Keep reading for blooloop's selection of the best theme parks in the UK, in no particular order.
1.Paultons Park
Founded in 1983, Paultons Park spans 140 acres of parkland on the edge of the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, England.
The theme park features more than 70 rides and attractions, including coasters, thrill rides, family rides, play areas, splash areas, and entertainment.
It is also home to the UK’s only Peppa Pig World, a themed, family-friendly zone with nine rides, photo opportunities, and exclusive merchandise.
Paultons Park has been owned and run by the Mancey family since it first opened. In 2021, it launched a new multimillion-pound themed world called Tornado Springs, inspired by a 1950s American Midwest desert resort town. Since 2025, the zone has been powered primarily by solar energy.
“Theme parks are all about creating different environments,” Richard Mancey, the park’s managing director, told blooloop. “We went through all the usual themes: pirates, castles, Vikings, the Wild West.
"But we wanted something that’s going to be unique to us. What else is there? So we took the iconic Route 66 with Tornado Alley and just built on this theme.”
Tornado Springs has eight rides and experiences, including the Cyclonator, Windmill Towers, Buffalo Falls and the Trekking Tractors.
Storm Chaser is the only free-spinning roller coaster of its kind in the UK. Al’s Auto Academy includes 30 themed cars based on the Hudson Hornet, and themed memorabilia is available at Al’s Shop and Service.
In 2025, Paultons Park opened the Ghostly Manor ride, an innovative, interactive dark ride inspired by the historic Paultons Manor and the theme park's rich history.
It also shared plans for a new £12 million Viking-themed land called Valgard – Realm of the Vikings, and a Scandinavian-inspired resort for overnight guests.
2.Alton Towers Resort
Alton Towers is the largest theme park in the UK, spanning 910 acres and 10 themed areas. The attraction boasts more than 40 rides and attractions, including 10 record-breaking coasters and 20 family-friendly offerings.
Part of the Merlin Entertainments family, Alton Towers opened as a theme park in 1980 with the Corkscrew, Britain’s first double loop roller coaster.
The resort in the Staffordshire countryside includes three themed hotels, Stargazing Pods and an Enchanted Village.
In March 2023, the park launched a new dark ride.
“The Curse at Alton Manor is no ordinary dark ride,” said Kate McBirnie, then head of product excellence at Alton Towers.
“It has all the components of a supernatural tale – it’s dark, compelling and promises some thrilling and scary moments along the way. Fans of eerie rides will certainly appreciate this one.”
Nemesis Reborn opened in 2024 after an 18-month project to transform the iconic coaster. The 716-metre-long track has been replaced, and the ride station has been updated, while adding new storytelling elements and a redesigned mythical beast.
The thrilling £10 million ride offers a 3.5 g-force and a top speed of 50 mph.
Alton Towers Resort’s Larry Roles told blooloop: “We know the love for the Nemesis ride and brand has become multigenerational.
"Time and time again, Nemesis had been named the number one ride - and our decision to invest in refurbishment rather than remove the ride was further validated by consumer research—our guests wanted Nemesis to stay!"
The park opened a new toxic waste-themed topspin ride, Toxicator, in 2025. Situated in Forbidden Valley, Toxicator presents the next chapter in the Nemesis and Forbidden Valley story.
Also in 2025, it announced the development of the world's first Bluey roller coaster for its CBeebies Land.
3.Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Chessington World of Adventures Resort, also part of Merlin Entertainments, opened in Surrey in 1931 as Chessington Zoo, and became a theme park and zoo in 1987.
The attraction in Greater London has over 40 rides and attractions, more than 1,000 animals, and a Sea Life centre. It is also home to two themed hotels, a glamping site and Go Ape.
In spring 2023, the world’s first Jumanji -themed land opened at Chessington, with three new rides, including the world’s first Jumanji -themed coaster.
The £17m ‘World of Jumanji’ land is inspired by Sony Pictures’ $2 billion film franchise. It is home to the Mandrill Mayhem coaster, the Mamba Strike and the Ostrich Stampede rides.
Mandrill Mayhem by Bolliger & Mabillard is a winged, launched, shuttle roller coaster with Chessington’s first inversion. It wraps around a massive ‘Jaguar Shrine’ structure and circles the entire land.
Other highlights at World of Jumanji include a maze of pathways based on the iconic board game, which first appeared in the 1996 film starring Robin Williams.
