UK Attractions

Comrades, I have planned for a new bowling alley, at Alton Towers Resort. Here it is. All it needs, is your vote. 14 bowling lanes, to be made an even number, inspired from 14 roller coasters from the past and present, and also inspired from the 13 tables in the Rollercoaster Restaurant. In the restaurant itself, for the 2016 and 2017 seasons, the Runaway Mine Train was table/seat number 2, until it the Wicker Man took its place in the same position, also as the 2nd seat for each table, for the 2018 season, and has remained ever since. However, the restaurant has The Smiler as number 12, despite having 14 inversions. So I hav…

Note: I intend to keep editing this post as time goes on and more years are released. Hi guys. During the coaster consultations in 2021, Merlin released an attendance graph showing all their parks' attendance figures since the early 1980s. I had some time on my hands yesterday evening and decided to try and extrapolate some slightly more precise guest figures for each park from this graph to try and determine the precise(ish) attendance trajectory of each UK Merlin park from the earliest year listed here (1984 for Alton Towers and Chessington, 1983 for Thorpe Park, 1987 for Windsor Safari Park and 1997 for Legoland Windsor). For some idea, this is the ori…

Hi guys. I have exciting news; it appears that Alton Towers is holding a consultation about building an “indoor attraction” on the former site of the Alton Mouse, within Coaster Corner (the area behind World of David Walliams): Those “in the know” apparently think that this is to be the next Secret Weapon. I’ve got to say, I think this is brilliant news! A new indoor attraction will definitely add some variety to Alton Towers’ lineup, which should hopefully allay recent concerns about the park lacking filler rides! With this being in/near TWODW, I doubt that it’ll be anything too thrilling, but I think the park needs more middle-ground things with a …

Hi guys. It's been 4 years since Alton Towers' 8th Secret Weapon, Wicker Man, opened, so I thought SW9 deserved its own speculation thread! I made this thread, however, because we've now had confirmation as good as any that SW9 is well and truly in the pipeline; Nathan Graveson, a designer who worked for Intamin and designed the likes of VelociCoaster, Toutatis and the Parque Warner Madrid launch coaster, has announced that he is now a project director for Merlin Magic Making, and has stated SW9 to be one of MMM's upcoming projects. He said the following, and the bolded explicitly references SW9: "I also have a massive announcement. Since my recent depart…

I’ve only been to Chessington Worlds of Adventure once and that was a long time ago. Do they still have that ride with the scared Arab?

sad, but their we are. acording to chessington buz, jungle bus will not operate for the 2022 season as it's " reached the end of it's operational life at this time" I don't know if they are going to try and refurbish it, or they are going to go down the roote of black buccaneer and just replace it, or if they are gfoing

Hi guys. While it’s probably one of the lesser known defunct UK theme parks these days, I’m led to believe we have quite a few people on here who grew up in the UK in the 1990s, or were more generally around in the UK in the 1990s for that matter, and know about Mr Blobby and Crinkley Bottom in Cricket St Thomas, Somerset. So I was intrigued to know; did anyone ever visit this park in the brief period it operated? And if so, what did you think? I must say it’s a park that looks intriguing, and quite a strange one to imagine as someone who wasn’t alive in the 1990s. As someone who mainly knows Noel Edmunds as the host of Channel 4’s Deal or No Deal, I can never…

It would appear that Chessington is installing 2 new rides in Pirate’s Cove for 2022, according to Chessington Buzz: https://chessingtonbuzz.com/news/two-new-rides-for-2022/ The planning application was submitted today, and the two rides are: A Zamperla Watermania (basically a mix of a teacups and a splash battle) that features water guns around the outside and a nautical feel, with a lighthouse tower operating console. The ride is to be named Bobbing Barrels. A Zamperla Rockin’ Tug, thought to be Timber Tug Boat from Thorpe Park, that is being named Trawler Trouble. Some of the artwork has also spawned a rumour that Pirate’s Cove is being…

So who remembers Circus world? You'd have to be over a certain age to remember it considering it closed at the end of 1994. Specifically does anyone remember the play area/ interactive area they had when it first opened 1987-1989 ish.. It was in the 'sideshow' booths around the lands parameter, but they weren't sideshows as in uncharge games but were these soft-play type elements . It included a climbing structure that was inside the entrance towers to the area and included a helter skelter tube slide down the second tower... it was like the parks first soft play BEFORE the long defunct Adventure house soft play area that was in the old Elephant house! …

I’ve just come across this on the Alton Towers website Share massive giggles, mega thrills and major glee with your family in 2022 at Alton Towers Resort! As well as amazing new attractions, the Resort will be hosting fantastic events and entertainment for the nation to enjoy! “New attractions” are mentioned,to me this means that at least 3 new rides will arrive. Personally I think that the “new attractions” will be located in The World Of David Williams and CBeebies Land. I even think this article is hinting at a World Of David Williams expansion for next year. How do you all interpret Alton Towers saying “new attractions”?

