The Swarm was the ride that put wing coasters on the map in Britain. When it opened at Thorpe Park in Surrey in 2012, it gave UK riders their first taste of a Bolliger & Mabillard design that strips away the train entirely, leaving nothing above or below the seats but open air and a 127-foot drop.
If you’re trying to figure out whether you (or your kids) can ride, how intense it actually is, or what makes it different from every other coaster at the park, here’s a complete breakdown of the stats, the experience, and what to expect before you queue up.
Quick Answer
The Swarm is a Bolliger & Mabillard wing coaster at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England, open since 15 March 2012. Riders must be between 140cm and 195cm tall (4’7″–6’5″) to ride. It reaches 59 mph, drops 127 feet at the start, and features four inversions set within an alien-invasion storyline, with trains that place riders on either side of the track rather than inside it.
Stats at a Glance
Park: Thorpe Park, Surrey, England. Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard. Opened: 15 March 2012. Height: about 127 ft (38.6 m). Top speed: about 59 mph (95 km/h). Length: about 2,543 ft (775 m). Inversions: 4. Max G-force: around 4.5G. Trains: two, each with seven rows seating four across for 28 riders per train. Minimum height to ride: 140cm (4’7″); maximum height: 195cm (6’5″).
The Ride Experience
The Swarm’s signature moment comes right at the start: a 127-foot lift hill leads into a steep first drop that sends trains into a dive-style descent, one of the tallest and most intense openings of any coaster in the UK when it opened. From there, riders face four inversions — a dive loop, a zero-G roll, a corkscrew, and an in-line twist — all while seated with an unobstructed view of the ground below thanks to the wing-style trains.
Because there’s no floor or ceiling, your legs dangle in open air for the entire ride, which is the main reason wing coasters feel noticeably more intense than an enclosed coaster covering the same layout. The course runs partly over water, adding splash effects and a sense of speed close to the surface on top of the drops and inversions.
Height Requirements and Who Can Ride
The Swarm has a minimum height requirement of 140cm (about 4’7″) and a maximum of 195cm (about 6’5″), the upper limit coming from how the over-the-shoulder restraints and open-sided seating fit taller riders safely. There’s also a torso-size restriction built into the harness design, so very broad-chested riders may be asked to try the test seat at the entrance before queuing.
Thorpe Park, like most UK parks, offers free entry tickets for children under 1.2m, though that’s a general park policy rather than something specific to this ride — it won’t change whether a younger rider actually clears The Swarm’s 140cm minimum.
Is The Swarm Scary? How It Compares to Other Thorpe Park Coasters
The Swarm sits toward the top end of Thorpe Park’s thrill lineup, but it’s generally considered less intense than Stealth (which launches to 80 mph in under two seconds) or Saw – The Ride (known for its steep drops and tight layout). What makes The Swarm feel intimidating is the open seating rather than sheer speed or G-force — having nothing below your legs through a 127-foot first drop and four inversions creates a strong sensation of exposure even though the actual forces are moderate by modern coaster standards.
First-time wing coaster riders often find the initial drop the scariest part; once past that, most describe the ride as smooth and more thrilling than frightening. If you’ve ridden an enclosed inverted or sit-down coaster before, expect The Swarm to feel more extreme in sensation even on similar-sized elements.
A First for British Theme Parks
When it debuted, The Swarm was the first wing coaster built in the United Kingdom and only the second built by B&M anywhere, following Raptor at Gardaland in Italy. Its arrival gave Thorpe Park a distinct type of coaster not found elsewhere in the country, paired with a heavily themed queue and storyline about a swarm of alien creatures attacking the area.
The ride’s reported £20 million construction cost reflected both the custom trackwork and the elaborate theming built around it, including the wrecked plane and helicopter props that riders pass beneath during the course of the ride. Trains fly through an abandoned church, past a crashed billboard, and underneath the spinning blades of a downed helicopter as part of the alien-invasion narrative.
The Brave It Backwards Era — and Why Trains Face Forward Today
Between 2013 and 2015, Thorpe Park reversed the two rearmost rows of every train so they faced backwards, branding the experience “Brave It Backwards” and running it through a dedicated queue. It gave those seats a completely different perspective on the same drops and inversions while the front five rows continued facing forward.
That configuration was retired in 2016, and every row has faced forward ever since, so current riders experience the full layout facing the direction of travel regardless of which row they choose.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Queues, and Best Seats
Thorpe Park sells both walk-up and advance-booking day tickets, with online prices generally cheaper than paying at the gate, plus annual pass options for frequent visitors. Opening hours shift with the season — shorter days in early spring and autumn, longer hours through the summer peak — so it’s worth checking the calendar for your visit date before you go. For current prices, opening times, and special events, the official Thorpe Park website is the best source, with live queue times also posted there once you’re planning your day.
The Swarm typically runs a Fastrack lane for guests holding a Fastrack ticket or pass, which uses a separate, shorter queue to cut waiting time significantly on busy days. A single-rider queue is also commonly available for solo visitors willing to fill empty seats in an otherwise full train — look for the dedicated sign near the main entrance, since availability can vary by day. For the most dramatic sense of the first drop, front-row seats give the clearest forward view; back-row seats add a touch more airtime through the course as the train whips around behind the rest of the train.
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The Swarm Thorpe Park FAQs
What type of roller coaster is The Swarm?
The Swarm is a Bolliger & Mabillard wing coaster, a design where riders sit in cars mounted on either side of the track with an open view above and below, rather than inside an enclosed train.
When did The Swarm open?
The Swarm opened at Thorpe Park on 15 March 2012, after construction began in May 2011.
How tall do you need to be to ride The Swarm?
Riders must be between 140cm and 195cm tall (about 4’7″ to 6’5″) to ride The Swarm, due to how the open-sided restraints fit riders.
How many inversions does The Swarm have?
The Swarm has four inversions: a dive loop, a zero-G roll, a corkscrew, and an in-line twist.
How fast does The Swarm go?
The Swarm reaches a top speed of about 59 mph (95 km/h) during its 127-foot first drop.
Does The Swarm still run backwards?
No. The backward-facing rear rows, branded “Brave It Backwards,” ran from 2013 to 2015 and were switched back to forward-facing in 2016. All seats currently face forward.
Is there a single rider line for The Swarm?
Thorpe Park typically offers a single-rider queue for The Swarm, which can shorten wait times for solo visitors, though availability can vary by day.
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