The top 10 roller coasters in the UK (2024)

When it originally opened in 1994, Nemesis immediately won the hearts of roller coaster fans across the globe. Not only was it brand new technology (the world’s second inverted roller coaster) but it was also totally unique, being dug into a pit in the ground, with track diving through tunnels, over blood-red water, and flipping over the Nemesis creature. It was a true themed, one-of-a-kind, experience.

Fast forward 28 years and 50 million thrill-seekers later, it was announced that Nemesis would be closing. And that would be the end for many coasters.

Not Nemesis though. It’s back with brand new tentacle painted track, disorientating new effects, state of the art theming elements, an enhanced storyline (complete with actors throughout Forbidden Valley) and the same, world-class, track design, ready to be experienced by the next generation of thrill-seekers.

It may not be the biggest, it may no longer be the most intense – but it’s a full ‘only in the UK’ package. For the ultimate experience, a front row, night ride is a must.

For over 30 years, The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach had a phenomenal run of holding the crown for the tallest roller coaster in the UK. But in May, standing at 236 feet tall and travelling at speeds of over 80 mph, the ‘golden goddess’, Hyperia, became the new owner of the bragging rights for being the UK’s tallest and fastest.

And there’s a lot to brag about. This Mack Rides hyper coaster is crazy from start to finish. The lap bar restraint and open train design leaves you feeling very free as you go beyond vertical diving down from the first drop, into the Immelmann element, the crazy outer-banked airtime hill, and the ever-so-slow, hanging upside down, stall turn.

Pretty much every smiling face that comes back to the station has an ‘I’m not sure what just happened, but let’s do it again’ look to it, which I think is a measure of a great coaster.

Hyperia will deservedly rocket to the top of many UK coaster fan’s lists. It’ll likely only get better too as finishing touches are added and the coaster beds in more. It may have been 12 years since Thorpe Park added its last coaster, but Hyperia is certainly worth the wait.

Opening in 2018, Wicker Man was a long-awaited new wooden roller coaster for the UK (the first for over 20 years). Wooden coasters with their dense structures often rely on the ride experience alone – and so this ride from Great Coasters International really ups the ante with its immersive theming and storyline, including the huge, flaming Wicker Man centre stage. Who’d have thought of combining fire effects and a wooden roller coaster?

Set in the stunning Staffordshire park, and immersing guests in the story of the Beornen and the Wicker Man, this is a fun, smooth, re-rideable coaster experience that generations of thrill seekers can enjoy together.

It’s amazing how the teams at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Mack Rides managed to create a coaster like Icon and fit it in around all the existing classic rides. Being launched under the Big One’s structure, and diving around the Big Dipper and other great rides at the Pleasure Beachmakes this smooth, dual-launch coaster truly unique.

Giving a nice long ride for a UK coaster, the drop down into the second launch and hanging over the top of the non-inverting loop is the highlight for me. Seeing the beach, a stone’s throw away, from that angle, is pretty spectacular!

This isn’t the most intense coaster in the UK. However, you can’t help laughing all the way round and jumping straight back in line. It’s no wonder this regularly polls as a UK favourite of many enthusiasts.

An absolute classic – and the oldest roller coaster in the UK, originally opening in 1920. There are so many things to love about this ride, but perhaps the most noticeable (and unique) is the on-ride brakeman, who controls the speed of the train. Globally, there are very few of these rides left operating, so we are very lucky to have two examples in the UK (Roller Coaster at Great Yarmouth being the other).

Don’t be fooled by its age and ‘old school’ technology. A backseat ride delivers plenty of airtime and packs a nice punch, leaving most grinning as they exit the coaster to go back around for another ride.

The setting for the Scenic Railway is special too. It can be found at the heart of a fantastic classic,seaside amusem*nt park. Over the years Dreamlandhas evolvedwhilst also staying true to its core, becoming a venue regularly used for TV and movie filming, hosting huge music concerts and showcasing art installations. It’s a place everyone should make the journey to experience.

Turning 28 years old in 2024, and having last year undergone a $2mre-track and re-profiling program, Megafobia is now back and as smooth and thrilling as ever.

From the impressive first drop, cutting through the structure of the ride, to the endless ‘out of the seat’ moments all the way to the brakes – this coaster doesn’t let up. Set in the beautifulPembrokeshire countryside, amongst the trees and lake, there couldn’t be a much better setting for this well-loved coaster.

This B&M coaster has to be given credit for taking elements from big intense rides, and making them accessible for a younger, junior thrill-seeking audience: Be that the ‘wing-coaster’ style, the launches (initially backwards out of the station), or the forwards/backwards inversion. Layer on some ‘weird’ manoeuvres, like the spiral around the 55ft jaguar shrine – and you’re left with a fun,family thrill coaster.

With the train layout and track design – it’s worth trying Mandrill Mayhem in different seats to experience a totally different ride.

Partnering with Sony Pictures, the Jumanji IP inspires some nice themed elements – like the atmospheric station, the Mandrill-shaped trains, and the jaguar shrine. Showing a good attention to detail, the retail, games and F&B have been impressively themed into this area ofthe parktoo.

It’s also great to see that one year on from opening, the attraction has developed more – as vegetation around the area is turning the space much more jungle-like. I expect in a few years’ time, a ride on Mandrill will be even more thrilling.

Whilst the newly opened Minifigure Speedway adds another fun roller coaster, newer technology and some much-needed capacity to the Windsor Legoland Park, it’s The Dragon that still stands out here as the best package for younger thrill-seekers.

This is perhaps a controversial choice. There are certainly newer and more technologically impressive coasters than The Dragon. But I don’t think it’s all about that. The Dragon is a great coaster for the whole family, combining dark ride sections, impressive giantLegoanimated sculptures, and a race around the trees of the castle grounds. Excitement builds inthe parkfor young thrill seekers as they queue around the castle walls, even before sitting down in the Lego-themed Dragon train.

What better way to experience Lego than getting on board it for an adventure. This is a great example of building an engaging, authentic branded experience.

It is not ground-breaking and is unlikely to be on many coaster enthusiasts’ top lists. But The Dragon is probably the best family, themed, ‘story coaster’ we currently have in the UK. It’s also critical we have roller coasters like this to bring on board a new generation of thrill-seekers.

As the most intense roller coaster on the list,Sikopened at Flamingo Land in 2022 and features 10 inversions over its course. Being very similar in layout to Colossus at Thorpe Park; and trumped by the world-record-holding The Smiler at Alton Towers for number of loops, thisIntamincoaster has lap-bar style restraints that, for me, make the ride experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

At the crest of the lift hill, you are treated to stunning views over the North Yorkshire countryside before being flung into the relentless, high-speed layout.

Sik joins a nice collection of coasters at the often-forgottenpark– including Kumali (possibly the world’s smoothest Vekoma SLC), Mumbo Jumbo (once the world’s steepest roller coaster) and a Vekoma Motorbike launch coaster.