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UK theme park news, reviews, and features since 2010.
Merlin Entertainments has replaced the Discovery and Silver versions of its annual passes in the UK.
A new ‘Essential’ pass was launched on Wednesday, and is loosely equivalent to the former ‘Standard’ pass.
riderater.co.uk/12706/merlin...
A new ‘Essential’ pass was launched on Wednesday, and is loosely equivalent to the former ‘Standard’ pass.
riderater.co.uk/12706/merlin...
Merlin Annual Pass: ‘Essential’ version launched | RideRater
Merlin Entertainments has replaced the Discovery and Silver versions of its annual passes in the UK. An 'Essential' pass has now been launched.
riderater.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Merlin Entertainments has replaced the Discovery and Silver versions of its annual passes in the UK.
A new ‘Essential’ pass was launched on Wednesday, and is loosely equivalent to the former ‘Standard’ pass.
riderater.co.uk/12706/merlin...
A new ‘Essential’ pass was launched on Wednesday, and is loosely equivalent to the former ‘Standard’ pass.
riderater.co.uk/12706/merlin...
FEATURE: The perfect storm battering UK theme parks riderater.co.uk/12680/the-pe...
September 18, 2025 at 8:36 PM
FEATURE: The perfect storm battering UK theme parks riderater.co.uk/12680/the-pe...
While the ride duration is as short as you’d expect at a major theme park, Toxicator packs one hell of a punch, and is worthy of its role as Alton Towers’ first major flat ride addition for 13 years. riderater.co.uk/12658/review...
Review: Toxicator, Alton Towers | RideRater
We review the Toxicator ride at Alton Towers, which is a replacement for Ripsaw after almost a decade.
riderater.co.uk
September 6, 2025 at 10:40 AM
While the ride duration is as short as you’d expect at a major theme park, Toxicator packs one hell of a punch, and is worthy of its role as Alton Towers’ first major flat ride addition for 13 years. riderater.co.uk/12658/review...
Merlin Entertainments spending ‘unsustainable’ riderater.co.uk/12647/merlin...
Merlin Entertainments spending ‘unsustainable’ | RideRater
Merlin Entertainments has had its credit rating downgraded due to high cash use, S&P Global Ratings have said; also describing investment as unsustainable.
riderater.co.uk
August 21, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Merlin Entertainments spending ‘unsustainable’ riderater.co.uk/12647/merlin...
Merlin Entertainments has paused the sale of several of its Sea Life Centre attractions, after no acceptable offers were received. riderater.co.uk/12642/merlin...
Merlin Entertainments halts Sea Life Centre sale | RideRater
Merlin Entertainments has paused the sale of several of its Sea Life Centre attractions, after no acceptable offers were received.
riderater.co.uk
August 16, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Merlin Entertainments has paused the sale of several of its Sea Life Centre attractions, after no acceptable offers were received. riderater.co.uk/12642/merlin...
Alton Towers' Rita rollercoaster remains closed for “essential maintenance” more than six weeks after it last operated. riderater.co.uk/12616/alton-...
Alton Towers: Rita closure enters seventh week | RideRater
Alton Towers' Rita rollercoaster remains closed for "essential maintenance" more than six weeks after it last operated. It last opened on 3 June 2025.
riderater.co.uk
July 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Alton Towers' Rita rollercoaster remains closed for “essential maintenance” more than six weeks after it last operated. riderater.co.uk/12616/alton-...
Alton Towers chief Bianca Sammut has announced that she will leave the theme park later this year. riderater.co.uk/12593/alton-...
Alton Towers boss Sammut to leave park | RideRater
Alton Towers chief Bianca Sammut has announced that she will leave the theme park later this year. She well leave at the end of September 2025.
riderater.co.uk
July 15, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Alton Towers chief Bianca Sammut has announced that she will leave the theme park later this year. riderater.co.uk/12593/alton-...
Merlin Entertainments chief executive Fiona Eastwood has called for any "special treatment" given to a new Universal theme park to be shared across the industry. riderater.co.uk/12588/merlin...
Merlin CEO calls for shared ‘special treatment’ | RideRater
Merlin Entertainments chief executive Fiona Eastwood has called for any "special treatment" given to a new Universal theme park to be shared across the industry.
riderater.co.uk
July 6, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Merlin Entertainments chief executive Fiona Eastwood has called for any "special treatment" given to a new Universal theme park to be shared across the industry. riderater.co.uk/12588/merlin...
The UK government will decide on the application by 31 August this year. riderater.co.uk/12575/univer...
Universal UK: 377ft rollercoaster could be built | RideRater
Planning documents for the proposed Universal theme park near Bedford state that a ride 377 feet tall could be built. The park could open in 2031.
riderater.co.uk
July 5, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The UK government will decide on the application by 31 August this year. riderater.co.uk/12575/univer...
