Lawrence Roots, founder of the Theme Park Network platform, has shared his top tips for visiting theme parks after touring 37 UK attractions in just 15 days. His trip was part of preparations for the UK Theme Park Awards ceremony, set to take place in Blackpool next month.
Tour highlights and surprises
Roots, based in Devon, visited all theme parks shortlisted for this year's awards, driving approximately 56 hours over the 15 days. He spent a minimum of two hours at each park, choosing to travel during the summer holidays to assess how parks handle peak visitor numbers.
During the trip, he tried the new £8.72m Aviktas ride at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort, which stands at 88 feet tall and reaches 138 feet at full swing. The park will host the UK Theme Park Awards on September 10, marking its 130th anniversary and 90th anniversary of ice shows.
Awards and favourite rides
The awards, first held in 2020, celebrate the UK's theme park industry through public votes and expert judging. Last year, Paultons Park was named Theme Park of the Year, while Pleasure Beach Resort was named Best Seaside Park in the North.
Although Roots declined to name a favourite park, he revealed his favourite ride is Nemesis Reborn at Alton Towers, praising its integration into the quarry landscape and its mythology. He also visited several parks for the first time, including all four Gulliver's parks, which he said surpassed his expectations, along with smaller attractions like Joyland in Great Yarmouth and Folly Farm in Wales.
Top tips for visitors
Roots advised booking tickets online in advance to save time and money, avoiding the first ride seen (which often has the longest queue), and heading to the back of the park first. He also suggested staying on site, as many parks offer early entry for hotel guests.
Regarding express passes, he noted their value depends on the day, recommending visitors assess queues before purchasing. He also emphasised wearing comfortable shoes, packing suncream and refillable water bottles, and taking advantage of park closing times, as queues often remain open until the stated closing time.
The public has until August 28 to vote for the UK Theme Park Awards 2026, with public votes counting for 50% of the final results.
