18 Roller Coasters in the UK That Everyone Should Ride at Least Once

Shockwave is Europe's only roller coaster that you ride standing up. It opened in 1994 and reaches speeds of 54 mph as well as a G force of 4. Drayton Manor Park might not be as big as Alton Towers, but this roller coaster is definitely a winner!

Formerly known as Rita, Queen of Speed, this Alton Towers whizzer launches riders from 0 to 61.1 mph in 2.5 seconds. The ride was temporarily renamed Camilla in 2005 to celebrate the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. As far as we're aware, she hasn't had a go on it.

Nemesis Inferno is definitely not to be confused with its older sister ride, Nemesis. This one reaches 50 mph, and it's themed around a tropical volcano.

The original Nemesis was built in 1994, and it's definitely not for those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground. You remain seated, but your feet dangle in the air. And if you haven't zipped up your pockets, your car keys will probably fall out at 42 feet and 50 mph. Did we mention the whole ride is themed like an alien excavation?

Stealth is a similar roller coaster style to Rita. It's about the speed, not the loops and turns. Stealth is even faster, catapulting you to speeds of 80 mph. And just for fun, it'll send you soaring 205 feet into the air, too. What really makes this ride, though, is the excruciating wait at the start.

The Big One in Blackpool may not be the fastest, but at 212 feet, it is the UK's tallest. It'll whizz you around at speeds of 74 mph. Save the ice cream for after you've been on.

Saw is one of the scariest rides in the UK. The theme is loosely based on the horror film franchise but thankfully suitable for all ages. The first half is in the dark, and frankly, there's really no need for that. When you do finally get out into the daylight, you creep your way up to 100 feet before hurtling towards the ground.

This really isn't your average roller coaster. It's not really a roller coaster at all; it's a ghost train. And it's nothing like those ones you go on when the Bank Holiday funfair rolls into town. It's chilling. This is one that comes with a spoiler alert, and we don't want to share too much. If you want to find out what all the fuss is about, you really need to experience it for yourself.

The world's first vertical-drop roller coaster is still one of the scariest. Even the video will turn your stomach. That stop at the top of the ride will be the longest four seconds of your life.

There is actually a speed limit on the fastest roller coaster in Wales — Speed will take you to speeds of 59 mph, and you'll travel at a force of 4.5 G. It has a 97-degree first drop, which made it the world's steepest roller coaster when it was built in 2006.

Yorkshire's cheerily named Flamingo Land is home to the steepest roller coaster in the UK (and the second steepest in the world). It's got a 112-degree drop.

This roller coaster was previously known as Traumatizer before it was packed up and moved so it's fully suspended over water.

This one isn't about big drops or speed; it's all about the twists. There are 10 inversions and an incredible four-twist loop.

Named after a lion in the park's pride, Kumali is a brilliant all-rounder. It's got huge loops and a corkscrew twist, and it flies over one of the park's lakes.

This Skegness roller coaster gets the thumbs up from the extreme-rides community for being a really smooth ride. It's not exactly the prettiest view on the video, but you'll probably have your eyes shut the whole way round.

One of the more sedate rides on our list, Vampire really makes the most of its surroundings and is designed to make you feel like you're a bat flying through the air.

Previously called Air, Galactica is one of the most popular rides at Alton Towers and was the first of its kind. You lie chest down so it feels like you're flying, while travelling through space via a virtual reality headset.

Swarm rides don't sit in rows like a traditional roller coaster. Instead, they're in pods, like a swarm of bees or hornets or whatever winged beast your brain might choose to imagine as you're thrown around. Make sure you get an outside seat for the best experience.