The UK theme park season is heating up with major ride openings, extended opening hours and special late-night events happening across the country this week.
Here’s everything happening at UK theme parks this week.
VALGARD: Realm of the Vikings Now Open at Paultons Park
Paultons Park has officially opened its brand-new themed land, VALGARD: Realm of the Vikings.
The highly anticipated new area features:
- Viking-themed attractions
- Immersive theming and scenery
- New family thrill experiences
The opening marks one of the biggest UK theme park expansions of 2026 and is expected to be hugely popular throughout the summer season.
AVIKTAS Officially Opens at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
It’s a huge week at Blackpool Pleasure Beach as the park officially opens its newest attraction, AVIKTAS, on Thursday.
Then on Saturday 23 May, the park hosts the second Twilight Thrills event of the season, with extended opening hours from:
- 10am – 9pm
The late-night event gives guests the chance to experience rides after dark, creating a completely different atmosphere across the park.
VALHALLA Reopens This Week
Also at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the iconic water dark ride Valhalla is scheduled to reopen on:
- 20 May 2026
The legendary attraction remains one of the park’s most famous experiences and its reopening is expected to attract huge crowds.
Thorpe Park Lates Return
Thorpe Park Resort is bringing back extended evening opening hours this weekend.
Thorpe Park Lates takes place on:
- Saturday 23 May
- Sunday 24 May
The park will operate from:
- 10am – 9pm
Guests will be able to experience major rides after sunset, including some of the park’s biggest thrill attractions.
Twilight at the Towers
Alton Towers Resort is also extending its opening hours this week with Twilight at the Towers.
The event takes place on:
- 22 May
- 23 May
- 24 May
Opening hours will be:
- 10am – 8pm
Late rides on attractions like Wicker Man and The Smiler are expected to be highlights.
The park has also confirmed that both:
are scheduled to reopen later in May.
Drayton Manor Closed Midweek
Drayton Manor Resort will be closed on:
- 18 May
- 19 May
- 20 May
- 21 May
The park is expected to reopen ahead of the weekend.
Fantasy Island Closed Early Week
Fantasy Island will be closed on:
- 18 May
- 19 May
Operations are expected to resume later in the week.
What to Watch This Week
- VALGARD: Realm of the Vikings now open at Paultons Park
- AVIKTAS officially opens at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
- Twilight Thrills at Blackpool Pleasure Beach (23 May)
- VALHALLA reopening (20 May)
- Thorpe Park Lates (23–24 May)
- Twilight at the Towers (22–24 May)
- Congo River Rapids and Battle Galleons reopening soon at Alton Towers
- Drayton Manor closed (18–21 May)
- Fantasy Island closed (18–19 May)
With huge ride openings and extended evening events across the UK, this is shaping up to be one of the biggest weeks of the 2026 theme park season so far.
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