English theme park reveals new £1.2m renovation with three outdoor playgrounds and fairy museum opening this summer
And other new theme park rides set to open this year
A BRAND new £850k playground is set to open at a UK theme park this year.
Entertaining children during the summer holidays can be difficult, but a new option will be open for Brits by May.
Watermouth Castle in Ilfracombe, Devon is one of the country’s more unique theme parks, with its rides built inside a Grade II listed castle.
It’s also home to a gnome village, Victorian curiosities and landscaped gardens.
Its most popular ride is the the toboggan run, an 820ft downhill toboggan, and the big river ride, a journey through stretches of jungle and woodland in a small boat.
Other rides include a steam carousel, spinning cooking pots and the aviator ride, in which kids feel like they’re flying their own little planes.
Kids can also get lost in the park’s maze, play games like crazy golf or crazy snooker and take in the Water Show Extravaganza in which 1,000 jets of water are synchronised to lights and music.
However, from this summer onwards, it will also be home to three new play areas at the cost of £850k.
The new attractions will replace the park’s popular snail ride track, while a pixie museum will also be set up.
The new play zone will be broken up into three new areas including Hobbledown Bay and a Pixie Village, while other existing play equipment will be refurbished to create The Mining Village.
The theme park was purchased by The Escapade Group in 2023 and the new owners are hoping this project will provide a fresh start for their new acquisition.
They plan on replacing more outdated areas with modern play equipment in the future.
It is all part of a £1.2million investment plan that they have for the theme park.
A huge chunk of that money has been spent on the new play area, which should be open by May this year.
There will also be refurbished apartments to stay in in the park’s castle.
What’s more there are plans for a transformation of the Big River ride, as well as improvements to the crazy golf.
Artists’ impressions show the whimsical looking play area, with ponds and wooden fairy houses.
Meanwhile, the pixie museum invites kids to “discover the enchanting history of Watermouth Castle, unveiling the magic of fairies, pixies, and wonders in Devon”.
Five new water attractions opening in the UK next year
- Therme Manchester will have 25 swimming pools, 25 water slides and an indoor beach.
- Modern Surf Manchester will be a surfing lagoon offering lessons to both beginners and experts.
- Chessington World of Adventures waterpark is set to have wave, infinity and spa pools as well as waterslides and cabanas.
- The Cove Resort, Southport is likely to have a water lagoon and a thermal spa with steam rooms and saunas.
- The Seahive, Deal plans to be the “surfing wellness resort” in the UK.
When the latest plans were approved, a planning officer at North Devon Council told : “The high quality of the proposed play equipment is considered to bring an improvement to the amusement park as a whole and is a welcome addition to attract more visitors to the site and the area benefitting the local economy.”
The theme park’s website says: “Get ready for an enchanting journey like no other as Watermouth Castle prepares to unveil its latest additions: Hobbledown Bay, Pixie Role Play Village and The Mining Village.
“Nestled within the Castle grounds, these magical outdoor play areas promise to ignite children’s imaginations and create unforgettable moments for families.
“With planning permission now granted, the £850k project will breathe new life into the amusement park, replacing outdated areas with bespoke play equipment designed to spark creativity and adventure.”
Watermouth Castle is set to reopen on March 18.
The playgrounds aren’t the only new attraction opening in the UK this year.
Thorpe Park
The Surrey-based theme park Thorpe Park is launching a new American-themed area this year.
Replacing its Angry Birds land, Big Easy Boulevard will be based on New Orleans and has both rides and a 4D cinema.
Drop tower ride Detonator will remain and has been rebranded, along with the dodgems.
Meanwhile, Hyperia, the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the UK, will also open at the same park.
Fantasy Island
The park in Ingoldmells, near Skegness, was home to the Spinning Coaster, a favourite among visitors.
However, this year that ride is due to be ramped up and turned into a “Spinning Mouse XXL”, with the original track set to be expanded to include two extra drops.
Theme park fans are excited about the news, with attraction bloggers labelling it an “interesting project”.
They wrote: “It won’t be just any roller coaster, but a brand new Spinning Mouse XXL.”
Meanwhile, these four new attractions are also due to open this year.
And these water attractions are also set to open too.
