When you think of the world’s top theme parks, Disney World, Universal Studios or even Busch Gardens might come to mind if you’re a theme park aficionado.
However, it’s unlikely that a transformed dairy farm in rural North Devon, where roller coasters take a lunch break, would be on your list.
Yet, surprisingly, The Milky Way Adventure Park was once named by Tripadvisor as not only the UK’s top theme park, surpassing Thorpe Park and Legoland, but also the fifth best globally.
Reporter Jamie Downham decided to take his family to see what all the hype was about. While it seems absurd to compare its attractions with those of Space Mountain or Nemesis Inferno, he was still able to confirm that it is incredibly charming and quintessentially British.
He said: “The entrance may resemble a slightly dull office building rather than featuring a rotating globe and don’t expect fireworks or a flashy parade. Instead, there’s a daily falconry show.
“However, the warm welcome, reasonable prices (£18.50 for adults, £8.95 for children), friendly staff, and fantastic rides, particularly for under fives, more than makeup for it.”
Jamie added: “Here’s the best part – you’ll hardly ever have to queue for more than a few seconds, a claim very few theme parks worldwide can make. You can get off a ride and immediately hop back on.”
While the attractions may not be as grand as those in the major US parks, they still managed to outshine them in the 2022 Tripadvisor report. However, Dollywood in Tennessee has since overtaken them in the latest rankings.
Even The Milky Way’s own website cautions visitors not to expect an Alton Towers experience, reports Devon Live.
Talking about the park, Jamie said: “It boasts a small roller coaster and a larger one named the Cosmic Typhoon, along with an impressive suspended-rail shooting ride called Ziggy’s Blast Quest where you have to zap asteroids. There’s also a vast soft play area, slides, and dodgems.
“The park is as clean as Disney and its spacious layout, thanks to its former life as the Stanbury dairy empire (hence the milky name), includes a large soft play area and a show hall where performances from Britain’s Got Talent Merlin Cadogan take place six days a week.
“Outside, there’s a maze, a mini golf course, and a 30ft doughnut-ring slide named the Gravity Rider.”
Having never heard of this place before, Jamie only decided to visit to see what a park once ranked as the fifth best theme park on earth looked like. To his surprise, the kids loved it.
He concluded: “As strange as it may sound, I believe it does many things better than Alton Towers and Disneyland Paris.
“Granted, it doesn’t have rides like the Smiler or Oblivion, and there’s only one theme (space), but it’s refreshing to stroll around without the usual hassles of modern outings – parking fees, exorbitant food prices, and being constantly pulled aside to buy photos of yourself.
“For the time being, I’m in agreement with the Tripadvisor voters who consistently rank The Milky Way among the Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best. Indeed, small can be beautiful.”
