12 Best Rides at Thorpe Park for Thrill-Seeking Teens

You’ll find some of the world’s most extreme roller coasters at Thorpe Park, including Hyperia—the UK’s tallest and fastest coaster reaching 81 mph with 4.3 G-forces. Don’t miss the ten-inversion marathon of Colossus, Stealth’s lightning 0-80 mph launch in 1.8 seconds, or The Swarm’s wing coaster experience. Add Nemesis Inferno’s jungle-themed inversions, Saw’s horror elements, and intense flat rides like Detonator‘s 115-foot drop. Each ride has specific height requirements you’ll need to check for safety.

Hyperia – The Ultimate Airtime Machine Breaking All Records

Since opening in May 2024, Hyperia has claimed the crown as the UK’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster, reaching a staggering 236 feet and hitting speeds of 81 mph.

You’ll experience an incredible 14.8 seconds of airtime as you navigate through two inversions, including a barrel roll downdrop and stalled dive loop. The ride begins with a 90-degree vertical drop featuring 180-degree lateral rotation that’ll leave you breathless.

You must be at least 1.3 metres tall to ride this Mack Rides hypercoaster. While it’s had some operational hiccups since opening, including temporary closures for safety adjustments, Hyperia delivers maximum G-forces of 4.3. The coaster features two trains that can carry 20 riders each, ensuring efficient throughput for eager thrill-seekers.

The lap bar restraints enhance the weightlessness sensation, making this steel giant Thorpe Park’s most intense airtime experience.

Nemesis Inferno – Ten Inversions of Pure Inverted Intensity

Although the title suggests ten inversions, Nemesis Inferno actually delivers four intense inversions that’ll flip you upside down at 50 mph along its 750-metre steel track. You’ll experience a vertical loop, zero-G roll, and interlocking corkscrews while secured in shoulder harnesses that handle forces up to 4.5 times gravity.

This Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster immerses you in a volcano eruption theme with red lava-colored track and mist-filled entrance tunnel. You’ll plunge through a swooping right-hand drop before ascending the 95-foot lift hill. The queue winds through dense vegetation that enhances the jungle atmosphere while you watch the coaster roar overhead.

The entire experience lasts 1 minute and 43 seconds of pure intensity.

You must be at least 4 feet 7 inches tall to ride. With 28 riders per train, expect manageable wait times at this £8 million thriller.

The Swarm – Wing Coaster Thrills That Keep Getting Better

When you’re strapped into The Swarm’s wing-style seats with nothing but air beneath your feet, you’ll experience Britain’s first B&M Wing Coaster as it launches you through a post-apocalyptic alien invasion at 59 mph.

You’ll navigate five intense inversions including a dive drop, zero-G roll, and corkscrew while soaring 127 feet above Thorpe Park’s apocalyptic landscape.

The ride’s unique wing-seating design places you directly beside the track, creating an unmatched flying sensation as you burst through billboards and dodge helicopter blades. Each train accommodates 28 riders across seven cars, ensuring you’ll share this incredible experience with fellow thrill-seekers.

With 4.5 G-forces and themed elements like crashed planes and burnt vehicles, you’ll feel immersed in the alien invasion storyline.

Meeting the 1.4m height requirement guarantees you can handle this 1:25 minute adrenaline rush safely.

Stealth – Lightning-Fast Launch Into Vertical Madness

While The Swarm delivers extended thrills through multiple inversions, Stealth takes a completely different approach by concentrating all its intensity into one explosive moment.

You’ll experience the world’s fastest acceleration as hydraulic propulsion rockets you from 0 to 80 mph in just 1.8 seconds. That’s equivalent to two Formula 1 cars’ combined power launching you toward a 205-foot vertical tower.

The 29-second ride pulls 4.7 G-forces during the initial climb before you experience weightlessness at the peak.

You’ll plummet straight down the 90-degree drop, then hit an airtime hill that creates a second moment of negative G-force.

