The season is about to kick off again this weekend and this is the final of a 2 part series covering our top 10 coasters between me and Austin. I have ridden 89 coasters so far and look forward to breaking 100 soon but anyway that's not important right now. In this one I will cover, you guessed it, my top 10 coasters from 10 to 1 just to make it as exciting as possible. Having covered 6 parks and Winter Wonderland, I had a good few options to get through and initially narrowed it down to a top 15.
So just missing out as honourable mentions are: 15. Mumbo Jumbo, 14. Kumali, 13. Wicker Man, 12. Revolution and 11. Stealth. All great rides but just missing out by narrow margins. I particularly want to get back to Flamingo Land to get some more re-rides in order to fully formulate my opinion. But without further ado, number 10...
10. Big Dipper
Somewhat disappointed this is the only woodie and it's so low but that's how it goes I'm afraid, I hope to report on a better wooden coaster next year. But not taking anything away from this beauty, it rides incredibly well for its age and, well, I just love this ride so much as it does exactly what it sets out to do. Rickety but pretty smooth, views and air time, its how woodies should be and it will always hold a special place in my heart as my favourite coaster as a child.
9. Oblivion
My first and only dive coaster but this is a real gut punch of a ride. Yes it is short but so is the queue most days so it makes up for it in a way. There's always a real suspenseful feeling on that ride and when you hang over what looks like a bottomless pit, you will still feel nerves. I cannot believe how big that drop actually is. The music as well is an absolute tune, proper 90s rave in the queue. Those 3 words every person wants to hear- Don't. Look. Down.
8. Millennium
How many times will I mention this ride? Probably a lot until I get on a better Vekoma but still this ride is glossy smooth. First ride we did of the day and had a second at the end, both running well and just a very enjoyable ride in general. The standout of the park and one I would go back to ride a few more times given the opportunity. If you haven't been to Fantasy Island yet then you must go, it's a great park with plenty of rides and some real crackers including this one. I suppose you'd say its the real cheese this one. 🧀
7. Munich Looping
I can't lie, I didn't really know much about this ride till about a month before doing it but here we are and what a ride it is. The event down in Hyde Park is incredible and we did a review on the event already. This ride looks the part and the fact they are able to build it so quickly is frankly mind blowing to me. This ride is intense and fun, a night ride is essential if possible and while we did the front row, I imagine it is even better in the back. This is probably the best travelling coaster out there but lets see if I get proven wrong.
6. Nemesis Inferno
The battle of the B&M inverts, a topic that has tore families apart and will seemingly never not be talked about. Well both are great but OG Nemmy gets the nod for me (Sorry Thorpe fanboys). Jokes aside, this ride is very good and very different to its sister ride. The volcano theme is lovely, that mist before the lift hill is different to most UK rides and along with that its intense. The bottom of the loop is slamming you towards the ground and I do love those interlocking corkscrews as well. Theming is great and the ride experience is class, it reaffirms that the inverted model is a legendary one and my only wish is that we get a 3rd in the country somehow.
5. Big One
Halfway through and back to Blackpool for me to big up the park once again (Waiting for opening day to come around is my current situation) and we have the current tallest coaster in the country even though that seems to be changing in the near future. This ride is a classic, part of the 94 gang and with new track seems to be getting better. It's all about speed and yet I still get thrown out my seat in a few spots. I do think the main reason this makes it in is for the views as they are the best in the country for a coaster. My first hyper and probably won't stand up to some others but I enjoy it for what it is.
4. The Smiler
3. The Swarm
The top 3, one from each of the biggest parks in the country and the best of each respectively. This ride, Austin sleeps on it and I bet it will be stupidly low on his list but what do you expect from the Scarecrow himself. The best themed coaster in the country and on top of that it also has a great story. The area is immersive and the theme is typically twisted for Merlin but not the worst they've done (looking at you 13). The ride is great, the first drop and the inline twist are my personal highlights but I just think they got this right and if project Exodus is as well themed then we are in for a treat.
2. Nemesis
I think this is the moment I realised that B&M are amazing, my first coaster by them, the second of my first proper visit to Towers and the night ride on the back row is probably the best coaster experience I've ever had. This is a beast 😉, it hauls through the layout and is snappy and aggressive, in a pit and designed by the legend John Wardley. We actually had a front row ride last year and it felt so quick, I think this ride is great wherever you sit and runs a close race with my first place ride.
1. Icon
I don't think any of us are surprised really. Unequivocally my favourite coaster so far, its the all rounder of the coaster world: Inversions, hang time, air time, snappy transitions, over banked turns, launches and interactions. It does not doing anything the best but does everything pretty well instead. The coaster this park needed and the one it deserved. I know Austin has put this second and I apologise in advance for his lapse in judgement. The soundtrack as well is one of the best in the country and is so pleasing on the eye. A similar scale investment in the next 5 years and Pleasure Beach is king of the UK once again.
There we have it, both mine and Austins top 10s covered. Unsurprisingly discussing majority same coasters but we do have some different takes and we definitely disagree about a few things. If there's one good thing about this community, it's that you can share your opinions no matter what and will be welcome too. This will be an annual series to cover our opinions and see how the list changes over time. The UK is able to offer some incredible rides and experiencing them alone has been incredible so lets get back to parks this season, the first full one since 2019, and enjoy it and escape from the everyday and get lost in these debates and feeling the adrenaline once again.
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| A Wingy Boi |
As always, thanks for reading and let us know your favourite coasters in the comments.
Take care and see you in the next post!
Tom ✌
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