Tuesday, 12 September 2023 20:00

Watch the UK Theme Park Awards 2023

The winners of the UK Theme Park Awards 2023 will be announced on 21st September during an awards ceremony at Chessington World of Adventures. Watch a live stream from 10.30am at ukthemeparkawards.com

For the fourth year, the public were able to vote for their favourite UK theme parks in national awards recognising the best rides and attractions, shows and events.

The awards are organised by ThemeParks-UK.com, an independent consumer guide to UK theme parks. In 2023, the awards are presented in association with AttractionTickets.com

There are 22 categories this year, including Theme Park of the Year, Best Customer Service and Best Value. New categories include Best Reimagined Attraction, Best Theme Park with Animals and Best Themed Coaster.

In advance of the public vote, a shortlist has been compiled using public nominations and with the help of a panel of expert judges including Paul Kelly (Chief Executive of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions) and Andy Hine MBE (Chairman - Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain). 25,278 nominations were received, with a total of 35 theme parks nominated for awards in 2023.

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.

The other UK theme parks to receive multiple nominations include Adventure Island in Essex, Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight, Crealy in Devon, Flamingo Land in Yorkshire, ROARR! in Norfolk, Pleasurewood Hills in Suffolk and the various Gulliver's Theme Parks.

There is also an award for Content Creator of the Year, in recognition of the high quality user-generated content via blogs and platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

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

The winners will be announced on 21st September at ukthemeparkawards.com


Expert Judges


Nominees

Theme Park of the Year presented by ADIPS

  • Alton Towers
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Crealy
  • Drayton Manor
  • Flamingo Land
  • Gulliver’s Theme Parks
  • LEGOLAND Windsor
  • Paultons Park
  • Thorpe Park

Best New Attraction presented by LEAPS

  • City Wheel (Adventure Island)
  • Extinction (Blackgang Chine)
  • Ferrari Build & Race (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Gulliver’s Gears (Gulliver’s World)
  • Rock 'n' Roller (Dreamland Margate)
  • The Garden Wheel (Wicksteed Park)
  • Thomas & Percy’s Submarine Splash (Drayton Manor)
  • World of Jumanji (Chessington World of Adventures)

Best Reimagined Attraction presented by Katapult

  • Dobble Tea Party (Thorpe Park)
  • Ghost Train (Thorpe Park)
  • Giddy Up (Pleasurewood Hills)
  • Nemesis Sub-Terra (Alton Towers)
  • Safari (Pleasurewood Hills)
  • The Curse at Alton Manor (Alton Towers)
  • Valhalla (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)

Best Theme Park for Families presented by Vennersys

  • Adventure Island
  • Alton Towers
  • Blackgang Chine
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Crealy
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Drayton Manor
  • Gulliver's Theme Parks
  • LEGOLAND Windsor
  • Paultons Park
  • ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure
  • Twinlakes

Best Theme Park for Toddlers presented by BALPPA

  • Alton Towers (Cbeebies Land)
  • BeWILDerwood
  • Blackgang Chine
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Crealy (Sooty Land)
  • Drayton Manor (Thomas Land)
  • Drusillas Park
  • Gulliver's Theme Parks
  • LEGOLAND Windsor (DUPLO Valley)
  • Paultons Park (Peppa Pig World)
  • ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure
  • Sundown Adventureland

Best Theme Park for Thrills presented by Planet Attractions

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

Best Theme Park with Animals presented by Attractions.io

  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Crealy
  • Drayton Manor
  • Drusillas Park
  • Flamingo Land
  • Paultons Park
  • Pettitts Animal Adventure Park
  • Robin Hill
  • The Big Sheep
  • Twinlakes
  • West Midland Safari Park
  • Wicksteed Park

Best Seaside Park presented by Ride and Park Media

  • Adventure Island
  • Barry Island Pleasure Park
  • Bottons Pleasure Beach
  • Blackgang Chine
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Dreamland Margate
  • Fantasy Island
  • Funland Hayling Island
  • Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach
  • Ocean Beach Pleasure Park
  • Pleasurewood Hills
  • Southport Pleasureland

Best Themed Coaster presented by RCCGB

  • Flight of the Pterosaur (Paultons Park)
  • Mandrill Mayhem (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Nemesis Inferno (Thorpe Park)
  • SAW - The Ride (Thorpe Park)
  • Storm Chaser (Paultons Park)
  • The Dragon (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • The Swarm (Thorpe Park)
  • The Walking Dead: The Ride (Thorpe Park)
  • Thirteen (Alton Towers)
  • Wicker Man (Alton Towers)

Best Thrill Ride presented by Attraction Source

  • Axis (Adventure Island)
  • Cyclonator (Paultons Park)
  • Detonator (Thorpe Park)
  • Extinction (Blackgang Chine)
  • Lightning 360 (Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach)
  • Loki (Drayton Manor)
  • Maelstrom (Drayton Manor)
  • Red Arrows Skyforce (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Rush (Thorpe Park)
  • Samurai (Thorpe Park)

