Earlier this week, we were invited to spend the day at Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park in Ripon, North Yorkshire. We’d never been before, but since it’s just about an hour’s drive from us, we were excited to explore what it had to offer.
Rides and Attractions for Everyone
With over 35 rides and attractions, Lightwater Valley really does have something for everyone. The park is home to The Ultimate, Europe’s longest rollercoaster, which boasts an incredible ride time of almost six minutes! While rollercoasters aren’t really my thing, and we were there with the kids, I was thrilled to see there was plenty for them to enjoy.
Our favourites included the Skyrider—Max absolutely loved this and is such a thrill seeker—plus the charming Eagle Creek Farm and the classic Carousel.
Weather and Water Rides
Unfortunately, it was a cold and overcast day when we visited, so we didn’t get to try the water rides. Both Splash Falls and Wild Water Rapids looked amazing, and we’re definitely planning to come back in the summer to experience these.
Play Areas Galore
Lightwater Valley isn’t just about rides—there are several fantastic play areas too. Max and Evie especially loved the outdoor playground and could have easily spent hours there. Alongside the outdoor playground, the park also offers an adventure playground, indoor soft play, sand diggers, and more.
A Delightful Surprise: Riggmoor Petting Farm
One of the highlights for us was the Riggmoor petting farm—something we hadn’t expected at a theme park. The kids loved meeting the rabbits, calves (so adorable!), a pig, and even an alpaca. If you caught my Instagram Stories that day, you might have seen the hilarious moment when a calf tried to nibble on my dress—I honestly thought it was going to get a big hole! At least it gave the kids a good laugh.
Meet the Mascots
Max and Evie were over the moon to meet Lightwater Valley’s new cuddly dinosaur mascots, Jester and Jasmine. They couldn’t wait to snap photos and you can see just how happy they were!
Shows and Entertainment
We also caught the ‘Outer Space’ themed Magic Lights Puppet Show in the Show Barn, which was a great way to warm up on a chilly day and added another layer of fun to our visit.
Ticket Prices Based on Height
I really like Lightwater Valley’s ticket pricing system, which is based on height rather than age—a fairer way to price admission, in my opinion. And compared to other theme parks we’ve visited, the prices are very reasonable.
Here’s an example of the online ticket prices:
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Over 1.3m height: £22.50
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Between 1.0m and 1.3m height: £15
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Under 1.0m height: £8
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Under 3 years: Free
More information on ticket prices can be found on their website.
Final Thoughts
We had a wonderful day out at Lightwater Valley and would definitely visit again. I loved that the park has plenty of rides suitable for young children—a rarity in many theme parks. But what really made our visit special was the mix of attractions beyond the rides: the animals, playgrounds, mascots, and shows combined to create a fantastic family experience.
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