Blackpool

THERE’S lots of exciting things happening in 2027 across England, with plenty to interest all ages.

From the opening of the world’s first Minecraft land to a beautiful resort in Oxfordshire and the reopening of a funicular cliff lift in Kent – these spots should be on your radar.

Chessington, Surrey

If you’re a fan of the Minecraft video game, head to Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey for the opening of an immersive new land.

Minecraft World will cost £50million and will also have the first ever Minecraft coaster.

There will be other interactive features too like “epic block built playscapes” along with themed food and drink stores and a gift shop.”

It’s easy to make a day of it too by checking out the other 40 rides and attractions at the theme park.

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Paultons Park, Hampshire

Over at Paultons Park in Hampshire, the theme park will be opening its very first water coaster.

Called Serpent’s Curse, it will be an exciting new addition Valgard: Realm of the Vikings and it will be one of the biggest rides ever built in the theme park.

The watercoaster will be 471-metres long, with top speeds of 44mph and will open next spring.

For ride enthusiasts the details say that it will have ‘a lift hill, fast-flowing twists and curves, and a dramatic plunge into a final splashdown.’

The exact date of the opening of the ride is yet to be confirmed.

Blackpool, Lancashire

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is known for having it all, and it’s about to reopen a much- loved attraction, the River Caves.

The classic water ride first opened in 1905 before closing in 2024 due to technical complications – it will reopen next year after a period of “reimagination”.

It’s one of the oldest operating dark rides in the world and takes visitors through Ancient Egypt and lost jungles past dinosaurs and temples on a boat.

Amanda Jean Thompson OBE, the managing director of Pleasure Beach Resort teased some details, she said: “What I can tell you is what will remain – the Egyptian scene will remain but it and the Angkor Wat scene, which is so integral to Aviktas will remain, but rethemed and redone.”

She added: “I think the Blue Grotto may stay because I particularly like that area. The rest will be new and remains top secret for now, because I keep changing my mind.”

For anyone heading to Blackpool, another must-do is head to Sandcastle Waterpark which was recently voted the best waterpark in the country.

It’s kept at a toasty 29C and has more than 18 waterslides and attractions including a spa.

Don’t forget to pop into the seafront Wetherspoons either – called Velvet Coaster, it sits right on the front with views across the pleasure beach.

It’s across three floors, there’s a beer garden on the ground floor, a balcony on the first floor, and a roof garden on the pub’s highest level.

Morecambe, Lancashire

Work has officially started on the £100 million Eden Project in Morecambe and the majority will open in 2028.

But part of it will actually open next year – and it will be completely free to enter.

Called the Bring Me Sunshine Garden, it will have tall Austrian pine trees, grasses, a natural flower meadow as well as a solar-powered, shell-shaped outdoor pavilion and classroom that harvests rainwater.

The garden was shown off at the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show and will open as a permanent part of the Eden Project in Morecambe in spring 2027.

The rest of the Eden Project Morecambe is scheduled to fully open in winter 2028.

There’s plenty to see in Morecambe like the Happy Mount Park, the Eric Morecambe Statue and The Smugglers Den pub all rated highly on TripAdvisor.

Folkestone, Kent

If you love the Kent coast, Folkestone might be the seaside town to visit next year as its funicular lift is set to open after being closed for 10 years.

Folkestone’s Leas Lift first opened in 1885 and was forced to close back in 2017.

But a long campaign has finally seen restoration works start – and it’s set to reopen in 2027.

The £6.6million works will restore the main systems, which connect the top of the cliff to the beach.

The cafe is also being restored, along with the waiting room and addition of an outdoor terrace.

It remains one of the oldest in the UK, and one of just three of its kind left, being a water-balance funicular.

Along with its beach, the town has its own art trail, including a 2014 Banksy, as well as the Antony Gormley cast iron statues and ‘Folkestone Mermaid,’ similar to the one in Copenhagen.

Pop by its Artist’s Quarter to see local artwork and coffee shops.

