written by on 30/03/2015
Considering this park charges the going rate for theme parks the rides are broken and out-of-date. 3 out of 9 of the thrill rides were out of order at one time leaving my family very disappointed. Apart from 3 rides on the park they all need a facelift - if not scrapped! It was very difficult knowing where queues started and where ride's exits were. Needs a modern rollercoaster for the price they are charging. Overpriced sweets/goods. Toilet facilities very poor - lacking in number, cleanliness and clear signage. 'New for 2015' Light Show nothing to write home about apart from somewhere to shelter from the rain. Overall definitely not worth the money - go elsewhere and have a good day!!
written by jonno777 on 23/06/2011
went to the park on 14/6/11 with my mother and father inlaw, my wife and 3 children. father in law wanted to meet us and spend a family day out for his birthday. he phoned the park on friday 10th june to confirm we would be attending 14/6/11 as the weather forecast for that day was very good. my family travelled from scarborough(about 2 hour drive)and we arrived at 10:30 am. my kids were bouncing with excitement untill we got to the ticket office which was closed? went to reception and was told you cant come in today its closed to private schools. explained that we had phoned on the friday and was asked to fill in a complaints form and the manager would contact us. we were there only 5 minutes and they turned away 3 families. one lady was kicking off and was told you should have checked the website, she got the website up on her phone and said were does say your closed? she was then given a complaints form (whopee).waited 3 days for the management to contact us, they never bothered. i phoned myself the following week to complain. manager wasnt interested at all and was very patronising. all he kept on about was checking the website. i said why do that when we have already phoned you? i will never ever go there, would have an overwhelming urge to knock the arrogant pratt clean out!!!!
written by on 11/10/2010
A huge disappointment. It was grotty, dirty, and not very well maintained. There was a shortage of staff (we went on a sunday - and one employer said not many attend work if they have been out drinking on the sat!). The toilets were absolutely disgusting and unclean. I'm only glad I didn't have a baby that needed changing. I went with my nephew a four year old. We frequently go out for days at flamingo land and have a fun packed day. Light water valley was however the place I favoured as a child, so I decided to make the hour drive.. Big mistake. It's has just gone considerably down hill, and has been poorly maintained. The magic show was advertised on talloys and posters. After struggling to find the hut that it was in as half the sign was missing.. The missing part being 'magic'! It looked shut, we asked a ride attended who then told us to enquire as the visitor information. We walked there only to find that it "was closed for the afternoon" this was before 12pm. We then asked another attendant who told us show times were on the board, we walked back to double check.. incase we had missed it, no board outside, asked another attendent who told us to go and ask at tickets. So we had to leave the park and get our hand stamped in order to get back in. We were then told at tickets, 'oh we are not sure if Mark is in today, he's probably to buey playing with his White rabbit, haha. Then he said to the other man 'Is Pete in?' To which the other one said 'i don't think he does 'magic'' - disorganised chaos the whole place, this was with a 4 year old in tow who was wanting to see a magic slow and was tired of walking back and forth.
I wouldn't take children under a meter as although advertised the rides are limited. They were hard to find plonked in the middle of all the bigger rides and also scattered all over the site. It was frustrating trying to find the kids ride, whilst at the sometime trying to explain to my nephew that all the rides he can see he can't go on. And because they were scattered everywhere you'd have a 2 min ride and a half hour walk to the next ride. A four year olds legs aren't very long and I had to end up trying to piggy back him (I'm only a 5ft2 petit female).
The gift shops were terrible too. At flamingoland I always allow him to buy a toy, a compass, or magnifier or torch etc. But the shops were full of fake kids guns, and little dolls you squeeze and their fake guts pop out of a hole. Just trash.
I could go on. But I'm sure you get the picture. I'm just so disheartened aa I had such wonderful childhood memories there.
