But don’t worry folks, they can scream all they want (and trust us, they will) because it’s not the campsite we’re talking about but its namesake theme park around the corner, Drayton Manor, home to not only the mist shrouded haunted house but also Europe’s only stand-up roller coaster, Shockwave. In fact, the theme park is a treasure chest of well-named thrills and spills: Ultimate Mission, Apocalypse, G-Force, Maelstrom, Drunken Barrels, Flying Dutchmen … the list goes on and so, of course, does the screaming, laughing and general pandemonium (yes that is the name of another ride – who chooses these things?)
One of the most popular points is actually the zoo, a spot for some down time when you’re dizzily stumbling around, and it’s home to a staggering array of species. The meerkats are now a universally loved icon, as fun to observe as the children squeaking “simples” through the glass, and the Sumatran tigers are an equally impressive sight. It seems ever so appropriate then, that Drayton Manor Campsite (a separate enterprise from the theme park) is now home to a set of brand new safari tents. They’re not exactly out-of-Africa, it has to be said, and certainly they’re a little more separate from the tigers than you’d get on a safari, but nevertheless for nights under canvas these are the one’s to choose.
Situated on a long established campsite run by the Camping and Caravanning Club, the Ready Camp safari tents bring a new flare to the scene and offer up nights beneath the stars with some of the added luxuries you long for. Peeling back the tent flaps you find a living space with a sofa, dining furniture and a fully equipped kitchenette, while two further bedrooms feature a double bed and bunk beds. The safari tents have a modern air about them and are tucked in their own space onsite with access to all of the usual camping facilities. After a leg-shaking day on the roller coasters it’s nice to have a proper bed to return to.
But it’s not all about the bounty of the theme park (The Bounty… yup, you guessed it) there’s plenty more to see nearby. Despite the name, there’s no majestic manor house to view – the building actually crumbled into ruins about a century ago – but drive the half hour to the National Forest and you’ll discover the clock’s being turned back to precisely that era. Once a blanket of woodland, the bold environmental project is regenerating forest in the heart of England and the maze of different aged trees provide an excellent place to walk. It’s a similar length journey to the National Memorial Arboretum, a stark contrast to the frolics of the theme park. It stands as a place for peace, quiet and remembrance but the monument is also a beautifully landscaped 150-acre space that’s a joy to quietly explore on foot.
From woodland to theme park, landscapes to cityscapes and screaming kids to quiet memorials, this area has all the ups, downs, twists and turns of a roller coaster. So get a ticket and join the queue because, we reckon, Drayton Manor Campsite and its brand new safari tents are well worth the wait.