Lightwater Valley

Lightwater Valley is a family theme park about half an hour from Thirsk, with more than 35 rides and attractions spread over 175 acres of countryside at North Stainley, just north of Ripon. Most of the rides are built for younger children, with a 90cm limit or none at all, and under-90cm visitors go in free, which keeps a family day with toddlers affordable. The Mellors Group took the park over for the 2026 season and added Spinning Racer, a Maurer spinning coaster with about 1,378 feet of track that climbs to 50 feet and reaches around 37mph. Riders need to be 1.20m.

It is closed for the winter. The 2026 season ended on 31 October and the park shows no Christmas event, so this is a page for spring and summer 2027, once the opening date is published.

From Tea Time Cafe at 87 Market Place, drive south west on the A61 to Ripon, then north out of the city to North Stainley. Allow about 30 minutes. Set the sat nav to HG4 3HT. Parking is free for every visitor across the site, with Blue Badge bays near the entrance.

Plan on the car for this one. With small children and a day's worth of bags, it is the easier option anyway.

If anyone in the family is 1.20m or taller, go to Spinning Racer first, before the queues build. Then work through the rest by height. The pirate area of Skeleton Cove has the Flying Cutlass, Skull Rock and Wave Rider. Younger children have the Ladybird coaster, Splash Falls, Spin Bug and Jeep Safari, all at 90cm, plus Eagles Creek Farm, the Lightwater Express train and the Swan Boats. Jurassic Adventure Golf and Dino Dig fill an hour, and Woodland Play is aimed at children aged 4 to 7.

If it rains, Little Monsters soft play and the shows at the Valley Theatre are indoors. Food is spread around the park, from fish and chips by the lake to a grill, a bakehouse, waffles and crepes, and a coffee shop doing homemade lunches.

The pricing does a lot of the work. Paying by height means babies and toddlers go free, and an older child pays the same as an adult, so a family whose youngest are under 90cm pays only for the taller members of the party. The ride mix suits under-tens best: almost everything is open at 90cm, so younger children are rarely left watching. Spinning Racer gives older children and adults something faster, and the lake and 175 acres of grounds give the park room to breathe between rides.

Check the calendar on the park's website before you set off, as the 2027 dates are still to come. Book online: in 2026 tickets were 3 cheaper per person than on the day, against a single 3.25 fee per transaction, so booking ahead saves money for any group of two or more. Measure your children before you go, since height decides both the price and the rides; only Skyrider at 1.30m and Spinning Racer, Powder Kegs and Junior Driving School at 1.20m need taller riders. Under-14s must be with an adult aged 18 or over. Leave the dog at home, as only assistance dogs are admitted. A late breakfast at ours on the way out sets the day up well, since the park opened at 10.30am in October.