A promotional road trip visiting dozens of attractions across the UK has concluded following a final stretch in the South West.
The fortnight-long journey was designed to drive engagement for the annual UK Theme Park Awards, while attempting to establish a potential world record.
The tour commenced on 20 July at Crealy Theme Park & Resort in Devon and concluded on 3 August at Woodlands Family Theme Park. Organised by Lawrence Roots, founder of Theme Park Network, the route spanned 2,000 miles and required 56 hours of driving across 15 days. In total, the itinerary covered 37 nominated sites across England, Wales, and the Isle of Wight.
Travelling with a promotional banner to encourage public votes, Roots met with various site managers, operational teams, and park directors along the route. During the middle section of the trip, visits in North Yorkshire and Lancashire included Lightwater Valley to inspect ongoing site redevelopment following its purchase by Mellors Group alongside Annabelle St John, Gemma O’Boyle, and Paul Walker. This was followed by a stop at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort with Lloyd Paterson, Andy Hygate, and Rio Cookson, where Cookson rode the Aviktas attraction.
Subsequent stops in Merseyside and Cheshire involved touring Adventure Coast Southport with George Hedges to view updated themed areas, as well as Gulliver’s World with Craig Clews, Paul Dabbs, and Ross Partridge. The Gulliver’s World visit included a look at the Land of Oz section, the Winged Monkeys ride, and new on-site themed accommodation.
In Staffordshire and Derbyshire, the itinerary included Alton Towers Resort, where Roots met Olivia Rivers, Abby Coupe, Bailey Williams, and Jake Price to review the temporary Minecraft Meet the Mobs activation and historical exhibition. The same day included stops at Gulliver’s Kingdom with Lamara Chappelle and Gulliver’s Valley with Ashley Cook and Dylan Rosenbach.
Further stops across the Midlands included a first visit to Sundown Adventureland with Shaun Malvern, Debora Griffin, Johnny Lyle, and Ashleigh Osinski. Roots also visited Wheelgate Park with Kaden to inspect its water park offerings, and met Samuel Hinch at Twinlakes Park to discuss plans for the upcoming Xtreme Scream Park event. Additional meetings took place at Wicksteed Park with Theme Park Personality of the Year nominee Mia Haggar, Gulliver’s Land with Lee Petchey and Liam Garcia, and Drayton Manor Resort with Ross Ballinger, Morgan Mckenry, Abby Cronje, Ollie Carr, and Finlay Webb.
Concluding the trip
The final legs of the journey covered Wales and South West England. Stops included West Midlands Safari Park with Rochelle Zare and David Powner, and Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo with Stuart Harries, Emma Beynon, and Royston Badham. In Devon and Cornwall, Roots visited The Big Sheep with Tara Stapley, and The Milky Way with Josh Curtis, Andy Glover, and founder Trevor Stanbury MBE. The trip finished at Camel Creek Family Adventure Park with Graham Hayes and Frances Verbeek to view new Bing-themed attractions and Safari Lodges, before visiting Woodlands Family Theme Park with Spiros Spozitos-Tzerams and Louis Chadwick for a preview of an interactive Christmas setup.
Reflecting on the tour, Roots said: “2,000 miles, 56 hours of driving, and 37 theme parks in 15 days, it has been an absolute marathon, but an incredibly rewarding experience.”
He added: “The warm welcome from every theme park team, the creativity on display, and the passion of the staff across the entire road trip has been phenomenal. Taking this tour nationwide has shown just how vibrant the UK theme park industry is, and I want to express my gratitude to everyone who welcomed me along the way.”
Public voting for the UK Theme Park Awards 2026 remains open until Friday, 28 August 2026. Final results are calculated using a 50/50 weighting split between consumer votes and scores from an 11-member industry judging panel. Award winners are scheduled to be announced during a live ceremony at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on 10 September 2026.
