Roll up, roll up! Theme parks have flung open their doors for the summer season. And even if you're not a rollercoaster fan, these mini metropolises of fun have plenty to entertain every generation, including spectacular shows, more leisurely rides and beautiful gardens.

And often there are big discounts available for pre-schoolers and over-65s, too. Tips? Pack a poncho in case it rains and wear your comfiest shoes...

Tivoli Gardens, Denmark

Good luck finding a prettier theme park anywhere in the world than Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens.

Slap bang in the Danish capital's centre, a bronze statue of fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen welcomes visitors at the park's entrance into 20 acres of fun featuring exotic gardens, a brilliant food hall – with Asian street stalls, burgers and pizzas – historic buildings and, yes, plenty of rides.

It's open late from spring until the end of September.

All ages will love: Wooden rollercoaster Rutschebanen, which dates from 1914.

Book it: Day entry from £19, £10 for children 3 to 7 (tivoli.dk).

Efteling, Netherlands

Trip the light fantastic at this fairytale-themed park with an emerald lake 20 minutes from Tilburg in the Netherlands' south.

Every daredevil ride (including the hair-raising dive-coaster Baron 1898) is matched by a more sedate attraction, with a miniature village, monorail and steam train to enjoy.

All ages will love: Driving a gondoletta past meadows and windmills.

Book it: Day entry from £32, under 4s go free (efteling.com).

Europa-Park, Germany

Germany's largest theme park, an hour north of the Black Forest, takes visitors on a tour of Europe's nations via 20 themed areas – with Shakespeare's Globe, a mini Silverstone and a 100-year-old British carousel in 'England'.

Elsewhere, there's a brand new 3D ride called Grand Prix EDventure, or enjoy a soaking on the souped-up log flume Atlantica SuperSplash.

All ages will love: The discount for over 60s.

Book it: Day entry £44, £37 for over 60s and children 4 to 11 (europapark.de).

Phantasialand, Germany

Cheap flights to Cologne Airport – just 25 minutes away by car – make this a fun weekender.

Set on 70 acres, it's smaller than most (saving those legs) but has seven themed areas, all of which rival Disney's famously precise attention to detail. Look out for regular half-price ticket deals online.

All ages will love: West End-style shows including an ice-skating display.

Book it: Day entry from £57, £49 for children 4 to 11 (phantasialand.de).

Puy du Fou, France

The French regularly vote Puy du Fou, tucked away in a forest in the Vendee region, the country's number one theme park. It's an immersive celebration of history, with 20 different performances and four villages that allow visitors to time-travel through the ages from Ancient Rome to the era of 20th century cinema.

All ages will love: First World War trench experience Les Amoureux de Verdun.

Book it: Day entry £39, £28 for children 3 to 13 (puydufou.com).

Gardaland, Italy

Ideal for teenage kicks, Gardaland is packed with big-hitting rollercoasters with daunting names, including Oblivion: The Black Hole and Raptor.

Meanwhile younger children will adore Peppa Pig Land and the SeaLife Aquarium, which has 5,000 sea creatures.

All ages will love: Miniland, a tiny town made with millions of Lego bricks

Book it: Day entry £44, £37 for children under 10 and over 65s, children under 90cm go free (gardaland.it).

Parc Astérix, France

A French favourite since 1959, comic hero Asterix has his own park 25 miles north of Paris that's full of big and small rides.

New for this season is Cetautomatix, a fast-paced spinning chariots coaster designed for all the family.

All ages will love: Patisserie Au Croissant de Diane.

Book it: Day entry £38, under 3s go free (parcasterix.fr).

Tibidabo, Barcelona

How to inject some kid-friendly fun into a Barcelona city break? Head to Tibidabo, an amusement park that's been entertaining Catalans since 1901. The newest attraction, Merli, offers unrivalled views with a catch – after you've taken in the 360-degree panorama, there's a 170ft (52m) free-fall back to terra firma. Yikes.

All ages will love: Avio, a shiny red replica 1927 plane that soars sedately above the park.

Book it: Day entry from £33, £12 for children under 120cm, those under 90cm go free (tibidabo.cat).

Energylandia, Poland

An hour west of Krakow you'll find Energylandia, which looks as technicolour as it sounds.

There are more than 130 attractions to entertain every age of theme park-goer from blistering speed coasters (Hyperion racks up 88mph) to an impressive array of water-based rides, with short wait times even in high season.

All ages will love: At 190 acres, it's so big that it rarely feels crowded.

Book it: Day entry £35, £27 for those under 140cm and over 65s; 20p for under threes (energylandia.pl).

Paultons Park

Small but perfectly formed, Paultons Park sits in 65 acres on the edge of the New Forest.

Home to Peppa Pig World, it is the hottest ticket in town for pre-schoolers – just ask former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who once took one of his children along.

Another wing has plenty to fire the adrenaline, including spinning rollercoaster Storm Chaser.

All ages will love: Afternoon tea in the New Forest.

Book it: Day entry £45, children under a metre go free (paultonspark.co.uk).

Chessington World of Adventures

This is seventh heaven for younger children. There's The Gruffalo and Room On A Broom, based on Julia Donaldson's famous books, plus safari animals and marine life in the Zoo & Sea Life sections.

Scream-inducers? Queue for Dragon's Fury, Vampire and Mandrill Mayhem.

Grandparents will love: Spotting giraffes, zebras and ostriches on off-road ride Zufari.

Book it: Day entry from £29, children under 90cm go free (chessington.com).

Alton Towers

Across 550 rolling Staffordshire acres, Alton Towers, opened in 1980, is Britain's biggest theme park – and arguably its most charming thanks to its picturesque tiered gardens.

There are thrills for every age, from CBeebies Land to Gangsta Granny: The Ride and twisting coaster Rita, with a 4.7g-force. New for 2025 is dizzying spin ride Toxicator.

All ages will love: 17th century Alton Manor at the heart of the park.

Book it: Day entry from £29, children under 90cm go free (altontowers.com).