New for 2025 Attractions UK Roundup!

First of all a massive apology for the lack of posts from November onwards, I had 2 family losses so took some time out of my reviews over the Christmas period. Here we go, 2025, a brand new year and what does that bring…. Brand new Attractions! Lets have a rundown of what we already know for the UK for 2025:

Ghostly Manor – Paultons Park

Paultons park is working with Mack Rides and Lagotronics PV to build a new interactive dark ride “Ghostly Manor”.  This new style dark ride utilises both physical sets and screens with rotating ride vehicles to have a high capacity in a small space.

“Ghostly Manor will tell the story of Dr. Kinley, an avid ghost hunter out to capture some of the world’s most notorious ghosts and specters.

Whilst out on his adventures to hunt down the illusive Ice Mirror, Dr Kinley has invited guests to explore his mansion home, but things don’t quite go to plan.

Whilst exploring his home, it quickly becomes clear that some of his ghouls and specters have escaped and it’s up to YOU – his guests to hunt them down and contain them using his state of the art “Phantom Phasers”.

Guests must capture ALL of the ghosts loose in the mansion to bring them back to safety, however there is one – Ohjee who will prove particularly hard to capture.

It’s up to you (the riders) to work as a team in order to ensure you bring Ohjee and all of the other ghostly escapees back to safety.

Upon exiting the ride guests will also have chance to review their scores on the score screens at the end of the ride (very similar to Sheriff’s Showdown at Drayton Manor. “

“Toxicator” – Alton Towers Resort

Does anyone remember Ripsaw, located in forbidden valley by Nemesis? Removed in 2015 it was a Huss Top spin, but had unfortunately come to the end of its life span… guess what, its back! Well sort of.

New for 2025 is the Huss suspended topspin model, rather than 2 rows behind in each other, these sit back to back and the new style ride has been built on top of  new concrete pathway!

“Toxicator is a topspin ride that can accommodate more than 500 people per hour. Rides will be seated back-to-back before being flipped round and held face down above a “bubbling pool of highly toxic alien acid”.

Thrill-seeking park guests will be subjected to heart-pounding centrifugal forces from intense spin patterns.

Toxicator will also be breaking a few boundaries, standing at a record-breaking 78ft high (set on a 16ft elevated platform), making it the highest of its kind.

The ride will become the only topspin ride in the world to be elevated above ground level, according to Alton Towers, allowing spectators to watch the entire ride by walking underneath.

It will also be the first of its kind in the UK, and one of only two double-sided versions in Europe.”

Show Stage Beach Replacement – Thorpe Park Resort

Thorpe Park have submitted plans to turn the large side of the “amity Beach” into a new show stage with associated seating and F&B booths. In the application the smaller side of the beach is to remain (however the small side hasn’t been used since before covid). If approved this new stage will act as the entertainments hub for the park, which will be great for any future events and a perfect use of the space without blocking the view from the dome as you enter!

Ice Blast Refurbishment “Launch Pad” – Blackpool Please Beach

Pleasure Beach Resort has been keeping tight-lipped on plans for its iconic Ice Blast ride – until now.

The ride, a 210 foot shot tower which catapults riders skywards at 80mph, has been closed for the 2024 season and fans of the ride have spotted that work has been taking place.

Now, the Blackpool attraction has revealed exactly what it has in store – and it marks the end of Ice Blast as we know it.

New for the 2025 season, the ride is being reimagined and re-themed, and will re-open under the name ‘Launch Pad.’

As well as the new theming and branding, the ride has received a brand new pressure cylinder which will transform the current ride experience, and thrust riders with more force than they’ve experienced in recent years.

Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, said: “Earlier this year we announced that we are focusing on constantly evolving and renewing our ride offering, and confirmed our intention to make some exciting announcements in the future.

“The new era of Launch Pad is only the first, and we’re looking forward to everything the future holds at Pleasure Beach Resort.”

Karl Murphy, director of engineering at Pleasure Beach Resort, added: “A new cylinder might not sound much on paper, but it will make a huge difference in terms of the ride experience. Riders can expect to feel their stomachs drop to the floor with the increased force and experience moments of weightlessness.

“That, coupled with Launch Pad’s re-theming, makes for a very thrilling new era indeed.”

The newly-named Launch Pad first opened in 1997 under the name PlayStation: The Ride, due to its sponsorship with Sony. It was the first tower ride in the UK and was opened by boyband-of-the-moment Boyzone.

The band, fronted by Ronan Keating, were the first riders alongside 94-year-old Doris Thompson, the late grandmother of current CEO, Amanda Thompson. 

The ride was re-named Ice Blast after its sponsorship changed to Tango in 2000, and has operated under that name until now.

Launch Pad is expected to be open for Pleasure Beach Resort’s 2025 season, which starts on Saturday March 2 and is bookable now.

Legoland Windsor  – Deep Sea Adventure Refurbishment

Closed for the whole of 2024, Deep Sea Adventure returns for the 2025 season at Legoland. The Ride System has had a full refurbishment as well as new models being put into the tank. The Ride “soft opened” in December 2024 and we cant wait to see what it looks like come February Half Term “brick days”.

Adventure Island – Return of Time Machine?

Time Machine was closed for all of 2024 at Adventure Island, it is now located next to the “tidal wave “slides with a brand-new colour scheme, hopefully this will be operational as soon as possible but nothing is confirmed by the park as of yet.

Lost River Ride Revamp – Flamingoland Resort – Unconfirmed

Lost River Ride at Flamingoland was another ride to be close for 2024. Their park executive said this:

“We’ve got an exciting development that we started this Winter and, fingers crossed, it’ll be coming later this year. “As it stands, the Lost River ride is gone, it’s missing – but it’s coming back. “It’s getting a refurb and a refresh, and it’s going to have some exciting new additions that we believe will make it one-of-a-kind in the UK. “It will still be a water-based boat journey, but with an exciting storyline and new elements that will be unique.”

So far the drop has been made smaller and a new indoor shed added before the final drop, the rumours are for a brand new “simworx immersive superflume” as it was announced one would come to the UK for the 2025 season, but nothing has been confirmed by the park as of yet.

We cannot wait to see what else the 2025 season brings! Untill next time

Sam