“Whether you’re a fan of the films, a fan of roller coasters or are looking to take your family adventures to ‘the next level’, the amazing World of Jumanji is ready to welcome all ‘those who seek to find a way to leave their world behind’,” said Scott O’Neil, Merlin’s former CEO.
In 2023, Chessington submitted plans for a “unique and immersive water park experience ” that would be the first attraction of its kind within the M25.
In 2025, the UK's first and only Paw Patrol land was announced for Chessington World of Adventures with a 2026 opening.
The same year, the park obtained planning permission for a new land to replace the retired Wild Asia area. Featuring a roller coaster and family-friendly attractions, this project is expected to be complete by 2027.
4.Drayton Manor Theme Park
A theme park and zoo, Drayton Manor spans 180 acres in the grounds of the former Drayton Manor in Staffordshire, UK, and hosts approximately 1.5 million visitors each year. It is owned by the Looping Group, which also operates West Midlands Safari Park and Pleasurewood Hills in the UK.
Its 15-acre zoo is home to many animals, from meerkats to Sumatran tigers. The theme park features family favourites such as Flying Dutchman and Accelerator, thrill rides such as Maelstrom and Stormforce 10.
In addition, Thomas Land boasts more than 25 rides and attractions following a 2015 expansion.
Drayton Manor Resort’s new Vikings land opened in May 2022, and its new Wild West-themed land launched in March 2024.
The park's new roller coaster, ‘The Wave,’ debuted in spring 2024. The ride is an updated version of Drayton Manor’s iconic Shockwave coaster, and includes many of its original features, with top speeds of 53 mph and a level 4 g-force at 12 feet high.
Now a sit-down ride suitable for younger riders, The Wave features four inversions, a unique zero-gravity roll, and a double corkscrew.
Gold Rush, Drayton Manor's latest coaster, opened in July 2024. One of Europe’s most innovative family coasters, the attraction was made by Intamin, a creator of record-breaking amusement rides.
The first coaster to be added to Drayton Manor since 2011, Gold Rush is part of a multimillion-pound investment plan that continues the park’s development under the Looping Group's ownership.
In 2025, the park launched the UK's largest permanent water show, featuring fire, water, and multimedia effects.
5.Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire first opened to the public in 1896. The theme park features 10 roller coasters, including Icon, its newest, and The Big One.
Other thrill rides include Revolution, The Big Dipper, and Valhalla. The latter is a unique high-speed dark ride by Sarner International, the leading experiential design expert.
Home to the UK’s only Nickelodeon Land, family-friendly offerings at Blackpool Pleasure Beach also include Wallace & Gromit’s Thrill-O-Matic, an Alice in Wonderland-themed ride, and Flying Machines.
As for accommodation, Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s second hotel opened in July 2019. BLVD sits to the left of the Big Blue Hotel, which launched at the UK theme park in 2003.
In 2025, Blackpool Pleasure Beach reimagined its iconic Ice Blast ride as Launch Pad, a 210-foot-tall tower with a pressure cylinder that shoots guests 20 storeys into the sky at speeds of up to 80mph.
Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach, said: “Earlier this year we announced that we are focusing on constantly evolving and renewing our ride offering, and confirmed our intention to make some exciting announcements in the future.
“The new era of Launch Pad is only the first, and we’re looking forward to everything the future holds at Pleasure Beach Resort.”
It has also announced Aviktas, a £8.72 million attraction, set to open in 2026 as the UK’s tallest swinging pendulum ride.
6.Legoland Windsor Resort
Another attraction operated by Merlin Entertainments is Legoland Windsor Resort in Berkshire.
One of the top theme parks in Europe, Legoland Windsor, offers more than 55 rides and attractions. The theme park also has accommodation: the Legoland Resort Hotel, Legoland Castle Hotel, and the Legoland Woodland Village.
In 2021, it launched the £20m Lego Mythica: World of Mythical Creatures, an immersive land with rides, attractions and experiences. The land is also home to the first flying theatre ride in the UK – Flight of the Sky Lion.
Lego Mythica is the largest investment at Legoland Windsor since its debut 25 years ago. The park added a new walk-through experience called ‘The Magical Forest’ to Lego Mythica in April 2022.
The £35m Woodland Village opened in 2024 as Merlin’s first operationally carbon-neutral accommodation.