Hi guys. Since Tussauds' purchase of Thorpe Park in 1998, Chessington & Thorpe Park, two of the UK's largest theme parks, have operated under the same corporate umbrella (Tussauds from 1998 through to 2007, Merlin since 2007) within very little distance of each other; both parks serve the London area, and they are only a very short drive away from each other. Tussauds' initial reasoning for purchasing Thorpe Park was in order to eliminate Chessington's closest competition within the South (Thorpe was a family park to the same, if not a greater, extent than Chessington at the time, and as John Wardley put it, Tussauds' mentality was one of "if you can't bea…

What do you get if you mix the London Dungeons, Derren Brown's Ghost train and a £70 (average) price per person ticket? Glad you asked.... You get a 2hour, 20 odd scene story rendition of Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds, an excellent story with a premise of these metal alien human killing robot machines, as seen in Woking. As a fan of the story seeing the arena show and music maybe 3 times now, it was refreshing to see the concept transformed into an interactive experience promising VR, simulators and live actors. But why do I compare to the Ghost train and dungeons? Well because many of the scenes were a bit like something I had experienced in…

A new ITV attraction at media city in Manchester (formerly the Lowry centre) Based on I’m a celebrity, it opens at the end of July. This looks set to be a bigger version of the indoor attraction that was at Thorpe. Set design from Scruffy dog. https://www.imacelebrityjunglechallenge.co.uk

Didn’t know where to put this so decided to create a new thread. Mods change as you like! The North Hamptonshire Telegraph are reporting that Wicksteed Park has gone into administration due to the financial impact of the corona virus. It is also believed staff have lost their jobs and will apply for redundancy packages. Such a great shame this has happened for the park, which is also home to a classic water chute ride too.

I couldn’t find a thread for Coney Beach, so I’ve started one. Not sure how many people have even been to Coney Beach here, but it’s somewhere I’ve been quite a few times since I was little and they have my favourite KMG Afterburner I’ve ever been on: Beach Party! I started this thread because I noticed that Beach Party looks to be up for sale online *cries* (so if anyone wants to buy it for me, I’ll give you free rides on it in my garden ) Jokes aside - if Beach Party really does leave Coney Beach, I will be so sad!

Chessington have submitted plans for a small log flume, taking place partially on Toadies site. Toadies will receive a slight rerouting and become shorter as a result. Both rides will receive a jungle sort of theme. https://www.southparks.co.uk/2019/10/08/chessington-world-of-adventures-resort-plans-new-mini-log-flume-and-re-theme-of-toadies-crazy-cars/ The log flume appears to be the same one that was at Weymouth Sealife. There had previously been rumours it would go to Chessington and be placed where Creepy Caves was, though that was like 2-3 years ago. Quite like the idea. A small log flume for young kids who can't do Tiger Rock is m…

Hi all, I have been inspired to join this forum by the unprecedented threat to our nation's theme park heritage by Rameses Revenge being taken out of service. As the UK's only top-spin ride, it is clear that it is an 'endangered species' in the theme park industry. I propose we launch a campaign to save the ride. There are four steps: 1) We need to contact Historic England, and inform them of the loss to our culture and heritage that is underway. We should draw parrellels to historic rides that are already listed. Historic England have listed several already which creates an obligation on the owners to preserve them. Don't …

Chessington have submitted plans to replace Rameses Revenge with a drop tower. Key facts: -25m tall -12m tall crocodile feature with water effects that the gondola will 'splash' into -16 riders -Rotating gondola with one free fall drop -Flying Jumbos to be relocated to the old Carousel site to make sufficient room. Link to all documents/images: https://publicaccess.kingston.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=PWLD59NHILJ00 Key proposal: https://publicaccess.kingston.gov.uk/online-applications/files/82F01D47B4A400B27B50B0793ACD4906/pdf/19_02079_FUL-DESIGN_AND_ACCESS_STATEMENT-42147…

Following the reveal that House of Monsters would not return for this year's Scarefest, speculation increased about the long-rumoured Cloud Cuckoo Land retheme. This seems more and more likely now: https://www.altontowers.com/2020/

Surprised nobody has mentioned this. Beach and Bounce has opened at Chessington as shown on social media. I love how they have gone one up on Thorpe by making the bouncy castle 10m longer. Kick in the teeth for Thorpe. Originally it was oddly only for 10 and over but has changed to height of 1.1m with an adult and 1.4m alone. The beach (sponsored by Honest Teas - WHO???? 🤔) looks a nice added touch as well. Looks fun and will certainly be giving it a go. Official site information: https://www.chessington.com/event/1043/beach-bounce.aspx FB post shown below.

The annual Knutsford may day fair is now open until the 6th May. It has over 100 attractions. Probably the best new ride I've seen is this Megaspin. It's like a cross between a Sky Swat and a Disk'o.

Discuss Will be interesting to see how the old space is used, and whether the level of effort in terms of theming has been put into it, similarly to The Gruffalo

Today Blackpool Council announced £300 million plans to develop the site of the old Central Railway Station into a new entertainment attraction, scheduled to open in 2024. Attractions include: The Flying Theatre Virtual reality experience Alien Diner A Multi-media exhibition Adventure Land Thrill and Gaming Zone There are also plans for hotels, shops, and restaurants to complement the new area. More info: https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Your-Council/Creating-a-better-Blackpool/Blackpool-Central/Blackpool-Central.aspx https://www.bbc.co.uk/…

Want to know the real reason why it closed? I was an operator of the attraction (infact, the last operator).....

So Nemesis at Alton Towers is without a doubt one of the, if not the most intense and amazing ride in the UK. So is it the best invert in the world?