The North East

[dave]

Hi just been on holiday for the first time to the north east of england primarily to visit the hoppings fair on town moor newcastle, whilst up there we visited ocean beach amusement park at south shields very impressed with this park they keep it so nice and tiday just a pity that there was not a lot of people visiting it a real nice park. Also visited the new metroland indoor theme park at the metro centre gateshead agian i was very impressed with it a real gem of a place really enjoyed it,a third park we went to was at seaburn it was formally run by the crow family but now for the summer season joe butlin as the concessions for rides, agian there was no one on the park and this was on a sunday, we stopped at whitley bay for the week just a pity the spanish city had to shut down the old domed ballroom building is still standing empty a pity for a building of this nature just left to rot no one knows whats happening to it the town ws like a ghost town no one around expect for the weekend stag and hen do's that frequent the many pubs.

regards dave.......

[iain]

Dave

I live in County Durham so these places are close to my home. Whitley Bay as you say is a disaster. From being the premier place in the North East for rides it is all gone. A school and a road are going to go through the area that was Spanish City. A great loss.

I always enjoy going to Ocean Beach at South Shields. As you say it is well looked after. It is usually fairly busy.

Seaburn closed down a few years ago but has now reopened as a concessions park. Again this is a shame as it used to be a nice tidy little park in a good location apart from being a bit close to Ocean Beach.

Metroland - I positively hate this place. With all that space and money to spend I'm sure they could have done something better than this. I dread going near the Metro Centre now as I just know the kids will want to go in there again but for the number of rides it just isn't worth the money.

The North East could do with a real good theme park. The closest parks we have are Flamingoland & Lightwater Valley and one of them is in a difficult location to get to from our area and the other just isn't good! At least Blackpool is only 2 hours away.

Iain

[dave]

Hi Iain
very surprised about your feelings toward the metroland i thought it was o.k. but being the first time i/ve been maybe if i lived near like yourself it whould be boring unlike say blackpool pleasure beach and pleasureland southport very lucky only living 45 mins away.
I suppose the area for the size of it whould benifit a really great theme park as you say like flamingoland to say that there are two parks near glasgow which are supposed to be very good and all the parks in a short distance in the midlands it is bad for the newcastle/sunderland cities.
regards dave.....

[iain]

Dave

Metroland is OK once but you soon realise that coaster/dodgems/wave swinger apart there isn't actually that much there and lets be honest about it, the coaster isn't exactly a thrill machine!

It takes me 45 mins to get to Metroland and 2 hours to Blackpool, what's another hour when there is so much more at the end of it!!

It is 3 hours drive from my home to the parks in the Glasgow area, a long drive to get your body shaken up on the M&D's Tornado!!

Alton Towers is 3 hours the other way.

As I said the 2 closest are Flamingoland at 90 minutes and Lightwater Valley at about 45 minutes though why anyone would pay to go to the latter amazes me. Flamingoland is excellent though and well worth a trip for anyone who hasn't been before. Current and future developments should make this an even better park to visit.

With well over 1 million people in the Tyneside/Wearside/Co Durham area I'm sure we could support a Theme Park. We do have a Diggerland though!

Iain

[baggles]

not quite the area you are talking about but i must agree, lighwater valley near Ripon in North Yorkshire is a good day out..... having lived for a while near Stockton -on- tees it was worth the drive for a good day out at that park- god mix of rides and attractions and good for most age groups

[iain]

Baggles,

I live about 10 miles from Stockton and if anyone from my area asks me whether they should go to Flamingoland or Lightwater Valley, I always recommend Flamingoland. For the lack of attractions LV has it is way overpriced. You would be better off taking a walk in a big park free of charge. Flamingoland is a different matter though with plenty of thrill rides. Hopefully Magnum Force will be relocated within the park rather than being sold or it will have lost its crown jewel ride.

Iain