Thorpe Park in Surrey leads the UK Theme Park Awards nominations with 13 nominations, including its record-breaking new rollercoaster Hyperia vying for Best New Attraction.

The list of nominees was released today (8 July) for the prestigious awards. Thorpe Park in Chertsey has been nominated in 13 out of the 22 categories, making it one of this year's major contenders, alongside Alton Towers, Drayton Manor and neighbouring Chessington World of Adventures.

Thorpe Park’s new ride, Hyperia, which opened in May this year, is among the nominees for Best New Attraction. Described by Thorpe Park as “the UK’s tallest, fastest and most weightless rollercoaster,” with speeds exceeding 80mph, the rollercoaster has attracted visitors from all over the country, with three hour queues to ride Hyperia.

Although extremely popular, the new rollercoaster has not been without its issues, closing for two-and-a-half-weeks just after its grand opening on May 24th 2024. Since reopening, passengers have been stuck 236ft high for an hour, and it was also closed on June 19 due to ‘unforeseen circumstances.".

Nevertheless, the UK record-breaking rollercoaster stands in good stead for winning the Best New Attraction award, as this new attraction has worked to advance the UK’s Theme Park scene for thrill-seekers.

Nominees alongside Hyperia for Best New Attraction include: Minifigure Speedway at LEGOLAND Windsor, Gold Rush at Drayton Manor, Splash Lagoon at Paultons Park and Ghost Ship at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach.

A model dinosaur bursts through a metal barrier on a mocked up tower at a theme park
Splash Lagoon at Paultons Park was also nominated

Hyperia is not the only Thorpe Park ride to be nominated in a category, with The Walking Dead: The Ride being nominated for Best Ride Storytelling. Thorpe Park’s site of Big Easy Boulevard has also been nominated, in the category of Best Reimagined Attraction.

The awards are organised by ThemeParks-UK.com , a website that has provided an independent guide to the UK’s theme parks for 24 years. In total 28,652 nominations were received, with 38 UK theme parks nominated for awards. The awards are presented in association with AttractionTickets.com . Some of the categories this year include Theme Park of the Year, Best Value, Best Customer Service and Best Sustainability Initiative.

In advance of the public vote, the shortlist was compiled using public nominations with the help of a panel of judges, including Andy Hine MBE (Chairman - Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain) and Paul Kelly (Chief Executive of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions).

For the fifth year, the British public will be able to vote for their favourite theme parks. The vote opens July 22 at ukthemeparkawards.com .

Nominees

Theme Park of the Year presented by ADIPS

  • Alton Towers

  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach

  • Chessington World of Adventures

  • Drayton Manor

  • Fantasy Island

  • Gulliver’s Theme Parks

  • LEGOLAND Windsor

  • Paultons Park

  • Thorpe Park

  • West Midlands Safari Park

Best New Attraction presented by LEAPS

  • Ghost Ship (Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach)

  • Gold Rush (Drayton Manor)

  • Hyperia (Thorpe Park)

  • Jeep Safari (Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park)

  • Jolly Jockeys (Wicksteed Park)

  • Jungle Jeeps (West Midlands Safari Park)

  • Minifigure Speedway (LEGOLAND Windsor)

  • Space (Ocean Beach Pleasure Park)

  • Splash Lagoon (Paultons Park)

  • Vertigo (Adventure Island)