Experience UK was thrilled to attend the UK Theme Park Awards 2022, and witness the very best of UK rides, attractions and shows being crowned with various accolades – including the flagship award, Theme Park of the Year.
The third theme park awards
was extra special as it was the first edition to be delivered in person. More than 200,000 votes from members of the public were cast, and were combined with the scores of the Expert Judging Panel, made up of the biggest names in the UK theme park sector.
Those who came up on top include Alton Towers, who took home Theme Park of the Year. Whilst Sik at Flamingo Land landed the Best New Attraction, and Drayton Manor was awarded Best Value Theme Park.
The 2022 edition featured 22 categories. Alton Towers scooped 11 awards, whilst Drayton Manor relished in six accolades. Of the 30 theme parks to receive nominations, 18 won awards.
The full list of winners can be viewed below:
Best New Attraction presented by Convious
- GOLD: Sik (Flamingo Land)
- SILVER: Vikings (Drayton Manor)
- BRONZE: Sooty Land (Crealy)
Best Theme Park for Families (Large) presented by Vennersys
- GOLD: Alton Towers
- SILVER: Chessington World of Adventures
- BRONZE: Paultons Park
Best Theme Park for Families (Small) presented by BoldMove Nation
- GOLD: Gulliver’s Theme Parks
- SILVER: Adventure Island
- BRONZE: Crealy
Best Theme Park for Toddlers presented by BALPPA
- GOLD: Paultons Park
- SILVER: LEGOLAND Windsor
- BRONZE: Alton Towers
Thorpe Park wins Best Theme Park for Thrills
Best Theme Park for Thrills presented by Guinness World Records
- GOLD: Thorpe Park
- SILVER: Alton Towers
- BRONZE: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Best Seaside Park presented by Semnox
- GOLD: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
- SILVER: Fantasy Island
- BRONZE: Adventure Island
Best Mascot
- GOLD: Ollie the Dragon (LEGOLAND Windsor)
- SILVER: Rory the Lion (Drayton Manor)
- BRONZE: Woody Bear (Pleasurewood Hills)
Best Steel Coaster presented by the European Coaster Club
- GOLD: Nemesis (Alton Towers)
- SILVER: ICON (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
- BRONZE: The Swarm (Thorpe Park)
Alton Towers’ Wicker Man scooped gold for Best Wooden Coaster
Best Wooden Coaster presented by the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain
- GOLD: Wicker Man (Alton Towers)
- SILVER: Grand National (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
- BRONZE: Megafobia (Oakwood Theme Park)
Best Live Entertainment presented by TAG Live
- GOLD: Hot Ice (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
- SILVER: Return to Skeleton Bay (LEGOLAND Windsor)
- BRONZE: The Sooty Show (Crealy)
LEGOLAND Windsor wins Best Play Experience for DUPLO Valley
Best Play Experience presented by Be.EV
- GOLD: DUPLO Valley (LEGOLAND Windsor)
- SILVER: Hey Duggee’s Big Adventure Badge (Alton Towers)
- BRONZE: Angry Birds Activity Park (Sundown Adventureland)
Best Dark Ride presented by Katapult
- GOLD: Wallace & Gromit’s Thrill-O-Matic (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
- SILVER: Flight of the Sky Lion (LEGOLAND Windsor)
- BRONZE: The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure (Chessington World of Adventures)
Best Historic Ride presented by Rubber Cheese
- GOLD: Water Chute (Wicksteed Park)
- SILVER: Ghost Train (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
- BRONZE: Snails (Joyland)
Thorpe Park’s Fright Nights struck gold for Best Halloween Event
Best Halloween Event presented by The Business Creative
- GOLD: Fright Nights (Thorpe Park)
- SILVER: Scarefest (Alton Towers)
- BRONZE: Xtreme Scream Park (Twinlakes)
Best Christmas Event presented by Blachere Illumination
- GOLD: Lightopia (Alton Towers)
- SILVER: LEGOLAND at Christmas (LEGOLAND Windsor)
- BRONZE: Magical Christmas (Drayton Manor)
Drayton Manor took home Best Value
Best Value presented by Rollover
- GOLD: Drayton Manor
- SILVER: Gulliver’s Theme Parks
- BRONZE: Adventure Island
Best Customer Service presented by Attractions.io
- GOLD: Alton Towers
- SILVER: Paultons Park
- BRONZE: Thorpe Park
Best Social Media Engagement presented by Convious
- GOLD: Alton Towers
- SILVER: Drayton Manor
- BRONZE: Thorpe Park
Blogger of the Year
- GOLD: Theme Park Guide
- SILVER: Cupcakes & Coasters
- BRONZE: Thrill Nation
YouTuber of the Year
- GOLD: Theme Park Worldwide
- SILVER: TheJackSilkstone
- BRONZE: DigitalDan
Instagrammer of the Year
- GOLD: Thrill Riders
- SILVER: Roller Coaster Rachel
- BRONZE: Cupcakes & Coasters
Theme Park of the Year presented by ADIPS
- GOLD: Alton Towers
- SILVER: Paultons Park
- BRONZE: Drayton Manor
The award ceremony was held at Drayton Manor on September 22, by ThemeParks-UK.com, in association with AttractionTickets.com. Congratulations to all the worthy winners!
Watch the full UK Theme Park Awards here
Elsewhere, Merlin Entertainments to take over operations of Sandcastle Waterpark.
