Wednesday, 21 July 2021 09:00

Voting for the UK Theme Park Awards 2021 is now open

The annual UK Theme Park Awards celebrate the very best theme parks in the country and the public vote is now open.

UK Theme Park Awards

Last year, in celebration of 20 years as an independent guide to UK theme parks, we launched the inaugural UK Theme Park Awards.

For the very first time, the British public were invited to vote for their favourite theme parks in national awards recognising the best rides and attractions, shows and events, as well as the theme parks offering the best accommodation and accessibility.

154,104 public votes were combined with the scores from the judging panel to determine the winners in each category.

There are 21 categories this year, including Theme Park of the Year, Best Customer Service and Best Value. New categories include Best Theme Park for Toddlers, Best Family Coaster, Best Classic Coaster and Best Live Entertainment.

In advance of the public vote, we put together a shortlist with the help of our Expert Judges.

Major contenders for the awards include Alton Towers and Drayton Manor in Staffordshire, Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey, LEGOLAND Windsor in Berkshire and Paultons Park in Hampshire.

Other theme parks to receive nominations include Pleasurewood Hills in Suffolk, Lightwater Valley and Flamingo Land in Yorkshire, Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire, Adventure Island in Essex, Fantasy Island in Lincolnshire and Crealy in Devon.

For theme park fans, there are also awards for Blogger of the Year, YouTuber of the Year and Instagrammer of the Year.

Voting for all 21 categories is now open


The public votes will be combined with those of our Expert Judges to determine the winners in each category.


Expert Judges

  • Paul Kelly (Chief Executive - British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions)
  • Andy Hine MBE (Chairman - Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain)
  • Rachel Read (Director & Co-Founder - Blooloop)
  • Mark Locker (Founder & CEO - Attractions.io)
  • Lawrence Roots (Editor - ThemeParks-UK)
  • Justin Garvanovic (Editor - First Drop)

Nominees

Theme Park of the Year

  • Alton Towers
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Drayton Manor
  • Fantasy Island
  • Flamingo Land
  • Gulliver's Valley
  • LEGOLAND Windsor
  • Paultons Park
  • Thorpe Park

Best Theme Park for Families (Large)

  • Alton Towers
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Drayton Manor
  • Flamingo Land
  • LEGOLAND Windsor
  • Paultons Park
  • Thorpe Park

Best Theme Park for Families (Small)

  • Adventure Island
  • Crealy
  • Diggerland
  • Fantasy Island
  • Flambards
  • Gulliver's Theme Parks
  • Lightwater Valley
  • Oakwood Theme Park
  • Pleasurewood Hills
  • Twinlakes

Best Theme Park for Toddlers

  • Alton Towers (Cbeebies Land)
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Nickelodeon Land)
  • Crealy
  • Drayton Manor (Thomas Land)
  • Drusillas Park (Hello Kitty Secret Garden)
  • Gulliver's Theme Parks
  • LEGOLAND Windsor (DUPLO Valley)
  • Paultons Park (Peppa Pig World)
  • Pettitts Animal Adventure Park
  • Sundown Adventureland

Best Theme Park for Thrills

  • Adventure Island
  • Alton Towers
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Drayton Manor
  • Fantasy Island
  • Flamingo Land
  • Oakwood Theme Park
  • Thorpe Park

Best New Attraction

  • Al's Auto Academy (Paultons Park)
  • Black Mirror Labyrinth (Thorpe Park)
  • Croc Drop (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Cyclonator (Paultons Park)
  • Flight of the Sky Lion (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Gangsta Granny: The Ride (Alton Towers)
  • Grand Prix Racers (Gulliver's Valley)
  • Spinning Racer (Fantasy Island)
  • Storm Chaser (Paultons Park)
  • The Retro Squad (Alton Towers)

Best Classic Coaster

  • Grand National (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Megafobia (Oakwood Theme Park)
  • Nemesis (Alton Towers)
  • Oblivion (Alton Towers)
  • Roller Coaster (Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach)
  • Scenic Railway (Dreamland Margate)
  • Steeplechase (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • The Big Dipper (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • The Big One (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • The Ultimate (Lightwater Valley)

Best Family Coaster

  • Accelerator (Drayton Manor)
  • Dragon's Fury (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Egg-Spress (Pleasurewood Hills)
  • Flight of the Pterosaur (Paultons Park)
  • Nickelodeon Streak (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Spinball Whizzer (Alton Towers)
  • The Dragon (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Treetops (Oakwood Theme Park)
  • Vampire (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Wicker Man (Alton Towers)

