With May half-term now just two weeks away, many families across the UK are searching for exciting ways to keep the kids entertained — and a trip to a theme park remains one of the nation’s favourite family days out.
New research has revealed the UK’s best theme parks for 2026, ranking the top destinations for families based on factors including ticket prices, number of rides, food outlets, online popularity, and visitor reviews.
The study, carried out by Outdoor Toys, analysed child admission prices, TripAdvisor ratings, annual Google searches, and on-site attractions to determine which parks offer the best all-round experience for children and parents alike.
The UK’s Top 10 Theme Parks for 2026
| Rank | Theme Park | Child Ticket Price | Rides | Food Outlets | TripAdvisor Rating | Excellent Reviews | Annual Google Searches | Score /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paultons Park | £46.75 | 38 | 12 | 4.5 | 71% | 1,724,500 | 6.85 |
| 2 | Blackpool Pleasure Beach | £33.00 | 32 | 14 | 4.0 | 48% | 2,137,000 | 6.48 |
| 2 | Drayton Manor Resort | £29.50 | 47 | 10 | 3.9 | 45% | 1,980,500 | 6.48 |
| 4 | Alton Towers Resort | £39.00 | 40 | 12 | 3.8 | 40% | 7,023,000 | 6.11 |
| 5 | Woodlands Family Theme Park | £23.81 | 50 | 5 | 3.9 | 46% | 397,200 | 5.84 |
| 6 | Sundown Adventureland | £25.95 | 29 | 8 | 4.4 | 63% | 664,200 | 5.74 |
| 7 | Thorpe Park | £39.00 | 25 | 19 | 3.7 | 40% | 6,369,000 | 5.28 |
| 8 | The Web Adventure Park | £12.95 | 12 | 1 | 4.5 | 70% | 284,300 | 5.18 |
| 9 | Camel Creek Family Adventure Park | £22.50 | 31 | 5 | 4.0 | 50% | 115,300 | 5.09 |
| 9 | Fantasy Island | £22.50 | 36 | 9 | 3.8 | 40% | 250,200 | 5.09 |
Paultons Park Named the UK’s Best Theme Park for Families
Taking the number one spot for 2026 is Paultons Park, scoring an impressive 6.85 out of 10 overall.
The Hampshire attraction continues to be a major hit with families thanks to its strong mix of rides, family-friendly facilities, and excellent visitor feedback. The park boasts 38 rides and 12 food outlets, while 71% of TripAdvisor reviews rate the experience as “excellent” — the highest percentage in the top five.
Although it also has the highest child ticket price in the ranking at £46.75, the popularity of the park remains undeniable, attracting more than 1.7 million Google searches each year.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Drayton Manor Share Second Place
Jointly securing second place are Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Drayton Manor Resort, both scoring 6.48 out of 10.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach remains one of the UK’s most iconic seaside attractions, featuring 32 rides and 14 food outlets. It also ranks among the country’s most searched-for parks online, generating more than 2.1 million annual Google searches.
Meanwhile, Drayton Manor stands out for offering excellent value for families, with lower child admission prices and one of the highest ride counts in the study at 47 attractions. The Staffordshire park continues to attract huge interest from parents planning family days out, with close to 2 million annual Google searches.
Alton Towers Continues to Dominate Online Interest
Coming in fourth place is Alton Towers Resort, which scored 6.11 out of 10 overall.
Home to some of the UK’s best-known roller coasters, the resort remains Britain’s most searched-for theme park, attracting more than 7 million Google searches annually. With 40 rides and a large resort offering, Alton Towers continues to be a go-to destination for thrill-seeking families and teenagers alike.
Additional Findings from the Study
The research also uncovered several standout findings across UK theme parks:
- Playland Fun Park is the only park in the study offering free entry for children.
- Woodlands Family Theme Park has the highest number of rides overall, with 50 attractions.
- Thorpe Park offers the widest range of food choices, with 19 outlets available across the park.