With only 400 metres of track, Stealth proves that sometimes the most intense experiences come in the smallest packages. This steel coaster was built by Intamin using their signature hydraulic launch technology.

Saw: The Ride – Horror-Themed Violence With Dark Surprises

Two distinct experiences merge into one terrifying journey on Saw: The Ride, where Thorpe Park’s most psychologically intense attraction combines indoor horror scenes with outdoor roller coaster thrills.

You’ll start in complete darkness, experiencing jump scares, strobe lighting, and stationary torture scenes before ascending a vertical chain lift.

The main event delivers a 100-degree beyond-vertical drop from 100 feet, plunging you through spinning blades at 55 mph.

You’ll endure three inversions including a circular saw loop and experience 4.7 g-forces—the highest at Thorpe Park.

Meeting strict safety requirements is essential: you need 1.4-meter height, full upper body strength, and three complete limbs.

The 1:40 ride duration packs maximum intensity across 680 meters of track featuring airtime hills and head-chopper effects. Each train accommodates 8 riders arranged 4 across in 2 rows per car for optimal throughput during busy periods.

Colossus – Historic Ten-Inversion Pioneer Still Packing Punch

Since opening in March 2002, Colossus has maintained its reputation as Thorpe Park’s groundbreaking inversion marathon, delivering ten stomach-flipping moments across 850 meters of twisted steel track.

You’ll experience a vertical loop, cobra roll, double corkscrew, quadruple heartline rolls, and single anticlockwise heartline roll during the 92-second journey.

After ascending the 30-meter chain lift, you’ll plummet 97 feet into the opening loop over water at 72 km/h.

Early inversions can feel rough with potential head-banging, but the quad heartline rolls deliver smooth thrills. The design incorporates elements adapted from Monte Makaya, a Brazilian coaster that opened in 1998.

You’ll need a minimum height of 1.4m and a maximum height of 1.96m to ride.

While The Smiler broke its inversion record in 2013, Colossus remains a historic pioneer that’ll test your stomach’s limits effectively.

The Walking Dead: The Ride – Indoor Terror Experience

If you’re seeking spine-chilling thrills beyond traditional roller coasters, The Walking Dead: The Ride delivers a unique indoor terror experience that combines dark ride storytelling with coaster elements.

Originally opened as X: Way Out in 1996, this Vekoma Enigma model transformed into a zombie apocalypse adventure in 2018.

You’ll navigate 1,312 feet of track at speeds reaching 28 mph through complete darkness inside a pyramid-shaped building.

Live actors portraying Walkers lurk throughout the queue and ride experience, creating genuine scares beyond typical coaster thrills.

The tire-propelled lift system launches you through high-speed drops, sharp turns, and helixes while strobe lighting and special effects intensify the terror.

The train makes multiple stops throughout the experience for story progression, with audio and video cues that advance the zombie apocalypse narrative.

Meeting the 1.4m height requirement and 13+ age limit ensures you’re prepared for this genuinely frightening experience.

Rush – Sky-High Swing Ride With Panoramic Views

When you’re ready to experience pure aerial exhilaration, Rush delivers heart-pounding thrills as Thorpe Park’s premier swing ride that launches you 75 feet into the sky at speeds reaching 50 mph.

Located in the Lost City area, this S&S Screamin’ Swing accommodates 32 riders across two opposing arms that swing through a massive 104-degree arc.

You’ll experience forces up to 4G while enjoying panoramic views of the park landscape.

The ride builds intensity gradually over five cycles before reaching maximum height and speed.

With minimal lap bar restraints, you’ll feel completely exposed during the 1-2 minute cycle. Rush opened as the tallest swing of its type in the world at the time of its debut.

You must be at least 1.3 meters tall with full upper body strength.

Consider Fastrack during summer when queues average 46 minutes.

