WHEN a theme park advertises its brand new ride, you're expecting a thrilling rollercoaster or splash-tastic log flume. But that's not the Wicksteed way and it's typical of the oldest theme park in mainland Britain, based in Kettering , Northamptonshire. It's headline ride for 2024 is a genteel ride around a track on a pretend pony, something the whole family can enjoy together.
That's one of the reasons why Wicksteed is the perfect place to take your theme park first-timer. Another it is free to enter, so you only need to pay for one or two turns to find out if they're a thrill seeker or not quite ready for rides just yet. Jolly Jockeys takes the place of a much-loved helicopter monorail pedal ride, that had been providing parents with a chance to get leg day in while on a family day out for as long as I can remember.
More than one mum or dad had got stuck trying to pedal their kids round some of the tight turns on the old track high in the sky, but even so, it's always sad when an iconic ride you remember from days gone by is retired. We were among the first visitors to go on the Jolly Jockeys ride, which involves significantly less parental pain as there's not a pedal in sight. It's perfect for primary age children as you need to be 1.
1m to have a go, with my five-year-old just about the right height, so it's not the ride for anyone younger than that. My three boys spent their time pretending that they were cowboys chasing each other on their horses and there was plenty of.
