New UK Rides and Attractions Coming in 2026

The UK attractions scene continues to evolve, and while 2026 may not yet be packed with confirmed ride openings across every major theme park, there are still some hugely exciting developments on the horizon. From brand-new themed lands and family roller coasters to major park takeovers that could unlock future investment, here’s everything we currently know about new UK rides and attractions for 2026.

We’ll continue to update this page as more announcements are made.

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Kynren – The Storied Lands (County Durham)

One of the most ambitious new visitor attractions in the UK, Kynren – The Storied Lands is a major expansion of the popular live-action Kynren show in Bishop Auckland.

Planned as a large-scale historical theme park experience, The Storied Lands will feature multiple immersive lands inspired by British and global history, mythology and storytelling. Early plans include dramatic set pieces, themed environments and live-action elements that blur the lines between theatre, theme park and historical attraction.

While opening phases will be staggered, this is a development that could redefine large-scale storytelling attractions in the UK and become a major northern tourism draw.

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Lightwater Valley – New Ownership, Future Potential

Lightwater Valley near Ripon has been acquired by Mellors Group, a move that could signal a new chapter for the North Yorkshire theme park.

Mellors Group own a number of major UK attractions, including Fantasy Island theme park in Skegness and Skegness Pier, plus the competitive social venue Urban Playground in Manchester, featuring THE CUBE.

While no new rides or attractions have been officially confirmed for 2026, the change in ownership is significant. Mellors Group has experience in leisure and visitor attractions, and the acquisition has sparked speculation about future redevelopment, investment and potentially new attractions.

It is highly possible that under the Mellors Group ownership, we will see the installation of rides and attractions that cater for all members of the family. Nothing has been confirmed, but it wouldn’t surprise us if one of the first new rides we see installed at the park is the Spinning Racer Roller Coaster manufactured by Maurer, and owned by Mellors Group. The spinning coaster ride made a brief appearance at Fantasy Island in 2021.

For now, this is very much a “watch this space” development, but one that could have long-term implications for the UK theme park landscape.

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Pleasurewood Hills – New Owners, New Opportunities

Pleasurewood Hills has been acquired by Premier Attractions, another ownership change that could lead to renewed investment.

Again, while no specific 2026 rides have been announced, new ownership often brings refreshed strategy, park improvements and, potentially, new attractions. With Pleasurewood Hills already popular with families in East Anglia, future development could help strengthen its position as a regional theme park.

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Valgard – Realm of the Vikings at Paultons Park

Paultons Park’s new Viking-themed land, Valgard: Realm of the Vikings, is set to open on Saturday, May 16, 2026, featuring the new Drakon coaster, the UK’s first Wild Swing, a themed restaurant, and playground, marking the park’s biggest investment yet. The existing Cobra coaster will also be rebranded as Raven to fit the new area.

This immersive Viking-themed area will bring bold storytelling, detailed theming and new attractions to one of the UK’s most popular family theme parks. Paultons Park has a strong track record for high-quality themed lands, and Valgard looks set to follow in the footsteps of Tornado Springs and Lost Kingdom.

🎢 Drakon – Paultons Park’s First Inverting Coaster

Taking centre stage in Valgard is Drakon, a landmark attraction for Paultons Park and the park’s very first rollercoaster to feature inversions. Designed for thrill-seekers, the ride combines a vertical lift hill with multiple upside-down elements, delivering an intense and dynamic experience unlike anything previously seen at the park. Drakon is set to become a standout attraction for older visitors craving bigger thrills.

🌪️ Vild Swing – A UK Ride First

Launching alongside Valgard in 2026, Vild Swing introduces a brand-new ride experience from ART Engineering. This powerful attraction propels riders up to 12 metres high while swinging and rotating through the air, creating a dramatic Viking-inspired sensation. Paultons Park will be the first location in the UK to debut this unique ride concept.

This is a similar ride to Toxicator at Alton Towers, but without the inversions. The fact that Vild swing does not turn riders upside down makes it a lot more family-friendly.

🛷 Raven – A Fresh Take on a Park Favourite

Long-time fans will notice a familiar track with a brand-new identity. The much-loved Cobra rollercoaster is being fully rethemed and reintroduced as Raven, a high-speed bobsled-style adventure woven into Valgard’s Viking storyline, giving a classic attraction a bold new lease of life.

This development also explains why some existing rides elsewhere in the UK have been relocated, making way for Paultons’ continued growth.

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Aviktas at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has confirmed Aviktas, a huge £8.72 million gyro swing ride, opening in 2026.

This towering attraction will feature outward-facing seats and will be the largest ride of its kind in the UK. Designed to deliver high thrills and dramatic views across the park and coastline, Aviktas reinforces Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s commitment to world-class thrill rides.

