A nationwide tour designed to drum up public participation and industry votes has completed its first leg.
Taking in everything from coastal heritage rides to modern record-breaking rollercoasters, an ambitious journey aims to visit dozens of nominated leisure venues across the country in just over two weeks.
Lawrence Roots, founder of the UK Theme Park Awards, has reached the midpoint of his 15-day road trip. The initiative is aimed at rallying public support for nominated parks and potentially setting a world record. Over the initial seven days, the tour visited 18 theme parks, where park teams and visitors were greeted with a placard encouraging them to vote in this year’s awards.
The route started on 20 July at Crealy Theme Park & Resort in Devon. While there, Roots joined Josh Haywood, Jodie Hodgkins, and Daisy Shirley to test the new Zamperla Rotor ride. The first day concluded at Paultons Park in Hampshire, meeting with Rob Griffiths, Rebecca Gilmour, and Molly Place.
Coastal heritage and major resorts
Day two focused on seaside venues, including Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight with Laura Baxter and Bryony Butcher, Harbour Park with Wes Smart, and Brighton Palace Pier with David Chick.
The third day moved into the home counties and Greater London for a trio of Merlin Entertainments attractions. Visits included LEGOLAND Windsor with Rupert Viney, Thorpe Park to ride the Mack roller coaster Hyperia with Ruth Storey, and Chessington World of Adventures to experience the Jumanji-themed Mandrill Mayhem alongside Amber Phipps, Joshua Riley, and Daniel Whybrow.
Continuing along the coast for days four and five, the tour took in Dreamland Margate with Jack King and Tom Perry of Apollo Rides, before visiting Adventure Island to meet Emma Dodson, Andrew Renton, and Marc Miller. Visits further east included Clacton Pier with Tom Lovelock and Harry Turley, and Pleasurewood Hills to view site improvements with Courtney Baker, Freddy Stokes, Levi Bellis, and Tom Baldry. Roots also rode the 1932 Scenic Railway at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach with Sarah Morris.
Reaching the midpoint
The sixth day brought visits to Joyland to experience historic 1940s rides with Michael Cole and Mikey Cole, and ROARR! to try the new Fossil Falls slide with managing director Charles Adam Goymour. The day wrapped up at Skegness Pleasure Beach with Jimmy Botton and James Botton viewing The Kraken pirate ship. The halfway point was officially reached on day seven, encompassing Fantasy Island with marketers Heidi Watson, Danielle Ashlea Stoakes, and Sean Pickworth, followed by a stop at Flamingo Land Resort to meet Jay Burnley and Stewart Marr.
Reflecting on the tour so far, Roots said: “The first seven days have been an absolute whirlwind, but the welcome from teams at every single park has been extraordinary. From iconic roller coasters to historic seaside rides operating since the 1940s, the diversity and quality of the UK attractions sector is unmatched. I am well on track to hit all 37 parks in 15 days, and I want to extend a massive thank you to all the hard-working park staff who have made the first half of this journey so memorable.”
Voting and final results
The road trip will continue into its second week to visit the remaining 19 nominated parks before concluding in early August. Public voting for the UK Theme Park Awards 2026 remains open until Friday, 28 August 2026. The public vote dictates 50 per cent of the final result, with the remaining 50 per cent decided by a panel of 11 expert industry judges. Winners are scheduled to be announced at a live ceremony hosted by Blackpool Pleasure Beach on 10 September 2026.
To cast your vote, visit the UK Theme Park Awards website.