7.Thorpe Park Resort
Thorpe Park Resort in Surrey launched in 1979 and is operated and owned by Merlin. The park features more than 30 thrilling rides, including the new Hyperia coaster, the tallest and fastest coaster in the UK.
With a height of 236 feet and top speeds of over 80 mph, Hyperia took the title of the UK’s tallest coaster from The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach (230 feet), and replaced Thorpe Park's Stealth as the UK's fastest.
Other major attractions at Thorpe Park include the UK’s first virtual reality (VR) dark ride, and coasters based on The Walking Dead and Saw. The park also hosts live events and previously presented the UK’s first live Black Mirror experience with Black Mirror Labyrinth.
In 2024, the park launched Big Easy Boulevard to replace the former Angry Birds Land. The zone is themed around the vibrant culture of New Orleans, and includes new designs for the Detonator drop tower, the Dodgems and the 4D Cinema.
8.Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is situated in Ingoldmells in Lincolnshire, close to Skegness. The park was purchased by Mellors Group in March 2016 and has since made significant investments in new attractions.
Rides include coasters such as the Odyssey and Millennium, as well as family-friendly attractions like the Glowworm and Firebowl. Fantasy Island also has Europe's largest seven-day market and a variety of food and beverage outlets.
James Mellors, director of Mellors Group, said:
“Since acquiring Fantasy Island in 2016, we have introduced a whole range of attractions from children’s rides to family and extreme, as well as enhancing our all-weather indoor family entertainment centre, uplifting our market and introducing new accommodation services back in 2019.
“Our aim as owners is to continually improve our customer offering and revitalise Fantasy Island, putting Ingoldmells firmly back on the map.”
In 2021, Mellors Group purchased Skegness Pier for £3m. “It is a very exciting time for our family,” said James Mellors Snr, managing director of the Mellors Group. “We pride ourselves on delivering the highest standard of attractions and we have some fantastic investment plans to elevate Skegness Pier and propel it to the next level, immediately.
He added: “Since the purchase of Fantasy Island, Skegness has become a second home to my family, and we look forward to delivering new experiences to residents and visitors of Lincolnshire alike."
In 2026, Mellors Group announced the purchase of Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
9.Flamingo Land Resort
Flamingo Land Resort is a theme park, zoo, and resort set in the small village of Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire.
CEO Gordon Gibb’s late father, Robert Gibb, purchased the 375-acre property in 1978, four years after it expanded from a zoo.
The theme park is “one of the last of the dinosaurs”, Gibb told blooloop back in 2018.
“Privately-owned parks used to be the bedrock of the industry in the UK. But we have to face facts. We are now competing for the small share of the market after Merlin have had their slice.
"However, through hard work and making the right decisions at the right time, we’ve been able to outmanoeuvre a battleship.”
Flamingo Land's thrill rides include Flip Flop and Cliff Hanger, while family-friendly rides on offer include Twistosaurus and Rotataur. For younger guests, the park offers attractions such as Runaway Train and Vortex. Coasters include Mumbo Jumbo and Kumali.
In 2022, Flamingo Land launched a new £18m roller coaster named Sik, after local clothing brand Sik Silk. Gibb said the ride's name "is on trend and resonates well with the target age group”.
He added, “It’s also a play on words; people get sick on roller coasters. We just want to have a bit of fun with it.”
Flamingo Land also has a zoo that attracts more visitors than ZSL London Zoo. After visiting the park, guests can stay overnight at resort accommodations, ranging from farmhouses to lodges and cottages.
The family-run business has now abandoned plans to create an indoor theme park in Scarborough. A second planning application for a £40m Loch Lomond development was unsuccessful.
10.Dreamland Margate
Dreamland opened in Margate, Kent in 1920 and is considered to be one of the oldest surviving amusement parks in the UK. It is operated by Sands Heritage Ltd and owned by Margate Estates Ltd, which took over the 17.5-acre site from Thanet District Council in 2019.
In 2025, a classic log flume attraction returned to the park and joined its headline family rides, the Big Wheel, Pirate Ship, Dodgems and Rock 'n' Roller roller coaster. The Scenic Railway is the oldest roller coaster in the UK and was granted Grade II listed status in 2002.
