Three roller coasters in the UK rang up at 12 million: Pepsi Max Big One at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Stealth at Thorpe Park, and Air at Alton Towers.
Pepsi Max Big One at Pleasure Beach also has the distinction of being the biggest coaster in the UK, rising to 213 feet above the ground (235 feet above sea level!). It really is a huge and spectacular
amusement park ride. It is also more than a mile long, at 5497 feet. The first drop has a 65 degree drop and the maximum speed reached is 74 mph. The ride lasts for three thrilling minutes, and riders experience up to 3.5 g's.
Stealth, at Thorpe Park is another 12 million coaster. It reaches a speed of 80 mph in less than 3 seconds, and it was the fastest coaster in Europe until Furius Baco opened in Spain in 2007. Stealth pulls 4.8 g's. It reaches almost as tall as the Pepsi Max Big One at Pleasure Beach Blackpool, making it the second tallest in the UK, and the third tallest in Europe (Silver Star in Germany is taller.).
Air at Alton Towers, sponsored by Cadbury Heroes, is a steel "flying" coaster, meaning that the cars are suspended below the rails. Riders are suspended in a prone position (the position you would imagine flying in if you had wings), and feel like they're really flying, going under footpaths and seemingly right next to objects like trees. It is often mentioned as the most thrilling ride in the UK because of the feeling of flying.It was the first flying coaster made by Bolliger and Mabillard, Swiss roller coaster makers, and cost 12 million.
Since Britain is small enough to be easily drivable, the UK's greatest coaster enthusiasts can experience many of the above during one summer.But these are by no means the only super-thrilling coasters in the UK. Fortunately for a coaster-loving public, every year or two brings news of one of the major parks like Thorpe, Alton, or Blackpool opening a new biggest, fastest, or coolest ride.
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Andrea Smith is a freelance writer and Theme Park enthusiast from the UK. She writes for
Techy Zone about roller coasters, thrill rides and theme parks in the UK.
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