Blog: The 5 tallest roller coasters in the UK

Calling all thrill seekers and roller coaster lovers! We have found the top 5 tallest roller coasters in the UK and they are definitely a must visit – if you’re not too scared!

1. The Big One, Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The Big One, formerly known as the Pepsi Max Big One, is a steel roller coaster located at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Blackpool. the ride opened to the public on 28 May 1994 as the tallest and steepest roller coaster in the world. It held the record until July 1996, when Fujiyama opened at Fuji-Q Highland in Japan. The ride is currently the tallest roller coaster in the United Kingdom.

Stats

Top Speed: 74 mph (119 km/h)
Length: 5,497 ft (1,675 m)
Height: 213 ft (65 m)
Year: 1994

2. Nemesis Inferno, Thorpe Park.

Nemesis Inferno is a steel inverted roller coaster at Thorpe Park in Surrey. The ride features four inversions including a vertical loop, a zero-g roll, and a set of interlocking corkscrews. The ride is themed around an erupting volcano. The name of the ride suggests that it is related to the original Nemesis, an inverted coaster installed at Alton Towers in 1994.

Stats

Top Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
Length: 2,460 ft (750 m)
Height: 95 ft (29 m)
Year: 2003

3. Stealth, Thorpe Park.

Stealth is a launched roller coaster in the Amity area of Thorpe Park in Surrey. It accelerates from 0 to 80 mph (129 km/h) in 1.9 seconds and it is the fastest roller coaster in the UK. The train accelerates into a steep, vertical top hat element. The train then turns 90 degrees to the left as it crests the top hat. It makes another 90-degree left turn as it descends down the other side of the element. After bottoming out, the train enters an airtime hill, which produces a brief sensation of weightlessness before the train enters the magnetic brake run and returns to the station.

Stats

Top Speed: 80 mph (129 km/h)
Length: 1,312.3 ft (400.0 m)
Height: 205 ft (62.5 m)
Year: 2006

4. The Odyssey, Fantasy Island.

The Odyssey (formerly Jubilee Odyssey) is located at Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells. Built by Vekoma of the Netherlands in 2002, it was named to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. It is Vekoma’s tallest example of their Suspended Looping Coaster design in the world. It was opened and ridden on by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. It was initially sponsored by the chocolate bar Kit Kat, but this association has now ceased.

Stats

Top Speed: 63 mph (101 km/h)
Length: 2,924 ft (891 m)
Height: 167 ft (51 m)
Year: 2002

5. The Millennium, Fantasy Island.

The Millennium (formerly Millennium Roller Coaster) is located at Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells. Constructed – and correspondingly named – ahead of the new millennium in 1999, the ride features a vertical loop, a sidewinder and an additional vertical loop. It finishes in a low helix, which swoops down to a level just above head height of those in the amusement park, frequently startling the unsuspecting public. Some of Millennium’s track is intertwined with Jubilee Odyssey’s, providing some Headchoppers especially when near the Odyssey’s supports.

Stats

Top Speed: 56 mph (90 km/h)
Length: 2,736 ft (834 m)
Height: 150 ft (46 m)
Year: 1999

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