but a rather cramped Toyota Lucida. After battling through some very unhappy traffic on the M42, and finding we had arrived far too early, we wanted nothing less than all singing, all dancing trains and tap dancing staff.
Set in the shadows of some huge Drayton Manor Park roller coasters, Thomas Land doesn’t quiver in the shadows. It is surprisingly much, much bigger than the impression that is given on the website.
When walking into the land you are immediately transported to the Island of Sodor. This is not knock-off Thomas. Everything has been properly recreated in perfect detail. The Rev. W. Awry would surely have been impressed to see his characters come alive, and provide so much joy and fun for adrenaline-fuelled toddlers at such a highly reasonable price.
We were not disappointed once during the day. The rides were fantastic, the trains every inch genuine Thomas and friends, and the staff of characters did indeed sing and dance to the visitors.
Though aimed at young children, Thomas Land provides plenty of thrills and spills for both children and their suffering parents. There are height restrictions in place on some rides, but these are rides not suitable for the very young baby, and there were only two that our Chopsy children could not go on. These height restrictions are very clear on the website and around the park. The staff very carefully and sensitively policed these restrictions, and we could not see any issues arising from it.
One ride had aeroplanes that seated up to four people. The riders could control whether the aeroplane stayed at ground level, or shot up into the sky. This is a great when riding with children who may or may not be aware they have a fear of heights or aeroplanes!
Thomas Land is huge. Just when you think you have tried it all out you can pop on Percy or Thomas for a journey towards more Sodor themed fun.
The place was spotless. No litter, no fag ends, no spitting, no junk food, no arcade machines, none of those machines with the grabby thing that you can never catch a toy with and nothing for children to black mail money out of you for. There was free face painting; this was so amazing, that we have to say it again. There was free face painting!
There was a café/restaurant, an old fashion sweet shop, and a Thomas toyshop full of everything Thomas you could possibly imagine, but these were perfectly blended into the background and the sweet shop was hardly noticeable.
The Emily soft play area was in perfect condition, lovingly looked after by two eagle-eyed attendants. It operated in sessions, and between each session the remnants of the previous children were vacuumed up and brushed away.
This place is brilliant value for money and we cannot think of a more perfect venue for a birthday party if your child is Thomas and choo choo obsessed.
This is a perfect family day out. During the main season the teenagers and thrill seekers can spend the day on the roller coasters of Drayton Manor, and the youngsters and tame of heart will love Thomas Land.
It was well worth our trek from South West to the Midlands, and we would really like to go again in the future.
Bristol grandparents Anne and Phil’s final verdict on Thomas Land: “It was very good, very Thomassy. It wasn’t just trains but the real characters. Once you were in there you didn’t have to spend any extra money, which was great. There were plenty of rides, plenty of variety.
It was a good size and had a calm laid back atmosphere. It was very clean and very nice.
I don’t know if it was because it was half term and the main park was shut, but I didn’t have any terrible worries that is the children did wiggle off somehow then we would be able to find them fairly quickly.
The children loved it and we all had a lovely day.”
For more information visit: http://www.thomaslanduk.co.uk/