If you’re like me, you’ll probably roll in around 2:00 PM, after a lazy brunch and a mental debate about wearing comfortable shoes. This is prime time for what I call the “pre-scare warm-up.” The daytime queues for Nemesis Inferno might be long, but they’re worth it because you get to watch teenagers pretend they’re not terrified. It’s like a free comedy show.
But here’s the gold nugget: the Fright Night mazes don’t start until around 6:00 PM. So you have a solid four hours to get your coaster fix, eat overpriced chips, and find the perfect spot to hide from the actors. Pro tip: don’t hide behind the bins. Everyone looks behind the bins.
The Twilight Panic Bell
As the sun starts to dip, a shift happens in the crowd. Suddenly, that guy in the Jason mask stops being a joke and becomes a legitimate threat to your dignity. The park’s opening times for the mazes are strictly enforced, so if you’re still queuing for the Saw: Alive maze at 7:30 PM, you’re golden. But if you’re buying a slushie at 8:45 PM, you’re going to miss the final scare.
I once saw a bloke try to squeeze into the last queue at 8:58 PM, clutching his girlfriend like a human shield. The staff member, with a face like stone, said, “Sorry, mate, maze is closed.” The look on that bloke’s face? Priceless. It was the look of a man who knew he’d just traded a proper fright for a raspberry slushie he didn’t even want.
One Week to Go: Thorpe Park Fright Nights 2026 is Nearly Here | Thorpe