Merlin Entertainments reported pre-tax losses of £492 million for 2024, in figures released on Thursday. riderater.co.uk/12566/merlin...
Merlin Entertainments reports £492m loss | RideRater
Merlin Entertainments reported pre-tax losses of £492 million for 2024, in figures released on Thursday. The figure has more than doubled since 2023.
riderater.co.uk
June 29, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Merlin Entertainments reported pre-tax losses of £492 million for 2024, in figures released on Thursday. riderater.co.uk/12566/merlin...
Priced at £250 per person, the tour of the 2000-built Intamin dark ride appeared to have sold out by about 10:40 on Monday's launch. riderater.co.uk/12549/valhal...
Valhalla behind the scenes tour offered for £250 | RideRater
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is offering a behind the scenes tour of the Valhalla water ride this July. It will cost £250 per person.
riderater.co.uk
May 26, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Priced at £250 per person, the tour of the 2000-built Intamin dark ride appeared to have sold out by about 10:40 on Monday's launch. riderater.co.uk/12549/valhal...
A new collection of vintage fairground rides has opened as the new National Fairground Museum in Tamworth. riderater.co.uk/12543/nation...
National Fairground Museum opens in Tamworth | RideRater
A new collection of vintage fairground rides has opened as the new National Fairground Museum in Tamworth. Admission costs £5, which includes three ride tokens.
riderater.co.uk
May 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
A new collection of vintage fairground rides has opened as the new National Fairground Museum in Tamworth. riderater.co.uk/12543/nation...
Private equity backer Epiris is expected to table an offer for several of Merlin Entertainments’ UK Sea Life Centres. riderater.co.uk/12539/sea-li...
Sea Life Centres: Takeover offer expected soon | RideRater
Private equity backer Epiris is expected to table an offer for several of Merlin Entertainments' UK Sea Life Centres.
riderater.co.uk
May 23, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Private equity backer Epiris is expected to table an offer for several of Merlin Entertainments’ UK Sea Life Centres. riderater.co.uk/12539/sea-li...
Blackpool Pleasure Beach has confirmed that the name of its new Intamin Gyro Swing ride will be called Aviktas. riderater.co.uk/12533/avikta...
Aviktas: 2026 Pleasure Beach ride name confirmed | RideRater
Blackpool Pleasure Beach has confirmed that the name of its new Intamin Gyro Swing ride will be called Aviktas. It will open in 2026.
riderater.co.uk
May 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Blackpool Pleasure Beach has confirmed that the name of its new Intamin Gyro Swing ride will be called Aviktas. riderater.co.uk/12533/avikta...
An anonymous individual is leading an effort to take over the closed Oakwood theme park in South Wales. The attraction’s closure was announced by owners Aspro Parks in March this year.
riderater.co.uk/12525/oakwoo...
riderater.co.uk/12525/oakwoo...
Oakwood: Effort underway to reopen theme park | RideRater
An anonymous individual is leading an effort to take over the closed Oakwood theme park in South Wales. The park closed in March 2025.
riderater.co.uk
May 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
An anonymous individual is leading an effort to take over the closed Oakwood theme park in South Wales. The attraction’s closure was announced by owners Aspro Parks in March this year.
riderater.co.uk/12525/oakwoo...
riderater.co.uk/12525/oakwoo...
Paultons Park will open its first inverting rollercoaster as part of a new Viking-themed area in 2026. riderater.co.uk/12505/paulto...
Paultons Park to add inverting rollercoaster | RideRater
Paultons Park will open its first inverting rollercoaster as part of a new Viking-themed area in 2026. It will be a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter.
riderater.co.uk
May 17, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Paultons Park will open its first inverting rollercoaster as part of a new Viking-themed area in 2026. riderater.co.uk/12505/paulto...
28 years on from being launched as Sony PlayStation: The Ride, Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s shot tower is back with a modest bang.
Review: Launch Pad, Blackpool Pleasure Beach | RideRater
We review Launch Pad, the rebranded launch tower ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. It is a refurbished version of the former Ice Blast and PlayStation ride.
riderater.co.uk
May 10, 2025 at 7:20 PM
28 years on from being launched as Sony PlayStation: The Ride, Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s shot tower is back with a modest bang.
In a considerable shift from the Woodcutters offering, some items on the menu combine both sweet and savoury items within the same dish.
Oak in Chains, Alton Towers: Menu and prices | RideRater
Alton Towers has rebranded the Woodcutters restaurant to the Oak in Chains bar & grill for the 2025 season. We take a look at the menu and prices in effect on opening day.
riderater.co.uk
March 17, 2025 at 7:05 PM
In a considerable shift from the Woodcutters offering, some items on the menu combine both sweet and savoury items within the same dish.
