Crealy Theme Park and Resort: A Family Day Out From Exeter

Crealy Theme Park and Resort sits on the A3052 Sidmouth Road at Clyst St Mary, about five miles east of central Exeter. It is the largest dedicated family theme park in the south west and it has been steadily expanding since it opened as a much smaller working farm attraction in the 1980s. Today you get rides, indoor play, animals, water play and an on-site resort with lodges and camping pitches.

If you are based in Exeter and you have kids in the 2 to 12 age range, Crealy is the obvious big day out. Here is how to do it well in 2026.

What you actually get for your ticket

Crealy bundles all the rides and most of the experiences into the day ticket. That includes the rollercoasters (Maximus is the headline coaster), the spinning rides, the carousel and the gentler toddler-aimed area. It also covers Animal Kingdom, the indoor and outdoor play areas, the splash zone in the warmer months and the various shows.

What is extra: the on-site shop, food and drink (you can bring a picnic and most families do), the arcade machines and any seasonal events that need separate tickets (the autumn Hocus Crocus pumpkin patch, for example).

2026 ticket prices and how to save

Day ticket prices vary across the year, peaking in school holidays and dropping mid-week off-season. The cheapest route is always to book online at least 24 hours ahead. You can save up to five pounds per person versus the gate price by doing that. Children under 92 centimetres tall come in free, which is genuinely useful if you have a small toddler.

If you live locally, the Annual Pass is worth a look. For 2026 the pass starts around ninety nine pounds, or six pounds ninety per month, for unlimited visits all year. Two visits at a weekend almost pay for it.

Specific event tickets (such as fireworks evenings or character meet weekends) are often priced separately from around eighteen pounds. Always check the dates page before booking, because Crealy occasionally closes mid-week in low season.

What is good for which age

Under 5s

The toddler area and the indoor Big Barn play space are where the under fives spend most of their day. The petting area in Animal Kingdom is also a favourite: pygmy goats, llamas, donkeys and the usual chicken-and-rabbit lineup. Rides for this age include the carousel, the smaller spinning teacups and a slow rollercoaster designed for the very small.

5 to 8

This is the sweet spot. Most rides have a 95cm minimum, which by age five most children meet. The medium-sized coasters, the log flume, the swing rides and the play structures all suit this age range. Plan a full day.

9 to 12

Older primary children will want Maximus, the Vortex spinning coaster and the bigger water rides. There is enough here to fill the day, but they may be ready to leave by 4pm. The indoor area is less of a draw for this age.

Teenagers

Crealy is family-pitched and does not target the teen thrill-seeker market. If you have a 14 year old who is here under sufferance, set expectations.

Practical day planning

The park opens at 10am and most rides start running by 10.15am. The first hour is the quietest. Head straight for the coasters and the most popular rides while queues are still short, then loop back to the calmer attractions in the middle of the day and finish with the water play if the weather is warm.

Bring waterproofs and a change of clothes. The splash rides and the outdoor water play areas will soak you. Picnic tables are dotted around the park, and there are several food kiosks with the usual chips, pizza, ice cream.

Free parking is included with the ticket. The car park is large but fills up at weekends; if you arrive at 10am you will be fine, 11.30am and you will be walking further.

Staying over and combining trips

If you are coming from further afield, the on-site Crealy Resort has lodges, glamping tents and touring pitches. Booking a two-day ticket with a one-night stay is often only marginally more than a day ticket plus a separate hotel in Exeter.

If you are staying in central Exeter, Crealy is a 15 minute drive east on the A3052. The Stagecoach 157 bus links Exeter Bus Station with Crealy in season; check current timetables.

The verdict

Crealy is not pretending to be Alton Towers and the people who go there know that. What it does well is a long, easy, family-friendly day out where you can mix rides, indoor play, animals and water without driving between venues. For Exeter-based families with under-12s, it is the obvious choice.

If your kids are a bit younger or you fancy a slower day, our guide to Family Days in Heavitree and St Thomas covers free park and playground options closer to the city, and our Powderham Castle with Kids piece looks at the gentler historic alternative.