Fun for all the family at rural Dennlys theme park

 

 

With its Denno the tortoise mascot, Dennlys in its great location 20 minutes of the A26 and just 50 minutes from Calais – excels when it comes to gentle rides for tots and primary-school-aged kids, but there’s something here for everything, making it an essential stop-off during family activity holidays in France. Compared to a lot of theme parks in Europe, it’s great value as well as relatively uncrowded, with the added bonus of free parking.

Founded around an old water mill by a couple from a carnival background, the park is constantly growing and innovating, with recent years seeing the addition of a Mexican land complete with the Azteca giant water slide and the Aero Mexico hydro-planes. 

Great attractions for tots and very young kids include Les Crapouilles frog merry-go-round, while among rides for all the family are the Tramway Fou (Crazy Tram), the spinning Cannibal Pots and Les Montgolfières big wheel. And thrill-seekers aren’t forgotten, with the likes of Nitro rollercoaster, the Temp’O spinning track ride and the Vigie drop-tower to up the ante and provide an adrenaline rush. Seasonal events and activities include face-painting and Halloween specials.

 

Among nine dining areas to choose from, the self-serve Cafétéria du Moulin is popular for its regional dishes, La Guinguette serves pizzas against the background of a museum-piece mechanical organ dating back to 1942, Denno Grill is great for hot dogs, sausages and other meats, and there are tacos and other Mexican favourites at La Cantina. Or if you’re simply having too much fun to sit down for more than a moment, on-the-hoof treats include crêpes, waffles and ice cream. There are picnic areas too.

 

The perfect place to treat the kids and get some family bonding time, Dennlys is on hand for some of Northern France’s best attractions for kids. The largest aquarium in Europe and France’s national sea-life centre, Nausicaà is the ideal place to combine fun with learning, with its interactive displays and unique viewing panels and tunnels inviting you to immerse yourself in the the ecosystem of the high seas. 

And naturally there are also the breathtaking beaches of Northern France, of which Le Touquet, Wissant and Wimereux particularly stand out for families - whether you need to relax after all your theme-park adventures or get active with some sandcastle-building or traditional beach games. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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