While known for its classic fairground rides, Dreamland also offers a roller disco, free-roam VR games, an Art Deco ballroom, a large outdoor stage, interactive art exhibits, and a range of family rides and attractions.
"When Dreamland opened in 1920, it was one of the only amusement parks in the country. Now there are so many bigger, faster, whizzier rides out there," Dreamland CEO Eddie Kemsley told blooloop.
"But I think Dreamland’s charm is its throwback heritage. Some of these beautiful old rides, set in this seaside location, you just don’t get at Thorpe Park, Chessington or other venues."
11.Gulliver's Theme Park Resorts
Gulliver’s Theme Parks & Resorts can be found across the UK.
Gulliver’s Kingdom, the original and smallest Gulliver’s park, opened in the Derbyshire tourist town of Matlock Bath in 1978. Gulliver’s Land and Gulliver’s Dino & Farm Park can be found in Milton Keynes.
Gulliver’s World in Warrington is the largest Gulliver’s attraction in the UK. In 2020, received the green light for a £5.6m extension, including themed accommodation and woodland lodges.
Guests can also stay overnight with the Explorers Retreat accommodation at Gulliver’s Kingdom, while Gulliver’s World and Gulliver’s Land offer the Splash Zone indoor water parks.
Gulliver’s Valley opened in 2020 in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and boasts a 15-acre theme park and themed accommodation, including Lilliput Castle suites.
“Long term, Gulliver’s Valley Resort has the potential to be bigger than our Warrington site,” managing director Julie Dalton told blooloop.
“As well as Splash Zone, there’s another park scheduled. It will be a farm park with a gears driving experience and a museum. Then there will be an ecology centre by the lakes. The new accommodation will fit in between the two.”
In 2025, Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts announced a raft of new rides and attractions across the parks, such as the new Land of Oz zone at Gulliver’s World with two new rides and the interactive Upside Down House.
12.Lightwater Valley Theme Park
Lightwater Valley is an amusement park in Ripon, North Yorkshire, spanning 175 acres. It offers rides, crazy golf, indoor and outdoor play, retail and F&B.
In 2021, the theme park opened new attractions, including the Go Safari area, Hot Air Balloon ride and Treetop Trails.
Robert Staveley established Lightwater Valley in 1969, and in 2021, the Brighton Pier Group acquired the entire share capital of Lightwater Valley Attractions Limited for a consideration of up to £5m in cash.
Mellors Group announced the purchase of the park in 2026.
“Lightwater Valley is a park with real heart, history, personality, and potential, and it’s a place our own family has loved since childhood," said James Mellors, managing director of Mellors Group.
"We’re incredibly proud to be taking on its future.
"Our goal is simple: to put the park back ‘on the map’ as a major theme park, by introducing new rides, injecting new energy, and creating something truly special for families for many years to come."
13.Adventure Island
Adventure Island was founded in 1918 as the Sunken Garden, a seaside haven in Southend-on-Sea in Essex.
After purchasing additional land in 1976, the Miller family transformed the family offering into an amusement park named Peter Pan’s Playground.
In 1995, it was expanded further and became Adventure Island. Classic attractions at the park include the Crooked House and Ramba Zamba, and coasters Rage and Green Scream.
Adventure Island is part of the Stockvale Group, which also owns the Sealife Adventure Aquarium and a range of local restaurants and radio stations.
14.Universal UK
Courtesy of Universal
Rounding out our list of top UK theme parks is the upcoming Universal theme park and resort, which is expected to open in 2031.
Universal confirmed plans for a theme park in the UK in December 2023, after purchasing a 476-acre parcel of land south of Bedford. Planning permission was granted in December 2025.
Its proposals for the site include a world-class theme park with various themed lands, visitor accommodation, and a range of retail, dining, and entertainment options. According to planning documents, the theme park could feature the tallest rides in Europe.
Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said: "It's a full-blown Universal theme park with a 500-room hotel that is part of it, very much like Epic in terms of a park with a hotel.
"We've created a different mix of attractions that we think will work great in the UK."
An economic impact analysis commissioned by Universal Destinations & Experiences found that the development could generate almost £50 billion for the economy during construction and in its first 20 years of operation.
Page Thompson, president of new ventures at Universal Destinations & Experiences, said: “A world-class theme park and resort from Universal has the potential to generate billions in economic benefit for the UK, by creating thousands of high-quality jobs and attracting millions of new visitors to the country.”