Oxfordshire

If a bit of R&R is part of your 2027 plans then perhaps a trip to Oxfordshire is on the cards.

CABÜ is set to open a new resort just outside of the Cotswolds – and it will be the third of its kind in the UK.

It will have beautiful luxury cabins, a relaxing nature spa as well as indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

There will be a new range of 51 “ultra- cool timber cabins” which will have either one, two or three bedrooms.

Guests will be able to use all of the facilities which include a nature spa, hot tubs, saunas and plunge bucket.

There will be an indoor swimming pool too surrounded by loungers and huge windows which will let in lots of natural light.

During the warmer months, guests can enjoy the outdoor pool – also on site will be a shop, restaurant, two bars and a studio events space.

The resort will open in Langley and will be a short distance from popular Cotswolds villages like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford.

Isle of Wight and East Yorkshire

If you’re looking for a holiday park break next year, then two Parkdean Resorts are getting major makeovers for spring 2027.

The first is Thorness Bay on the north-west coast of the Isle of Wight.

Added to the site will be the new Hat-Tricks Sports Bar with pool and darts.

Joe’s American Grill is its new dining and there will be Minigolf & Adventure Activities which include high ropes, low ropes and climbing wall.

The second resort undergoing an upgrade is Skipsea Sands in East Riding of Yorkshire.

As part of a £5million makeover, it has recently added a Clip & Climb wall, Bear Grylls Escape Rooms and Fairground Golf.

Paignton, Devon

If you fancy a trip to the seaside this summer, one of the biggest hotels in Paignton is getting a huge refurb.

The Redcliffe Hotel is set to open in early 2027 and when it does, it will have been closed for a full year for the refurbishment.

The hotel has Indian-style architecture and sits right next to Paignton Beach and Preston Sands.

During the refurb, the 67-room hotel will be reduced to 55 rooms and the ground floor function room will be converted into guest rooms.

There will be a new restaurant and bar, and enhanced spa facilities.

Outside, there will be a restaurant patio with seating pods, planters and benches, terraced terraced gardens, guest patios and a refurbished outdoor pool area as well.

If you want to find a slice of Greece in Devon, then head to Elberry Cove which sits on the South West Coast Path between Paignton and Brixham and has crystal clear waters.

AFTER months of extreme heat, there is rain on the horizon, so where should you spend a bank holiday weekend when it’s a washout?

To keep the family entertained we’ve put together the UK’s best indoor waterparks with tropical temperatures, high-energy waterslides and family-friendly pirate ships.

Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent

Waterworld describes itself as the “number one indoor tropical aqua park” with over 30 rides and attractions.

The waterpark is home to a wave pool and rapids as well as the Thunderbolt ride, which is the UK’s first trap door drop waterslide and riders travel at 25mph.

One of the newest rides, Hurricane, descends at 17mph with lightning effects inside the tunnels.

There are also dedicated water attractions for younger children like the interactive Jungle House and Toddler Boat slide.

For anyone looking for a moment to catch their breath, take a break in one of the waterparks’ bubble pools.

Waterworld also has a mini adventure golf course as well as a restaurant and cafe serving up pizza, burgers, salads and drinks.

At reception is a brand new dessert bar where post-swim you can pick up a milkshake or one of the 22 different flavours of ice cream.

Tickets for adults and children start from £17.70, children under three-years-old start from £6.10.

Coral Reef Waterworld, Bracknell

This indoor waterpark is one of England’s biggest, so it’s perfect for a family outing on a rainy day.

It has tropical temperatures of 30C along with a giant pirate ship and erupting water volcano, rapid river, bubble pool and children’s splash zone.

The pirate-themed splash area is centered around a huge ship called The Coralina – it also has water cannons and interactive water features.

There are five high-tech waterslides with an option for everyone from Aquaplash which is suitable for smaller children.

The biggest waterslide is The Cannon, which launches riders down a 67 metre-long chute like a cannonball.

Poseidon’s Peril is another popular ride where two people are attached to an inflatable raft as it rotates and swirls through a tunnel with colour-changing lights.

