Full list of iconic UK theme parks that have closed their doors for good

As Britain’s major theme parks grew and evolved, smaller, beloved amusement parks have faced mounting pressure to keep up.

In the race to deliver the most thrilling rides and largest attractions, many of Britain’s modest theme parks have found themselves unable to keep pace with giants like Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, and rising operational costs and dwindling visitor numbers have driven several family favourites out of business.

This month saw the closure of Flambards Theme Park in Helston, Cornwall, which abruptly announced it was closing its doors with immediate effect after ‘exhausting all possible options’ to keep it afloat.

While it is not yet known what will become of the actual site Flambards stood upon for 48 years, it will now find itself joining a growing list of abandoned theme parks scattered throughout the UK.

While some of these sites have been razed for new developments, others stand eerily frozen in time, reclaimed by nature and haunted by the laughter of the past. From teacup rides to 114-year-old carousels, these remnants of Britain’s theme park history linger as poignant relics of a bygone era. 

Take a look at what happens when the last candy floss is eaten, the rides come to a halt, and the parks are left abandoned after the fun fades away.

Pleasure Island, Cleethorpes

First opening to great fanfare in 1993, this East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire park broke hearts when it finally shut down in 2016 after 23 years.

Boasting a host of family attractions across the 54-acre site, Pleasure Island was previously home to Cleethorpes Zoo and the stock car racing stadium. 

The park featured six white knuckle rides including the Boomerang, Pendulus and Alakazam, which were eventually auctioned off in 2018, leaving little behind of the once thriving theme park.

Ocean Beach, Rhyl

This once-thriving Welsh amusement park drew crowds by the thousands in its heyday. In 1954, its popularity prompted a move from Marine Lake to a larger space at the end of the promenade to accommodate the growing number of visitors. 

Among its standout attractions were the Ghost Train, a vintage toy set from the 1930s, and Britain’s first tubular steel rollercoaster.

However, as the years went on, investment in new rides slowed, and in September 2007, Ocean Beach welcomed its last visitors. 

Today, little remains of the beloved amusement park, which has now been replaced by a bustling retail centre.

Camelot, Lancashire

This medieval-themed park was based on King Arthur’s Camelot castle and welcomed thousands of visitors every year at its home in Chorley, Lancashire.

One of the park’s highlights was its iconic 1,000-foot rollercoaster, Knightmare. The park also boasted a log flume, The Twister, three towering water slides, and a massive caterpillar coaster that stretched across the entire grounds.

When Camelot closed in 2012, its expansive 140-acre site began to deteriorate. While several rides found new homes in parks across Europe, others—like the legendary Knightmare—were left behind. 

Now deserted, Camelot has transformed into a curious playground for urban explorers seeking a glimpse of its eerie, forgotten landscape.

Frontierland, Lancashire

Frontierland, another once-beloved Lancashire amusement park, now lies abandoned in Morecambe. 

Operating for nearly a century, the park adopted a Western theme in the 1980s to ride the wave of theme park popularity. Frontierland offered a range of attractions, from the iconic 150-foot Polo Tower, sponsored by Polo Mints, to a skyride, a log flume, and a thrilling runaway mine train.

Yet despite its charm, dwindling visitor numbers ultimately led to the park’s closure in 1999, and most of the rides were either dismantled, sold, or demolished. 

Part of the site has since been redeveloped into a retail area, though plans for a larger shopping and leisure complex remain in limbo despite receiving planning approval years ago.

Blobbyland, Somerset

Inspired by the hit Saturday night TV show Noel’s House Party, Blobbyland opened at Cricket St Thomas in Somerset, bringing the fictional village of Crinkley Bottom to life. 

At the height of ‘Blobbymania,’ fans could immerse themselves in all things Mr. Blobby, exploring attractions themed around the beloved pink, polka-dotted character. The park featured a whimsical railway, an Animals of Farthing Wood area, sea lion shows, a safari ride, and even a deer park with leopards.

At its heart stood Dunblobbin, Mr. Blobby’s iconic house, painted bright pink with yellow spots, a blue roof, and surrounded by a white picket fence with plastic flowers in the windows.

Visitors could also stroll down Blobbyland’s themed high street, home to the Blobby Shop and a ‘TV’s Family Favourites’ attraction. However, attendance waned, and the park ultimately closed in 1998. 

Over the years, thrill-seekers and fans began breaking into the abandoned site, despite efforts to secure it. In 2014, the remnants of Blobbyland were finally demolished, bringing the quirky park to a close.

American Adventure, Derbyshire

Based in Derbyshire, the American Adventure theme park was once home to a thrilling lineup of white-knuckle rides including the iconic rollercoasters The Missile, Twin Looper, and Nightmare Niagara.

But the park struggled to attract visitors, and in 2005 underwent a rebranding to appeal to younger children. The rebrand failed to reverse the park’s ailing fortunes though, and in 2007 it finally closed its doors for good. Many of the rides were sold off, and what remained was left to deteriorate.

Although a petition was launched in an attempt to revive the park, the site has since been demolished. Plans are now underway to redevelop the land, which will be transformed into a new community featuring 307 homes, a hotel, a retirement village, leisure facilities, and offices.

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