Blackpool's Sandcastle Waterpark has been named the best waterpark in the UK at the UK Theme Park Awards. The recognition comes as the park marks its 40th anniversary, having first opened in 1986.
Expansion and renovation
Since opening, Sandcastle Waterpark has grown to feature 18 slides and is now considered the biggest indoor waterpark in the country. The award follows a £500,000 renovation project that modernised the park as part of its anniversary celebrations.
During the project, the park's General Manager, Kyle Woodcock, told the BBC: "This is a landmark year for us, and we wanted to mark our 40th birthday with improvements that our guests will really feel."
Visitor experiences
The park reopened its doors on June 26, welcoming guests once more into its tropical environment, which is always heated to 28C. Visitors have shared their experiences on Tripadvisor, with one recent guest writing: "Had a fun few hours here. Some of the slides are pretty good although the master blaster did keep breaking down."
The same visitor added: "Advice would be to get there early if attending in peak season because by lunchtime it does get busy with longer queues to be expected."
Another guest commented: "Upon arriving, yes, it is fairly overcrowded, however, we were still able to get on most of the rides during the time allocated (I say most only because we had small children, which is expected). The girls loved the slides and felt safe & enjoyed the Caribbean storm treehouse."
A third reviewer wrote: "Really worth a visit. Good slides and variety. Never been before, and a good mix of slides for family and adults. The wave pool is also a good addition; however, a watch point is to get an early entry time, as by 11, it was too busy and crowded."
