The final week of August is here, bringing the end of the summer holidays ever closer. UK theme parks are beginning to look ahead to the autumn season, with Halloween preparations already getting underway at parks across the country.
There are also several park closures to be aware of this week, while the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme comes to an end.
Great British Summer Savings Ends on 1 September
Families have just one more day to benefit from the Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme.
The temporary VAT reduction on eligible attractions ends on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
The scheme reduced VAT from 20% to 5% on admission tickets to qualifying family attractions, including theme parks and amusement parks, for visits between 25 June and 1 September.
This means 1 September is the final day covered by the temporary VAT reduction.
Alton Towers Closed on Sunday
Alton Towers Resort will be closed on:
- Sunday 6 September 2026
Visitors planning a trip next weekend should take this closure into account when booking their visit.
Drayton Manor Closed Midweek
Drayton Manor will be closed on:
- Wednesday 2 September
- Thursday 3 September
The park is otherwise continuing its main season operations.
Adventure Island Closed for Three Days
Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea will be closed on:
- Wednesday 2 September
- Thursday 3 September
- Friday 4 September
Visitors planning a trip during the first week of September should check the park’s opening dates before travelling.
Theme Parks Begin Preparing for Halloween
As August comes to an end, attention is already turning towards Halloween at UK theme parks.
Major attractions across the country are beginning preparations for their Halloween events, with spooky theming, scare attractions, live entertainment and special events set to return during September and October.
Some parks have already started announcing details for their 2026 Halloween seasons, meaning fans can expect plenty more announcements in the coming weeks.
For Halloween fans, September is when the countdown to the UK’s biggest theme park Halloween events really begins.
More Theme Park Closures This Week and Throughout September
Planning a theme park visit in September?
There are already a number of scheduled closures across UK theme parks, particularly as parks move into quieter autumn operating schedules.
We’ve created a dedicated Theme Park Closures section where you can keep up with the latest park closure dates and ride availability updates.
You can view the latest closures here:
UK Theme Park Spy – Theme Park Closures
It’s worth checking before travelling, particularly if you’re planning a weekday visit during September.
What to Watch This Week
- Great British Summer Savings ends 1 September
- Drayton Manor closed 2–3 September
- Adventure Island closed 2–4 September
- Alton Towers closed 6 September
- UK theme parks begin preparing for their Halloween seasons
- More scheduled September park closures are coming into effect
With summer drawing to a close, the UK theme park calendar is beginning to change. While some parks move into quieter September schedules, Halloween is already becoming the next big attraction on the calendar.
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