Total Thorpe Park - Park Guide

Colossus is a record-breaking roller coaster that propelled Thorpe Park to the premier league of UK Theme Parks, but has aged badly and divides opinion.

Click the button below to open the music player in a new window. Copyright remains with the original artists and Thorpe Park.

Colossus opened in 2002 as a world's first ride - the only roller coaster with ten inversions. It cost £10 million and is based on the eight-looping Monte Mayaka from Brazil's Terra Encantada Park. Designer John Wardley added two more inline twists at the end of the circuit to beat the inversion record - which Colossus held until 2012 when 11 Inversion Coaster opened at Jinling Happy World in China.

The lift hill takes riders to 98ft, and as the train curves down the first drop, the now-unmistakable roar thunders around the ride area. Strong positive Gs can be felt at the bottom of the first inversion, the vertical loop. The train then takes a bunny hop under the shop - which gives fantastic airtime - and into the cobra roll. The cobra roll is one of the more exhilarating manoeuvres of the run, and inverts riders twice. After exiting the roll, riders enter two consecutive corkscrews - your on-ride photo being taken after the second. After a 180 degree turn, the train enters four clockwise inline twists, which are taken frighteningly slowly; cause for most riders to really start appreciating their restraints! And then, just when you think it's all over, perhaps the ride's greatest trick happens - one last anticlockwise inline twist. This completely takes first-time riders by surprise; brilliant.

It's not only the ride itself which impresses. The whole area is very well crafted - the Colossus queue line and walkway is right under the whole ride structure. This means that guests are very close to the track, making it an exciting ride just to watch. Special mention must also go to the ride music played in the area and the queue lines - it compliments the theme of the ride superbly, and does a great job of psyching you up for your ride.

When Colossus was opened, it really pushed Thorpe into the major league of UK parks, and rightly so. It was a daring investment for a Park with relatively few thrills, and ushered in an exciting new direction for the Park. Colossus can only be considered a huge success. However, this coaster is now starting to show signs of age. The track is in desperate need of a repaint, and the trains are looking old. It has also become noticeably rougher, so beware of headbanging. It's a good idea to keep your head forward when riding.

In 2002, this ride was a 5 star attraction. Due to the unfortunate issues described above, it must now drop a star. Don't be put off though - if you're happy to have your coasters rough and ready, Colossus is still not to be missed.

"Amazing, but ouch! This ride is truly superb, a brilliant ride for first time thrill seekers. However it is true, this ride will hurt your head. Having ridden this coaster countless times, here is my best advice: put your head back and keep it there! Don't put it forward, especially at the start with the vertical loop! If this doesn't work, the best thing to do is go on the front. Headbanging at the front is rare because it is where you are least pulled around. Don't let this put anyone off though! It is a must ride! Fantastic. 11/10."
Matt, London, UK.

"Who needs SAW? This where it's at! Sure SAW has mildly better themeing but Colossus is superior. It's fun, dizzying and generally adrenaline pumping. If you must make sure you go on one roller coaster on your visit, make it good ol' Colossus :D"
Andrew, Dagenham, UK.

"Colossus is the best ride at Thorpe. Sure, you may bang your head, but there is a knack to keeping it straight; push yourself into the seat using the bars on each side of the restraint. The suspense is amazing when you reach the top of the lift hill and from then on it is perfect. The front line queue is well worth the wait as well!"
George, Berkshire, UK.

"The coaster needs smoothing out and repainting or something... it's very very noisy and very shaky - could there be better restraints and headrests?!"
J. Merchant, East Sussex, UK.

"The best ride in the Park - it makes you really dizzy!"
Hussein, London, UK.

"I first rode this ride when I was 8 and ever since then I have loved it! OK, so it's not a smooth as Nemesis Inferno and it's not as fast as Stealth but its definitely wild, out of control and... AWESOME! 10/10."
Charliy, Sutton, UK.

"I get headaches when I go on this one!"
Danny, Bristol, UK.

"Rough, but great. Needs a repaint, but other than that, it's fun and greatly themed."
Robert, Hertford, UK.

"Colossus is great!! I went on it first 2 weeks ago... and loved it! The corkscrews make you dizzy at the end though..."
Lucy, Kent, UK.

"Simply amazing! I first rode this when I was 9. Absolutely incredible! 10/10!"
Patrick Crowne, Surrey, UK.

"I love Colossus so much! It doesn't need smoothing out as it just adds to the experience! 10/10."
Lukee, Sussex, UK.

"I loved the twists as you come out of your seat and the drop made me lose my stomach. I was screaming like mad on this rollercoaster! Definitely a ride for thrill seekers!"
Brandon, London, UK.

"Colossus is absolutely brill, one of the best rides in the Park. All the twists and turn really get you dizzy!"
Natalie, Worksop, UK.

"Too shaky, and the two hour queue was too long for such a tame ride...."
Jameo, Brisbane, Australia.

"Not worth the pain. Had a headache for the rest of the day after riding it."
KS, Cambridge, UK.

"I've only ridden once but it was fab! Got there early and had a short queue time, and I didn't find it too rough :)"
Marcus, London, UK.

"Can be rough, depends on what you do. Keeping your head flat back against the rest makes it a lot less violent for you. My favourite coaster ever, but a warning. My friends dragged me on it three times in a row. Unless you're an absolute junkie, this is a VERY BAD IDEA. The first time you're pleasantly dizzy. The second time you're very disorientated. The third time you can hardly walk and you'll feel sick for hours afterwards. The ride's so good it's tempting - but don't go there."
Clem, St Albans, UK.

"This ride seriously needs to be smoother - I chipped my tooth on it when I was 10 :( But I really love it and it is one of the best rides there!"
Darell, Croydon, UK.

"Generally a great ride, but the headache I had afterwards was ridiculous. I had to resort to tamer rides for the rest of the day! :("
Sammi, St Mary Cray, UK.

"The track is OK, but it's a very shaky ride leaving you feeling disorientated and with a headache. Worth going on at least once though!"
Alex, Bromley, UK.

"I experienced a lot of head banging on this ride - had a migraine for the rest of the day! I would not recommend going on this ride, my head still feels rough 2 days on."
Gemma, London, UK.

"Colossus is awesome. Even if it is a bit wobbly, the ride has an immense feel like when you walk for the first time. I love it!! :)"
Tom Richards, Liverpool, UK.

"This ride is fantastic I absolutely loved it! You feel like you will fall out - so thrilling! I love the loop."
George, Middlesex, UK.