Alton Towers has topped the list for the UK's best theme park, as the national winners are unveiled. 

For the second year, the British public were invited to vote for their favourite theme parks including the best attractions, rides, shows and events. 

More than 170,000 votes were cast and combined for 21 different categories from Best Theme Park for Families, Best Value and Customer Service. 

Organised by Theme Parks-UK, our votes were combined with the scores from expert judges which included Chief Executive of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions, Paul Kelly and Andy Hine MBE who is the Chairman of Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain amongst others.

Bury Times: People enjoy the attractions at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, as England takes another step back towards normality with the further easing of lockdown restrictions. Credit:PAPeople enjoy the attractions at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, as England takes another step back towards normality with the further easing of lockdown restrictions. Credit:PA

Alton Towers picked up a total of 15 awards including for Best Classic and Family Coasters, Best New and Halloween Event and Best Food and Drink and Merchandise.

Other big winners included: Paultons Park in Hampshire which picked up 9 awards and Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire which won 7.

Thorpe Park in Surrey won 5 prizes and LEGOLAND Windsor in Berkshire was also recognised in 5 categories.

 

Who won the UK Theme Park Awards 2021?

Theme Park of the Year

● Gold: Alton Towers

● Silver: Paultons Park

● Bronze: LEGOLAND Windsor

Best New Attraction

● Gold: Storm Chaser (Paultons Park)

● Silver: Flight of the Sky Lion (LEGOLAND Windsor)

● Bronze: Gangsta Granny: The Ride (Alton Towers)

Best Theme Park for Families (Large)

● Gold: Alton Towers

● Silver: Paultons Park

● Bronze: LEGOLAND Windsor

Best Theme Park for Families (Small)

 ● Gold: Gulliver’s Theme Parks

● Silver: Pleasurewood Hills

● Bronze: Fantasy Island

Bury Times: Samurai ride at Thorpe Park when it was stuck in mid-air. Credit:PASamurai ride at Thorpe Park when it was stuck in mid-air. Credit:PA

Best Theme Park for Toddlers, presented by BALPPA

● Gold: Paultons Park

● Silver: Alton Towers

● Bronze: Drayton Manor

Best Theme Park for Thrills

● Gold: Thorpe Park

● Silver: Alton Towers

Bronze: Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Best Classic Coaster

● Gold: Nemesis (Alton Towers)

● Silver: Grand National (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)

● Bronze: The Big One (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)

Best Family Coaster

● Gold: Wicker Man (Alton Towers)

● Silver: Vampire (Chessington World of Adventures)

● Bronze: Flight of the Pterosaur (Paultons Park)

Best Interactive Ride

● Gold: LEGO NINJAGO The Ride (LEGOLAND Windsor)

● Silver: Duel (Alton Towers)

● Bronze: Tomb Blaster (Chessington World of Adventures)

Best Food & Drink

● Gold: Alton Towers

● Silver: Blackpool Pleasure Beach

● Bronze: Paultons Park Best Merchandise

Best Merchandise

● Gold: Alton Towers

● Silver: Blackpool Pleasure Beach

● Bronze: Thorpe Park

Best Live Entertainment

● Gold: Hot Ice (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)

● Silver: Return to Skeleton Bay (LEGOLAND Windsor)

● Bronze: ALIVE! Dinosaur Encounter (Paultons Park)

Best New Event

● Gold: Oktoberfest (Alton Towers)

● Silver: Mardi Gras (Alton Towers)

● Bronze: Oktoberfest (Thorpe Park)

Best Halloween Event

● Gold: Scarefest (Alton Towers)

● Silver: Fright Nights (Thorpe Park)

● Bronze: Xtreme Scream Park (Twinlakes)

Best Animal Experience

● Gold: ZUFARI: Ride into Africa (Chessington World of Adventures)

● Silver: Tiger Rock (Chessington World of Adventures)

● Bronze: Lost River Ride (Flamingo Land)

Best Social Media Engagement

 ● Gold: Alton Towers

● Silver: Thorpe Park

● Bronze: Drayton Manor

Best Customer Service

● Gold: Alton Towers

● Silver: Paultons Park

Bronze: Adventure Island

Best Value

● Gold: Blackpool Pleasure Beach

● Silver: Paultons Park

● Bronze: Drayton Manor

 

For roller coaster fanatics, there were also awards for Blogger, Youtuber and Instagrammer of the year.

 

Blogger of the Year

● Gold: Thrill Nation

● Silver: Theme Park Guide

● Bronze: Cupcakes & Coasters

 

YouTuber of the Year

● Gold: Theme Park Worldwide

● Silver: Pleasure Beach Experience

● Bronze: TheJackSilkstone

 

Instagrammer of the Year

● Gold: Thrill Riders

● Silver: Roller Coaster Rachel

● Bronze: Cupcakes & Coasters

 

How can I buy tickets to these Theme Parks?

We have included links to all the UK's best theme parks below. Happy Thrill seeking!