Thorpe Park...from 1980's

Heliospherez · 18 Feb 2009 at 21:13

Just a quick question for anyone here who ever visited Thorpe Park around 1979 - 1985.

I can vaguely remember it having some Viking / Stoneage type houses, a miniture village of well known world landmarks and a mini legoland.

Are any of these things still there, or have they all been replaced by hardcore rollercoasters ? I have lots of pix from my childhood with me standing in front of these various things and was wondering whether it would be a suitable place for my son to visit for a day (he's aged 4)

M0T · 19 Feb 2009 at 00:34

I remember those things and they were still there in the early 90's when we started going. I remember walking through the mini legoland to get to the ferry to go to Thorpe Farm.

It has all been gone for at least the last 5 years.

Thorpe park is useless for the under 10's now, Chessington is now the park for the young children.

Dandle · 19 Feb 2009 at 07:19

Isnt legoland the place to take under 10s these days? Its only down the road from thorpe park.

The Dread Pirate · 19 Feb 2009 at 11:23

Pffft Alton Towers or Drayton Manor For The Epic Win

J.B · 19 Feb 2009 at 11:44

Ahh the thrope park farm, I remember that, and crying because I wanted to play on the tractor more.

Think the mini landmark place is still there.

ScarySquirrel · 19 Feb 2009 at 11:51

Last time I went to Chesington I had no idea that the roles with Thorpe Park had pretty much switched and I was thoroughly disappointed

J.B · 19 Feb 2009 at 11:58

ScarySquirrel said:
Last time I went to Chesington I had no idea that the roles with Thorpe Park had pretty much switched and I was thoroughly disappointed

lol, just you and the kiddies!

Thorpe park is the place to be now, I think it was something to do with them have much more room for expansion than chesington

NickK · 19 Feb 2009 at 12:03

Legoland.. the joys of traffic jams..

tisonlyme · 19 Feb 2009 at 12:06

Chessington is about all I can handle and I'm 23

Skidder · 19 Feb 2009 at 12:10

divosuk said:
Just a quick question for anyone here who ever visited Thorpe Park around 1979 - 1985.

I can vaguely remember it having some Viking / Stoneage type houses, a miniture village of well known world landmarks and a mini legoland.

Are any of these things still there, or have they all been replaced by hardcore rollercoasters ? I have lots of pix from my childhood with me standing in front of these various things and was wondering whether it would be a suitable place for my son to visit for a day (he's aged 4)

Your best bet is to start him with Legoland Windsor, followed by Chessington in a few years and then Thorpe as a teen. Thorpe has been targeting teens and adults with its recent additions. All three parks have the same owner and as such they have been segmenting the market and developing their own niches. (this is my industry not idle speculation or Alton Towers Pwns all type chat)

Legoland is ace for the smallest ones.

FrostedNipple · 19 Feb 2009 at 12:10

Alton towers is great for roller costers alton towers if you are above 16 i'd say, Thorpe park is sort of 12-16 chessington is 10 and under as is legoland. Still got my legoland drivers license

and i was going the wrong way round the roundabouts