Detonator – Explosive Drop Tower Adrenaline Rush

For pure vertical terror, Detonator stands as Thorpe Park’s most intense drop tower experience, catapulting you 115 feet skyward before releasing an explosive pneumatic-powered plunge at 50 mph. You’ll experience brutal 5.5G forces during the three-second descent, creating genuine weightlessness that’ll leave your stomach suspended in air.

Located in Big Easy Boulevard, this Fabbri-manufactured tower accommodates twelve riders per 40-second cycle. The gondola winches slowly upward, building anticipation before a countdown precedes the operator-triggered release. The tower’s modest height compared to other drop towers makes it more accessible while still delivering maximum thrills.

You’ll need minimum 1.3m height, maximum 51-inch torso, and full upper body strength. The ride’s themed around Freedom Fireworks Co., reinforcing its explosive character.

Since opening in 2001 and rethemed in 2014, Detonator delivers uncompromising intensity that separates casual riders from serious thrill-seekers.

Quantum – Spinning Chaos in Multiple Directions

While Detonator delivers its thrills through pure vertical force, Quantum releases chaos through multi-directional spinning mayhem that’ll scramble your senses from every angle. This Fabbri-manufactured Magic Carpet ride swings you forwards and backwards to build momentum before launching into full 360-degree rotations reaching 39 feet high.

Located in the mysterious Lost City area among Atlantean ruins, Quantum’s single gondola design accommodates multiple riders for shared screaming sessions. You’ll need to meet the 1.2m height requirement and possess full upper body strength plus head and neck control to handle the intense forces.

The 90-second ride cycle delivers high-capacity thrills with 960 riders per hour, making queues move efficiently. With queue times averaging just 1.2 minutes on busy days, you won’t spend long waiting for this spinning sensation. Brace yourself for spinning chaos that attacks from every direction in this exhilarating adventure.

Vortex – High-Speed Spinning Disk Adventure

Since 2001, Vortex has delivered one of Thorpe Park‘s most intense multi-directional experiences through its towering 65-foot pendulum that swings riders at over 40mph while spinning at 15 rotations per minute.

This KMG Afterburner features inside-facing seats arranged in an eight-point star configuration, accommodating 32 riders in eight groups of four.

You’ll need to meet strict requirements: 1.4m minimum height, maximum 51-inch torso, and full upper body strength including head and neck control.

The ride demands at least three full limbs, with prosthetics not counted toward this requirement.

Test the entrance seat first to ensure proper chest fit.

Located beside The Dome in Lost City, Vortex’s 120-degree swings create genuine weightless sensations at peak height, making Fastrack worthwhile for multiple rides. The ride’s inward-facing seats enhance the social experience as riders face each other throughout the spinning and swinging motion.

Zodiac – Classic Spinning Ride With Airtime Moments

Just steps away from Vortex’s intense pendulum swings, Zodiac offers a classic spinning experience that’s captivated riders since 2001. This Huss Enterprise ride rotates you 59 feet high while turning completely upside down, using centrifugal force instead of traditional restraints to keep you secure.

You’ll experience genuine airtime moments as the wheel spins vertically, creating that stomach-dropping sensation thrill-seekers crave. While less intense than Thorpe Park’s major coasters, Zodiac delivers consistent thrills perfect for warming up to bigger rides.

You must be at least 3’7″ tall, with supervision required under 4’7″. The ride accommodates various physical abilities but requires full upper body strength.

Located in Lost City, it’s an accessible classic that proves simple concepts often create the most memorable experiences. What began as a temporary attraction following a 2000 fire eventually earned its place as a beloved permanent fixture at the park.

The Sum Up

You’ll find Thorpe Park’s collection offers everything from record-breaking airtime to heart-stopping inversions. Before you visit, check height restrictions and ride safety guidelines online. Don’t attempt all twelve rides in one day – pace yourself and stay hydrated. Book fast-track passes during peak times to maximize your experience. Remember, these intense rides aren’t suitable for everyone, so listen to your body and take breaks when needed. You’ll create unforgettable memories while staying safe.