It’s one of the most significant single ride investments in the UK for 2026.

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Bluey Roller Coaster – Alton Towers (CBeebies Land)

Alton Towers is set to make history with the world’s first Bluey-themed roller coaster, opening in CBeebies Land in 2026.

Designed especially for young children and families, this entry-level roller coaster will bring the hugely popular Bluey TV series to life in a gentle, fun and accessible way. It marks another major investment in CBeebies Land and strengthens Alton Towers’ appeal for families with preschool-aged children.

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PAW Patrol Themed Land – Chessington World of Adventures

One of the biggest UK family attraction announcements in years, Chessington World of Adventures will open the UK’s first and only PAW Patrol-themed land in 2026.

This multi-million-pound investment will cover 1.4 acres and feature:

• Four themed rides, including a “my first roller coaster”
• Interactive play areas
• Character meet-and-greets
• Dedicated food and drink outlets
• A themed retail store

Aimed at children aged two to five, the land will bring Adventure Bay to life with immersive theming focused on teamwork, friendship and everyday heroism. It will become Chessington’s largest preschooler attraction and a major draw for young families.

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Crealy Theme Park – Pirate’s Plummet

Crealy Theme Park in Devon will add Pirate’s Plummet, a new family drop tower ride opening in 2026.

The ride is believed to have been relocated from Paultons Park where it previously operated as Magna. It was removed from the park in 2025 to make way for their Viking-themed expansion. Pirate’s Plummet will offer a thrilling but family-friendly experience and adds another strong attraction to Crealy’s growing ride line-up.

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Flamingo Land – Lost River Ride Reopening

Flamingo Land is set to reopen its Lost River Ride, restoring a popular water attraction to the park.

While not a brand-new ride, its return will be welcome news for families and fans of classic theme park water rides, enhancing the park’s overall attraction mix for the 2026 season.

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Fantasy Island Spinning Mouse XXL

Originally expected to open in 2024, Fantasy Island Spinning Mouse XXL is a ramped up version of the original Ice Mountain spinning mouse coaster with the track being expanded to include two additional drops.

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Attractions Comparison Table – 2026 New UK Rides & Developments

Park / Attraction	New Ride / Land (2026)	Type	Audience	Status
Blackpool Pleasure Beach	Aviktas	Giant Gyro Swing	Thrill Seekers	Confirmed
Paultons Park	Valgard – Realm of the Vikings	Themed Land	Families & Kids	Confirmed
Alton Towers	Bluey Roller Coaster	Family Coaster	Young Kids & Families	Confirmed
Chessington World of Adventures	PAW Patrol Land	Themed Land with Rides	Preschoolers & Families	Confirmed
Crealy Theme Park	Pirate’s Plummet	Family Drop Tower	Families & Kids	Confirmed
Flamingo Land	Lost River Ride (Reopening)	Water Ride Refurb	Families	Confirmed
Lightwater Valley	New Attractions TBD	Future Developments	All Ages	Ownership Change
Pleasurewood Hills	New Attractions TBD	Future Developments	All Ages	Ownership Change
LEGOLAND Windsor	New Entrance Experience	Park Facility	All Ages	Opened 2025

Note: “Confirmed” means officially announced by the park. “Ownership Change” developments signal future potential but no rides are yet confirmed for 2026.

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Looking Further Ahead – Future UK Attractions

Beyond 2026, the future of UK attractions looks incredibly exciting.

Chessington World of Adventures

A wave of exciting changes is on the horizon for Chessington World of Adventures Resort. Among the most notable plans is a major reimagining of the Wild Asia area, which would also incorporate the existing glamping space. The proposal would see the current land replaced with a brand-new, Minecraft-inspired themed area, designed to offer fully immersive family experiences. Guests can expect richly themed environments, interactive play zones, and multi-sensory spaces that encourage exploration and escapism for visitors of all ages.

The centre-piece will be a new rollercoaster with indoor and outdoor elements (again potentially Minecraft themed). Other attractions will include a re-themed and re-positioned Kobra ride, a new indoor ride and an outdoor themed play area. Interactive retail and food and beverage buildings will also be provided.

Woodland Lodges

Approval was secured in late 2018 to develop 34 guest lodges located to the north-west of the Safari Hotel. Construction started in 2021 before being temporarily halted. Merlin Entertainments has since confirmed its intention to finish the project, with the aim of welcoming guests in 2027. The accommodation is expected to be fully themed and closely aligned in style with the Woodland Village lodges recently introduced at LEGOLAND Windsor.