My advise to any family with all age groups, to to flamingoland. They have things for the under 1 meters in all areas, but also have a designated area full of rides for them, with the zoo and safari ride over the top right next to it. They also have lots of colourful parrots and a frequent seal show. They have an indoor section with soft play which is always a bonus having shelter from the rain or even blazing hot sun if you are lucky! They have an out side water park too. The rides for teenagers are also much more plentiful and exciting. There is really only the ultimate at light water valley. Flamingoland is also clean and well maintained and the toilet facilities are hygienic. I first started taking my nephew when he was still in nappies, so for those with babies you'll appreciate what I mean!
Hope you have a fun day out where ever you go.. Just make sure it's not light water valley! Or you'll be terribly disappointed!
written by on 29/08/2010
Dirty smelt like a fam yard when the only animals where ducks.The rides are VERY dissapointing,VERY exspensive to buy things £2.50 for chips. Wated far to long for rides.overall VERY dissapointing would never go back even if you pay me!!!
written by on 27/08/2010
The surroundings can be described as ok, that,s the best bit.
All the staff are miserable and unfriendly one turned my son away from the river rapids he was quite abruct and rude leaving my son in tears,
I queued for thirty minuets to ride the ultimate before reaching the front it broke down, no announcement was made by the staff and people were left wandering what was happening.
It says somthing about a theme park when the best family ride was the swans.
We paid via Tesco club card vouchers and still felt it was poor value. All in all the worst theme park that we have visited.
written by on 26/08/2009
We had been to Lightwater Valley before (2 years ago) and had a great time. So this year we went along with other family members, but what a disapointment, we first went on the big wheel, it went round once and we had to get off, then on to the eagles claw, had to wait for 45min, The falls of terror, the ultimate, and the river rapids all broke down after standing in the line for 40 plus mins. There was no information when rides were down. We went to the information to make a complaint. After spending £87 for my family of 6 to get in, these things should not be happening.
written by on 20/08/2009
We went last week to Lightwater valley and i can honestly say i have never seen so many wasps in my life!!!, i was stung twice and my daughter was stung, i have 3 children 2 of which are special needs and we were all terrified, we had been to flamingo land just a couple of days before so we are not normally OTT as far as wasps are concerned but we are now!, we had our photos took with the owls and we just could not stand it, they were in peoples hair, on their clothes, there must have been 20-30 near every "open" bin, you just could not get away from them!, they had sweet stalls outside with tons of wasps just crawling all over the sugar coated candy, open pop corn stands inside which i personally think is a bit silly, lightwater valley definatly needs to review the wasp situation as to me they just seem to be encouraging them with there policies on the situation of uncovered bins and having uncovered food outside, it cost us £60 to get in, there was 1 poster which i did not see until after i had paid saying"watch out wasps are about" lol understatement of the year, but would still not have imagined it to be as bad as it was in my wildest nightmares and we left within 1 hour, we did not go on 1 ride and i for one will be happy if i never seen frightwater valley again! we will stick with flamingo land TYVM!
written by alandaubney226 on 21/08/2008
If you have young children go to Flamingo land or Drayton manor. Wasps everywhere + open bins = bad planning. Price £60 for 2 adults and a 3 and a 4 year old is way too high, will not go again until kids are 1.5 meters high. All seems a bit out dated.
written by donmond on 28/08/2007
We took 2 young children as on the website it said it had plenty of rides for 1 metre and under.
Many of the roundabout style rides had height restrictions, so my youngest was sent away from lots of small rides in tears including a little horse and cart ride and a little train ride!
Whilst the higher and more dangerous rides should en force strict height restrictions, there is in my opinion absolutely no need on the smaller rides, my little one has been on more thrilling rides at the supermarket! The food is overpriced, the toilets dirty, no soap. It is a world away from other theme parks, my advice: save your money and go somewhere else!
written by redferns on 14/09/2006
The whole place appears run down.
I expect it will be changed entirely to retail within the next year or so.
written by trace1 on 24/06/2006
I don't think Lightwater Valley is good value for money, and the rides are old and repetitive. They need to put more thought into the theme park, and introduce some newer rides! They also need to bring the food prices down, and offer a better range of food! They also need to smarten the park up, as it is old and shabby.
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Jonno777's Comment
Written on: 23/06/2011
having read your review im pleased they turned us away! horrible place terrible staff and idiot manager! jonno 777