If you’re after relaxation, then the Coral Spa is the place to be with heated loungers, three saunas, a cool pool and a Japanese steam room.

Adult tickets cost £20.55, children 5-16 cost £14.55 those aged children between 0-4 cost £1.95. Book tickets ahead online.

Splashdown Waterpark, Poole

If adrenaline-filled waterslide fun is what you’re after, then head to Splashdown Waterpark.

This action-packed waterpark has 13 indoor and outdoor flumes that visitors can use whether it’s rain or shine.

If you’re a daredevil, then check out The Screamer. The ride plummets a near-vertical 40-meter drop in under five seconds.

Or there’s Black Thunder which is a waterslide that’s completely in the dark. The Infinity waterslide plays music and has a flashing laser show too.

It’s not all about the big rides though, there’s plenty to do for the little ones with the interactive water cannons at Buccaneer Splash.

Admission for three hours costs £23 per person, £9 for 1-4-year-olds and £6 for children under 1. (Child tickets include entry for a companion adult.)

The Wave, Coventry

The Wave in Coventry is a giant indoor waterpark home to the largest wave pool in England.

The enormous pool has a wave machine which churns out more than 20 million litres of water per day – the rolling waves get bigger the further out you go.

When you want to relax, ditch the waves and bob along the lazy river.

There are six waterslides including The Riptide which is a half-pipe slide that blasts riders in a rubber ring down a near-90-degree drop.

The Cyclone spins swimmers around a giant open bowl, and The Rapids which is a ‘water-coaster’ hurl riders uphill before dropping them down through tight corners and tunnels.

For younger children, The Reef is its splash pad which has its own miniature slides, tipping buckets, jets and water fountains.

The Mana Spa has you a quieter spa pool, an aromatherapy room, sauna and steam room.

Tickets cost £15 per adult, £13 for children 11 and under and under ones go free.

Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool

Sandcastle Waterpark is another of the country’s largest indoor waterparks that sits on the South Promenade opposite the Pleasure Beach.

Inside the tropical waterpark are 18 slides and plenty of them are white-knuckle rides.

One of the most popular rides is The Master Blaster which is the UK’s longest water rollercoaster.

Another is Sidewinder which is the world’s first indoor half-pipe waterslide, then there’s Aztec Falls which plunges riders into darkness before spinning them around a giant bowl.

The Caribbean Storm Treehouse is a spot for the kids – it’s a giant climbing frame topped with a huge coconut that drops 600 gallons of water on swimmers below every few minutes.

Little ones can also use the multi-lane Treetops Water Chutes and the interactive HMS Thunder Splash pirate ship.

While there’s lots of action, the Sandcastle Waterpark also has a place for relaxation – the adult-only Sea Breeze Spa which has saunas, steam rooms, foot baths and aromatherapy lounge.

For anyone wanting to push the boat out, the park offers premium Tiki Cabanas for adults with its own TV and private hot tub with a fridge stocked with soft drinks – VIP packages start from £60pp.

Tickets to the waterpark start from £23.31 for ages 8+ and £13.96 for kids aged 3-7, with under 3s going free.

Calypso Cove, Barnsley

Found inside the Barnsley Metrodome, Calypso Cove is the ultimate pirate-themed indoor waterpark.

The tropical island paradise feels like one too as it’s heated to 30C and there are some high-energy water rides here like Terror Torrent, one of the UK’s fastest indoor water flumes.

There’s also The Eruption, a volcano-themed ride that spins you around a large bowl before dropping you out at the bottom.

The Kraken is a family-friendly flume where riders can choose their own music before sliding down the slide.

Families with younger kids can climb onto the decks of the Sunken Galleon ship play area.

Parents with babies and toddlers can enjoy the shallow waters and water fountains at Barnacle Bay.

For a bite to eat, head to The Hideout poolside cafe which serves up quick dishes like burgers and chips.

Adult tickets cost £13, under 10s tickets cost £11 and under 3s tickets cost £4. All tickets must be booked in advance online.