SegaWorld London, once touted as the world's largest indoor theme park, closed its doors after just three years of operation. The London landmark, located in the Trocadero, opened in September 1996 as a joint venture between Chorion and Sega. Despite being the first Sega theme park in Europe and spanning 110,000 square feet, it failed to attract enough visitors.
A Promising Start
The park aimed to replicate Sega's Japanese Joypolis, featuring imported arcade games and a futuristic design. Highlights included a rocket escalator, a racing circuit, and a sports floor with over 90 games. However, early complaints about long queues, high admission prices, and lackluster attractions quickly tarnished its reputation.
Financial Struggles
By the end of 1996, admission prices were slashed from £12 to £2, but the park still missed its target of 1.75 million visitors. It operated at a loss of £1 million. In December 1997, entry became free, hoping to generate revenue from individual arcades. Although 4 million visited in 1998, earnings remained minimal.
On September 7, 1999, Sega withdrew from the joint venture. The space was sublet to Family Leisure, which later opened Gravity Max in Stratford in 2024.