Chessington Waterpark

In 2023, Chessington World of Adventures Resort lodged plans for a major waterpark extension connected to the Safari Hotel. The proposed development would further enhance the resort’s already diverse mix of attractions, which includes the theme park, zoo, SEA LIFE centre, and on-site accommodation. Early concept visuals suggest the layout and facilities could be comparable to those found at Alton Towers Waterpark in Staffordshire.

Waterpark Features and Rides

Plans for the new waterpark point to a range of family-friendly aquatic attractions, including a wave pool, an infinity pool, multiple waterslides, and an outdoor lazy river experience.

Following the model used at Alton Towers Resort, the waterpark is expected to operate year-round. This would help boost hotel stays during off-peak periods when the main theme park is closed. The facility is also anticipated to welcome both overnight guests and day visitors.

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Alton Towers New Indoor Rollercoaster

In February 2023, plans were approved for a new indoor attraction at Alton Towers Resort, since then we had seen no further progress on this proposed new development, but recently the plans were modified, indicating that this development is still likely to go ahead. Based on the information available, this new addition to the park is highly likely to be an enclosed rollercoaster located behind The World of David Walliams.

New Thorpe Park Resort Hotel

Thorpe Park Resort worked with Bournemouth-based Bear Architects on concept designs for a brand-new 100-bedroom hotel. Visuals of the proposed scheme are available on the Bear Architects Official Website. The practice notes that the designs received positive feedback, although the project is currently on pause while it is reviewed alongside the resort’s wider development plans.

Lakeside at Thorpe Park

The hotel concept, titled Lakeside at Thorpe Park, would feature guest rooms with views across the resort’s surrounding lake. If developed, it would represent a notable step up from the existing Thorpe Shark Cabins, providing a more conventional and comfortable hotel-style stay. Beyond improving accommodation standards, the addition of a lakeside hotel could help reposition Thorpe Park as a fully fledged destination resort, with greater scope for expanded facilities and experiences aimed at visitors staying for multiple days.

Planning Your Visit

If you’re organising a trip to Thorpe Park Resort, be sure to take a look at our Thorpe Park Resort discount offers page to help you save on your visit.

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Therme Waterpark Manchester

Work is now underway on a vast new indoor waterpark set to open in Manchester. With an estimated investment of £250 million, the attraction promises far more than just slides, combining swim-up bars, mineral-rich bathing areas, and lush botanical gardens. Once open, it’s expected to challenge for the top spot in our Top 10 UK Waterparks rankings.

Therme Manchester: A Waterpark on a Grand Scale

Designed to be one of the largest facilities of its kind in the UK, the development will include 25 indoor and outdoor pools, over 35 waterslides, and around 30 saunas and steam rooms. The resort-style complex will also be home to more than 1,500 palm trees, along with rooftop beehives and a striking rose-inspired botanical garden spanning 10,000 square metres.

The family-focused zone, known as Galaxy, will bring together waterslides, wave pools, relaxation spaces, and a mix of indoor and outdoor swimming areas. For adults, the Palm area will offer a calmer, spa-style experience, featuring warm lagoons, landscaped gardens, swim-up bars, therapeutic mineral pools, and high-end saunas and steam rooms.

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Universal Studios Great Britain

Perhaps the biggest potential development of all, Universal Studios GB, continues to progress through planning stages. Universal Studios Great Britain will be one of the largest entertainment investments ever made in the UK, transforming the global theme park landscape. Discover more about this proposed new theme park on our page UK Universal Studios – What we know so far.

View more details on the Official Universal UK Project Page.

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Puy Du Fou UK

Puy du Fou UK is set to become one of the most unique and ambitious additions to the UK’s attraction landscape, offering a ride-free immersive history experience rather than traditional rollercoasters or thrill rides. Developed by the award-winning French entertainment company behind hugely popular parks in France and Spain, the proposed £600 million historical park near Bicester in Oxfordshire aims to transport visitors through Britain’s past with four period villages, 13 world-class live shows and themed environments set amid landscaped gardens and woodlands. The plans also include three onsite hotels and a year-round conference centre, with the park operating seasonally from April to October and targeting a 2029 opening if approved.

View more details on the Puy Du Fou UK Consultation Page.

Designed to attract over a million visitors annually and deliver significant regional economic benefits, Puy du Fou UK focuses on storytelling, spectacle and heritage rather than conventional rides, offering families an unforgettable new way to experience history live.

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Final Thoughts

While 2026 may not yet be overflowing with confirmed ride openings, it is shaping up to be a pivotal year for UK attractions. With major family brands entering the market, high-investment thrill rides arriving, and significant ownership changes across multiple parks, the foundations are being laid for an exciting future.

We’ll continue to update this page as more announcements are made.