Best Interactive Ride

  • Duel (Alton Towers)
  • Fire Academy (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • LEGO City Driving School (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • LEGO NINJAGO The Ride (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Red Arrows Skyforce (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Rootin Tootin Target Trail (Pleasurewood Hills)
  • Sheriff's Showdown (Drayton Manor)
  • SpongeBob's Splash Bash (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Tomb Blaster (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Ziggy's Blast Quest (The Milky Way Adventure Park)

Best Live Entertainment

  • ALIVE! Dinosaur Encounter (Paultons Park)
  • A Magical Pirate Adventure (Paultons Park)
  • Hot Ice (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Return to Skeleton Bay (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Pirates of Zanzibar (Flamingo Land)
  • Puppet Shows at the DUPLO Valley Theatre (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Sea Lion Splash (Pleasurewood Hills)
  • Sir Algenon's Time Travelling Starship (Alton Towers)
  • Team Nick (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • The WIIILD Adventure Show (Chessington World of Adventures)

Best Animal Experience

  • African Village (West Midland Safari & Leisure Park)
  • Drayton Manor Zoo (Drayton Manor)
  • Giraffe Feed (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Lemurland (Drusillas Park)
  • Little Africa (Paultons Park)
  • Lorikeet Lagoon (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Lost River Ride (Flamingo Land)
  • Tiger Rock (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Trail of the Kings (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • ZUFARI: Ride into Africa (Chessington World of Adventures)

Best Food & Drink

  • Adventure Island
  • Alton Towers
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Crealy
  • Drayton Manor
  • LEGOLAND Windsor
  • Paultons Park
  • Thorpe Park
  • West Midland Safari & Leisure Park

Best Merchandise

  • Alton Towers
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Crealy
  • Diggerland
  • Drayton Manor
  • Flamingo Land
  • LEGOLAND Windsor
  • Paultons Park
  • Thorpe Park

Best New Event

  • Adventure Pride (Adventure Island)
  • Coaster Cabana (Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach)
  • Fairground Frights (Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach)
  • Mardi Gras (Alton Towers)
  • Oktoberfest (Alton Towers)
  • Oktoberfest (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Oktoberfest (Thorpe Park)
  • ParkVibes (Thorpe Park)
  • Spring Beats (Oakwood Theme Park)
  • Wilderfest (Chessington World of Adventures)

Best Halloween Event

  • Brick or Treat (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Fairground Frights (Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach)
  • Fear Island (Fantasy Island)
  • Fright Fantastic (Adventure Island)
  • Fright Nights (Thorpe Park)
  • Happy Halloween (Paultons Park)
  • Howl'o'ween (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Pleasurewood Chills (Pleasurewood Hills)
  • Scarefest (Alton Towers)
  • Xtreme Scream Park (Twinlakes)

Best Social Media Engagement

  • Alton Towers
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Drayton Manor
  • Fantasy Island
  • Flamingo Land
  • LEGOLAND Windsor
  • Paultons Park
  • Pleasurewood Hills
  • Thorpe Park

Best Customer Service

  • Adventure Island
  • Alton Towers
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Crealy
  • Drayton Manor
  • LEGOLAND Windsor
  • Paultons Park
  • Pleasurewood Hills
  • Sundown Adventureland
  • Thorpe Park

Best Value

  • Adventure Island
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Crealy
  • Diggerland
  • Drayton Manor
  • Fantasy Island
  • Flamingo Land
  • Lightwater Valley
  • Oakwood Theme Park
  • Paultons Park

Blogger of the Year

  • Cleodoescoasters
  • Coasters on the Coast
  • Cupcakes & Coasters
  • Diary of a RollerCoaster Girl
  • Ginger Freckled Girl
  • Lift Hills and Thrills
  • Parks, Scares & Glitter
  • Theme Park Guide
  • Theme Park Insanity
  • Thrill Nation

YouTuber of the Year

  • Coaster Bot
  • Coaster Crazy
  • CoasterGen
  • DigitalDan
  • ParkSpill
  • Pleasure Beach Experience
  • ScrewyLoops
  • TheJackSilkstone
  • Theme Park Worldwide
  • Top Thrill Tourists

Instagrammer of the Year

  • Attraction Source
  • Cupcakes & Coasters
  • First Drop Photography
  • Roller Coaster Rachel
  • Rollercoasting Daily
  • Skyline Coasters
  • Tatts & Coasters
  • Thrill Riders
  • Thrill Rides Photography
  • TPI Photography

Voting


Voting for all 21 categories will take place from Wednesday 21st July until Wednesday 1st September, click here.

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