Public Transport and Theme Parks

[Thomas]

After read through where everyone's local park was, I thought I'd ask what you thought of using public transport to get the various theme parks around the UK.

Alton Towers, seems at first to be well catered for. The X52 bus service leaves Nottingham, passes through Derby and Uttoxeter before heading to the park. There is but one departure, and a return from Nottingham is £14. Obviously I've yet to try the bus, but have you been to Alton by bus and what was it like?

Thorpe Park has the fairly frequent Thorpe Park Express, and I'm sure such service exists for Chessington. As far as I can tell Legoland's bus service is fairly limited and again expensive. So, this leads me to the question, should it be cheaper? I'm aware that the numbers using these buses will be fairly low, so large fares will be needed to ensure that the books balance, but should Merlin subsidize these? Or do they already?

So, I ask have you ever been to a Theme Park using public transport, how did it go, where did you go, and how much did it cost?

 

[T]

I have used the X52 bus once before, last year at Scarefest. It was nothing special, arrived on time and that's all that mattered. Having said this, the legroom was minimal and it was full of screaming children, however AT is a Theme Park so that's going to happen.
I have an issue with how early it leaves on Scarefest days. 5:30 is just too early. I had to pay £50 for a taxi back last year, at 10:30PM. I understand they can't lay on buses into the night, however I do think that they could have extended the bus timetable slightly t accommodate the longer day.

I've also used the train from Lincoln->Uttoxeter, followed by a bus to AT. Never. Again.


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[Ted]

I'll do it by Theme Park:

Chessington - I normally get a Tube (London Underground) to London Waterloo, from there I get a train to Chessington South which takes about 35 minutes. From Chessington South I have the choice of getting the 71 Bus (Less than 5 mins) or Walk to the Theme Park (No more than 10 minutes), Piece of cake!

Thorpe Park - Same as the first part for Chessington, but from Waterloo I get a train to Staines then the bus to the park. Takes around 45 mins to an hour

Alton Towers - I have the choice of either getting a train from London Euston to Stoke then Uttoxeter or one from London St Pancras to Derby then Uttoxeter. But I haven't tried either route.

Pleasure Beach Blackpool - Get a train from London Euston to Preston then the train to Blackpool North (or one to Pleasure Beach station if I'm lucky), From Blackpool North I have the choice of getting a bus or a tram.

Drayton Manor - Never been to Drayton but I would get a train from London Euston to Tamworth then probably get a bus (If Possible?)

 

[Danny]

Alton Towers - Train from my local station to Manchester Piccadilly. Virgin Trains / Cross Country to Stoke. EMT to Uttox, and the Towers bus. Normally set off at 6:45am and arrive at Towers for 9:30am.

Pleasure Beach Blackpool -Train from my local station to Manchester Piccadilly. Transpenine Express to Blackpool North, then walk down the prom. Or, after doing so this weekend, Manchester to Preston, then to Pleasure Beach station, and crossing the road. Set off last time at 7:20am and arrived at Pleasure Beach at 10:30am [one hour delay due to faff].

They are the only two parks I've ever done via public transport. Next year should be my first visit to Thorpe and Chessie, so I''ll be looking into all the faff of travelling across London on public transport for the first time .

Out of the two journeys, the one to Blackpool is less faff than Towers, although each variant comes with a drawback. Waiting for the change at Preston, but being delivered straight to the door, or not changing at all, but then having to get down the prom. On my journey home, the train times only really allow me to return from Blackpool North. This normally results in a rush up the backstreets of Blackpool or zipping in and out of the crowds slowly heading up North. Waiting for a tram that never really turns up is no longer an option.

 

[Jonathan]

So far, Towers is the only theme park I've visited by public transport that's in this country.
Alton Towers
Trains from Penryn to a location somewhere close to Alton Towers (so far, I've gone to Rugeley and Blythe Bridge), followed by transport provided by either taxis or other members of TST. I haven't yet braved the Towers bus.

Europa-Park
Train to Paddington, tube to St Pancras, Eurostar and TGV to Strasbourg (changing over at either Lille or Paris), train to Offenburg, another train to Ringsheim, then a bus to Europa-Park.

 

[Joelio]

Pleasure Island
Hull -> Cleethorpes Bus/Return

Alton Towers
Hull Paragon Interchange -> Manchester Picadilly
Manchester Picadilly -> Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent -> Alton Towers Bus

Disneyland Paris
Hull Paragon Interchange -> London Kings Cross/St Pancras
St Pancras -> Marne la Vallee Chessy

Europa Park
Hull Paragon Interchange -> London Kings Cross/St Pancras
St Pancras -> Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport -> Basel-Mulhouse-Frieburg
Taxi -> Europa Park

 

[MattyH]

Pleasurewood Hills:
Bus from the end of my road for 5 minutes to the tesco roundabout, then 5 minuite walk into the park, but i usually walk up there and sometimes get the bus home, it is now served every 15 minuites 9-6 when open by the 601A from Kessingland Beach via Lowestoft bus station

Never done legoland by public transport, but it has park and ride to windsor town centre, and it is served by buses from london and trains from windsor go to slough or london, wouldn't do it from where i live.

 

[thefatone]

Legoland has a fair few buses from Windsor - 191 (which is the lego shuttle) and 702/703. Works out at at least two an hour during the times you really need to get them.