Best Water Ride presented by InterPark

  • Hydra’s Challenge (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Lost River Ride (Flamingo Land)
  • River Rapids (Drayton Manor)
  • Stormforce 10 (Drayton Manor)
  • The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Tidal Wave (Thorpe Park)
  • Tiger Rock (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Valhalla (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Water Chute (Wicksteed Park)

Best New Event presented by The Business Creative

  • BeWILDerwood Presents Christmas (BeWILDerwood)
  • Dinosaur Breakout (Drayton Manor)
  • Eggsplorers (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Festival of the Dead (Robin Hill)
  • Fiestaval (Drayton Manor)
  • Jurassic June (Pleasurewood Hills)
  • Night at the Manor (Drayton Manor)
  • Party Bingo (Drayton Manor)
  • Springfest (LEGOLAND Windsor)

Best Live Entertainment presented by TAG Live

  • A Magical Pirate Adventure (Paultons Park)
  • Amity High vs LycanThorpe (Thorpe Park)
  • Andy’s Adventures Dinosaur Dig (Alton Towers)
  • Banyan - The Circle of 8 (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Hot Ice (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Monster Jam (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Pirates of Zanzibar (Flamingo Land)
  • Return to Skeleton Bay (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Sea Lion Splash (Pleasurewood Hills)
  • Sooty's Big Top Showtime (Crealy)

Best Adventure Golf

  • Adventure Golf (Adventure Island)
  • Adventure Golf (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Congo Adventure Golf (Brean Theme Park)
  • Extraordinary Golf (Alton Towers)
  • Jurassic Adventure Golf (Lightwater Valley)
  • Jurassic Golf (Pettitts Animal Adventure Park)
  • Jurassic Putt Crazy Golf (ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure)
  • Lava Creek Adventure Golf (Fantasy Island)

Best Theme Park Food presented by Rollover

  • Explorer's Pizza Pasta Buffet (Alton Towers)
  • Loki's Bar (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Rollercoaster Restaurant (Alton Towers)
  • Route 83 Diner (Paultons Park)
  • Safari Pizza & Pasta (Drayton Manor)
  • Smokehouse BBQ & Bar (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • White Tower Restaurant (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Woodcutters Bar & Grill (Alton Towers)

Best Theme Park Hotel presented by Pure Entertainment Group

  • Alton Towers Hotel (Alton Towers)
  • Big Blue Hotel (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Boulevard Hotel (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  • Cbeebies Land Hotel (Alton Towers)
  • Chessington Azteca Hotel (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Chessington Safari Hotel (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • Drayton Manor Hotel (Drayton Manor)
  • LEGOLAND Castle Hotel (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • LEGOLAND Resort Hotel (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Splash Landings Hotel (Alton Towers)

Best Theme Park Music

  • Colossus (Thorpe Park)
  • Galactica (Alton Towers)
  • Haunted House Monster Party (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Hex (Alton Towers)
  • LEGO MYTHICA (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Nemesis Inferno (Thorpe Park)
  • The Curse at Alton Manor (Alton Towers)
  • Tornado Springs (Paultons Park)
  • Vampire (Chessington World of Adventures)
  • World of Jumanji (Chessington World of Adventures)

Best Customer Service presented by Convious

  • Adventure Island
  • Alton Towers
  • BeWILDerwood
  • Blackgang Chine
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Drayton Manor
  • LEGOLAND Windsor
  • Paultons Park
  • ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure
  • Robin Hill
  • Sundown Adventureland
  • Thorpe Park

Best Value Theme Park presented by Rose Events

  • Adventure Island
  • Alton Towers
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Crealy
  • Drayton Manor
  • Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach
  • Gulliver’s Theme Parks
  • Lightwater Valley
  • Paultons Park
  • Pleasurewood Hills
  • ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure
  • The Milky Way Adventure Park

Best Social Media Content presented by Rubber Cheese

  • Adventure Island
  • Alton Towers
  • Blackgang Chine
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Drayton Manor
  • Paultons Park
  • Thorpe Park

Best Marketing Campaign presented by Agility

  • Alton Towers 2023 TV Advert (Alton Towers)
  • Drayton Manor 2023 TV Advert (Drayton Manor)
  • Extinction (Blackgang Chine)
  • LEGO Ferrari Build & Race (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • LEGOLAND 2023 TV Advert (LEGOLAND Windsor)
  • Rebuilding Nemesis (Alton Towers)
  • The Curse at Alton Manor (Alton Towers)
  • World of Jumanji (Chessington World of Adventures)

Content Creator of the Year

  • b3n_f_
  • Chessington Buzz
  • Cupcakes & Coasters
  • Diary of a RollerCoaster Girl
  • DigitalDan
  • Parks and Pints
  • ParkSpill
  • TheJackSilkstone
  • Theme Park Guide
  • Theme Park Worldwide
  • Thrill Nation
  • Thrill Riders
  • Tom & Stace
  • UK Theme Parks
  • Your Experience Guide
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