20 Greatest Roller Coasters In England

14. Shockwave - Drayton Manor

Opened: 1994

Manufacturer: Intamin

Type: Stand-Up Coaster

Shockwave was the only stand-up coaster in Europe for over twenty years (another opened in Italy in 2015), so it's always been a stand-out attraction in the UK. Stand-up coasters are a notoriously mixed bag and are often derided as being very uncomfortable, but this one is pretty awesome and definitely delivers the goods.

Although the layout is a bit disappointing, this is still a very thrilling ride with four great inversions (including the only zero-G roll on a stand-up coaster anywhere) and comfortable trains which ensure that roughness isn't a particular problem on this one.

Shockwave is the best of the four roller coasters currently at Drayton Manor, which is a lovely Midlands theme park and one of the country's best, and it's quite a lot better than its reputation suggests, making this one of the UK's most underrated coasters.

Contributor

Film Studies graduate, aspiring screenwriter and all-around nerd who, despite being a pretentious cinephile who loves art-house movies, also loves modern blockbusters and would rather watch superhero movies than classic Hollywood films. Once met Tommy Wiseau.