I do have an unusual perspective from which to view this park. Before my most recent visit it had been over a decade since my last visit. In that time they installed a big coaster in the form of Magnum Force, and then took it down at a later date. During that time it's transformed from a pleasant amusement park with a zoo attached, in to the UK's version of Disney's Animal Kingdom.

For me the zoo is just as big an attraction as the amusement park area. I've visited quite a lot of zoos and animal attractions around the world, often including them during my theme parking trips, and this is easily one of the nicest ones I've been to. It's got a good selection of animals, in some well designed enclosures, designed to both keep the animals happy, and provide a great view of them at the same time. Also included are two good animal shows, that entertain, and let you get to know some of the animals better. I would recommend trying to catch at least one of these on a visit to the park.

Perhaps the biggest hi-light of the zoo is the various observational rides. These include a monorail, chairlift and the Wagon Wheel themed observational wheel that offer some great views of the enclosure that really enhance the experience of viewing the animals. The real hi-light though has to be the Lost River boat ride, which you ride threw the enclosures, bringing you fascinatingly close to some of the animals.

Hopefully this will be a concept Flamingo Land will expand on. Ideas I had where a family observational tower starting underground, and coming out in the middle of an enclosure, or a scenic boat ride going in to an enclosure, with a small pool separating you from the animals.

The parks main roller coasters are an interesting list. You've got an inverted looping coaster, a power launcher, and a bumpy looping coaster. Sounds a bit like Thorpe Park or Alton Towers doesn't it. I think some of the inevitable comparisons that come up are a little unfortunate, as it can lead to the park being dismissed as second best. It's true that the coasters here aren't  quite as good as the bigger name ones, but they are of a quality level where they deserve comparison with them, and make it worth the effort to get to try them. This is quite an achievement when you consider Flamingo Land's  more limited budget.

Looking at the rest of the rides it's a selection I quite like. My perception is that it's a good selection of rides for an actual family park, not a park that means toddlers and pre-teens when they say families. It has a wide ranging selection of rides for a family group, including more thrilling rides like the circulator and the Cliff Hanger for the more daring members of the family. Most of the rides are also well themed and presented, which helps overcome the possible fairground or amusement park feel so many rides in a small space can create.

So is this park worth visiting? That depends, if your going mainly for the rides, and only see the zoo as a temporary distraction it's a good park, definitely one worth doing if you are within easy distance of a visit, but not one making an excessive effort to try.

If like me though you're an animal lover who will enjoy what the zoo has to offer, Flamingo Land offers a great overall package. It might not quite have a world class signature ride yet, but it's worth making an effort so you can try everything this park has to offer. I mentioned at the beginning of the review it's been a decade since my last visit. Well I'm pretty sure it will be a lot less than that before my next visit.