The search to find the leading visitor attractions across the United Kingdom is officially underway.
A nationwide promotional tour has just begun in Devon, aiming to highlight the best the leisure industry has to offer while rallying the public to cast their votes.
The campaign for the UK Theme Park Awards 2026 started at Crealy Theme Park & Resort on 20 July. Lawrence Roots, founder of the Theme Park Network, began the promotional effort equipped with a large placard featuring a direct scan QR code for public voting.
Roots and his team are undertaking a comprehensive cross-country road trip to draw attention to this year’s nominees. The ambition is to visit 37 nominated theme parks in a span of just 15 days. If successful, this itinerary will set a world record for the most theme parks visited in just over two weeks.
The tour itinerary includes major industry players such as Paultons Park, which won the Theme Park of the Year title last year, alongside Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, LEGOLAND Windsor, Drayton Manor, and Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The team will also visit 30 regional theme parks during the journey.
Reflecting on the start of the trip, Roots said, “It was fabulous to kick off the tour at Crealy, and I would like to thank their staff for such a warm welcome. It was amazing to get to help test their new ride Rotor ahead of its opening later in July. Rotor and Pirates’ Plummet are both up for the Best New Attraction award.”
Celebrating industry achievements
Now entering its seventh year, the awards programme is organised by independent consumer website Theme Parks UK. The initiative was created to recognise operational excellence and consumer appeal across the sector, highlighting everything from rollercoasters to customer service and seasonal events.
Speaking about the broader leisure sector, Roots said, “The UK is home to some of the most creative, thrilling, and family-friendly attractions in the world. Over the next few weeks, we want to put a spotlight on the incredible hard work of staff across all nominated parks and make it easier than ever for the public to support their favourites.”
The final results for the 2026 cycle are determined by a 50/50 split. This combines the ongoing public vote with scores provided by a panel of 11 expert judges.
The judging panel features established names from across the attractions industry, including Andy Hine MBE from the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, Chris Belvin-Bailey of Attraction Source, and Dawn Foote, President of the Themed Entertainment Association EME. Additional industry expertise is provided by John Fosbrooke from InterPark, Owen Ralph of Words and Attractions, and Paul Kelly from the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions. Also on the panel are Scott Bickerton, Shawn and Charlotte Sanbrooke, and Sue Macmillan.
The public voting window remains open until Friday, 28 August 2026. Enthusiasts and industry professionals can cast their votes at ukthemeparkawards.com. The ultimate winners will be announced during a live awards ceremony on 10 September 2026, which will be hosted at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach.
The wider awards programme is further supported by attraction specialists including theme park ticket vendor AttractionTickets.com, and entertainment firm TAG Live. To vote, visit the UK Theme Park Awards website.
