A BRAND new urban theme park is set to open in the UK within weeks, offering kart racing, a sports bar and Tokyo-style arcades all under one roof.

Gravity Max already has sites in both the north and south of the UK, including in Liverpool, Castleford and Wandsworth.

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However, a brand new site will be opening its doors before the end of the month at London‘s Westfield Shopping Centre.

Sun Travel was invited down to the site to have a first-hand look at what people can expect, when it finally opens on Friday, May 17.

The main draw of the site is its E-karting super track, which runs on two separate tracks across multiple levels, offering different racing experiences.

Traditional racing is on offer for those who like to simply go as fast as possible, while interactive Mario-Kart-style games can also be played, with racers able to affect those they’re up against with fun digital obstacles and weaponry.

The track is impressive in its size and fun to drive around too, with visitors in for a fun day out, racing one another around the different circuits.

What’s more, the multi-level circuit adds a more exciting dynamic to a traditional flat karting track.

The racing is just one of many elements that people can enjoy when visiting the new Gravity Max site, with Tokyo-style arcades covering almost an entire floor of their own upstairs.

Inspired by the Japanese capital’s Akihabara district, known for its bright lights and flashing arcade games, guests can take part in motorbike races, shooting games and virtual reality games, among many other options.

There are also what felt like hundreds of claw machines being put in place, while basketball and digital axe-throwing are also on the cards.

Digital sports will also be seen in the nine-hole Coca-Cola minigolf course, which requires players to tap their club in before starting, so each shot can be counted digitally, meaning no cheating is able to take place.

Although not fully complete at the moment, it still felt like a real sensory overload being there, and I’m looking forward to being surrounded by the lights and sounds of the arcade once it’s fully up and running.

It’s easy to see why the Gravity Max sites appeal to all demographics, with stag and hen parties likely to get as much out of it as kids’ birthday parties, or family days out.

That something-for-everyone vibe continues upstairs, where the Heineken sports bar will be found.

Private booths will allow those who have booked them to have their own choice of music, as well as their own TV screens to watch their choice of sport on and a trough of ice built into the table to keep their bottles cold at the table.

Use these tips on your next theme park trip

Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.

1. Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
2. Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer – this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
3. Download the park’s app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
4. Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out “birthday badges” that can get you freebies.
5. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.

The bar is built with a lookout point over the arcade, so parents can enjoy a couple of drinks, while also keeping an eye on their youngsters.

Also upstairs, there’ll be digital AR darts and private karaoke booths, as well as a special karaoke stage, created as part of a fun partnership with The Voice.

That means anyone with a terrible voice can be banished from the stage, if people aren’t interested in hearing more.

Overall, there’s a whole host new experiences opening up at the shopping centre in East London before the end of the month, and from our preview, it definitely looks like there’ll be enough to entertain people of all persuasions.

Anyone who wants to, be among the first to visit once it opens, can sign up for early access online via the Gravity Max website.

Meanwhile, this attraction is like playing a real-life computer game.

And this new Nintendo World is set to open next year.

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