AS the year comes to a close, most theme parks in the UK have shut up shop for the winter season.
But the good news is that come 2024 some of the UK’s biggest parks are planning to come back with a vengeance.
From Alton Towers to Legoland, here are the big rides and rollercoasters set to hit theme parks up and down the country in the year ahead.
Hyperia, Thorpe Park
The Surrey-based theme park is opening what it says will be the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the UK when it opens next year.
Unveiled as Hyperia in mid-October, the coaster is expected to be ready sometime in early 2024 - although it’s not been confirmed when exactly this will be.
Alton Towers conference centre evacuated as worker reports 'unusual smell'
At 236ft tall, the hypercoaster, built by Mack Rides, will swipe the crown of the UK’s tallest rollercoaster from Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s The Big One, which stands just one foot shorter at 235ft tall.
It’s also set to smash speed records when it opens to the public, reaching a velocity of 81mph.
That’s just 1mph faster than the park’s Stealth ride, which currently holds the title of the fastest rollercoaster in the UK.
If you can’t wait until 2024 to find out what it’s like to ride Hyperia, Thorpe Park has released a point-of-view video featuring a detailed look at the hair-raising ride’s layout and its elements.
Nemesis rebuild, Alton Towers
Alton Towers’ much-loved inverted roller coaster, Nemesis, will be reopening to the public for the start of the 2024 season after a major refurb, including an entire track replacement and a new lick of paint ahead of its 30th anniversary.
The iconic ride has been closed for refurbishments since November 2022, but new photos show that the project is well on its way to completion.
Pictures from fan community sites have revealed a whole new look for the track, which is now black, with a blood-red motif painted down the side, continuing the ride's theme of "an alien creature excavated from the ground".
The new track will also be filled with sand, which will reduce noise levels coming from the ride.
Last year, the ride's designer John Wardley told Sun Online Travel that when it reopens, Nemesis would be "essentially the same Nemesis that everybody loves, but even better".
Minifigure Speedway, Legoland
Work is well underway on a brand new ride at Legoland, which is set to open 2024.
Alton Towers hotel stay from £42pp with waterpark & brekkie- but there's a catch
The Minifigure Speedway will be the world’s first LEGO themed duelling rollercoaster.
Passengers will go both forwards and backwards, as well as race between between the Team Legends and Allstars, led by a Minifigure captain.
Earlier this year, images emerged of construction starting on the ride, which will be built where the former Raft Racers ride was before it closed in 2022.
Shockwave, Drayton Manor
Staffordshire’s second-favourite theme park, Drayton Manor, will be converting the current Shockwave rollercoaster into a new "family thrill coaster" in 2024.
The park’s managing director, Victoria Lynn, said that it would be a departure from the resort’s focus on attractions for children, and could even be seen as one of the best rides in the country.
Speaking earlier this year, she said that the park wanted to cater for more than just younger children.
The fresh coaster will appear where the old Apocalypse ride used to sit.
"Drop tower ride," Adventure Island
Southend's Adventure Island has revealed plans for new ride opening next year.
The un-named attraction hasn't revealed an official opening date for 2024.
However, they said on the website: "Watch this space for our own new 38 metre tower ride.
"Brand new for 2024! We are welcoming a brand new attraction next year for all our thrill-seeking guests… a HUGE DROP TOWER."
