AFTER a long day of exhilarating rollercoasters and walking around a busy theme park - the drive back to your home can be the one ride which you could really do without.

Which is why it was with great joy myself and my family checked into the Drayton Manor Hotel safe in the knowledge that after a day of fun we would have a bed nearby to flop onto.

We arrived early and made our way to the reception through the glass doors and the fun had already began - a model carousel which children can press to rotate as well as characters from Thomas the Tank Engine were dotted around.

We were given a warm greeting at the start of our Stay and Play break and handed tickets for the park where we began the first stage of our adventure at the Tamworth-based theme park.

Having two children who have both gone through the Thomas the Tank Engine stage, Thomas Land has always been a favourite area of the park.

However, with the sun shining and this being Britain where there is no guarantee how long for, we made our way to Splash Canyon first.

We had a go on the carousel, Golden Nugget Wild West Shoot Out before making our way to the newly-extended Thomas Land section.

Always a popular part of the park, the extra rides meant smaller queues and some welcome additions - the Captain's Sea Adventure brought out the competitive streak in all of us as each boat got to douse other families with water.

After a full day of adventure including a stop at the Dino Trail and zoo, we were ready to be checked into the hotel which is at the entrance to the park.

There is a lot to take in and I don't think we even managed to do half the things we had wanted to so two park visits over one weekend would make sense with an added day costing £12 per person.

Having collected our door key and made our way to the first floor - our room was just the right size for a family of two adult and two children with an en suite bathroom and television.

For true Thomas fans, there are also special themed rooms as well as the chance for a character breakfast with the Fat Controller.

The park may have closed but the fun didn't end there for hotel guests.

Despite a full day in the theme park, the children still had energy to burn off and made the most of the hotel's extensive play park while the adults enjoyed a drink on the lawn.

Then came the Hotel Kids Club which was set up for the families to enjoy hula hoops, frisbees and games including a visit from Rory the Lion.

As the sunset, we made our way to The Grill Inn which is on the park for a filling meal before it was back to the hotel for a bit more time on the park before bed.

Breakfast is included in the trip and is served buffet-style with people being able to choose from English breakfast, cereals, toast or continental options.

Filled up and relaxed, we were ready to hit the road once more after a thrilling day followed by a very peaceful night.

For more including prices and offers, log on to draytonmanor.co.uk/short-breaks.