Keep a straight face for unlimited Alton Towers and other top UK attractions for a year
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This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of National Rollercoaster Day, and ahead of the big occasion the UK’s biggest theme park operator, Merlin, has said people can win free rides for a year across top UK attractions – if you can do this challenge
How exciting would it be to get a year’s unlimited access and free rides at Alton Towers and more of the UK’s top attractions?
If you would like to snag your own Platinum Merlin Annual Pass (worth £299), you will be tasked with pushing yourself to the limit in a way not often associated with riding rollercoasters.
Those who can keep a straight face on rollercoasters across Merlin theme parks, kicking off from National Rollercoaster Day through to August 23, can win free rides for a year across top UK attractions.
Merlin - whose attractions include Thorpe Park, Alton Towers Resort, Chessington World of Adventures and LEGOLAND Windsor Resort - have issued the challenge and have thrown down the gauntlet to adrenaline junkies willing to take part.
As part of the announcement from Merlin, Jedward, pop’s most enthusiastic duo and rollercoaster superfans, were the first to take on the Straight Face Challenge and tried their best. But, they failed – unsurprisingly, after all who can really keep a straight face while you loop-the-loop?
For a chance to win a year’s free coasters at Merlin’s theme parks, daredevils must visit Thorpe Park, Alton Towers Resort, Chessington World of Adventures or LEGOLAND Windsor Resort from August 16-23 to celebrate National Rollercoaster Day’s 40th anniversary.
To take part riders must then purchase an official on-ride photo before sharing it on socials using #StraightFaceChallenge for the chance to win a Platinum Merlin Annual Pass worth £299.
The Platinum Merlin Annual Pass is the highest tier of annual pass, with entry to all parks with no exclusion dates, plus Platinum Merlin Annual Pass holders get four free ‘Bring a Friend’ tickets a year, one free one-shot Fastrack per visit,a free Coke Freestyle cup and two free refills – Ideal to quench your thirst after all those rollercoaster shenanigans.
This epic competition comes at a fortuitous time for theme park-goers who can also save big this summer, with the Government's Great British Summer Savings scheme – offering guests reduced VAT rates on admission tickets to attractions nationwide until September 1, 2026.
Head over to the relevant theme park websites to book your visit:
Thorpe Park: thorpepark.com
Alton Towers Resort: altontowers.com
Chessington World of Adventures: chessington.com/
LEGOLAND Windsor Resort: legoland.co.uk