YOU don’t have to go far to find one of the world’s best theme parks.
Pleasure Beach in Blackpool has just been crowned the ‘Best of the Best’ in the Park World Excellence Awards.
The ‘Best of the Best’ award is given to theme parks, rides, or tourist attractions that are the ‘best of all time’ within its part of the industry.
And this is the first time a UK theme park has won the award, with previous winners including Europa Park, Siam Park and Liseberg.
The park has around 30 attractions including huge rollercoasters and water rides.
And one of the rides is Aviktas, which opened in May 2026 and has also been named the ‘Best Ride of the Year’ at the awards.
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The £8.7million ride is the largest ride of its kind in the UK, swinging riders 42 metres into the air on a rotating pendulum.
Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort said: “To be named Best of the Best is a massive achievement for our park.
“Our industry is full of so much talent, so to be recognised among the best speaks volumes on the dedication and hard work that has kept us moving forward for 130 years.
“Aviktas has been a hugely valuable addition to the park and I’ve been delighted by its reception so far.
“If they haven’t already I’d absolutely encourage people to visit Pleasure Beach and give our ride, now recognised as one of the world’s best a go!”
If you fancy heading to the theme park this autumn, Pleasure Beach Resort will remain open for most of September and October.
In October, you could also head to the theme park’s Halloween event – Journey to Hell – where you head through an immersive scare experience with three new scare mazes.
The winners of the Park World Excellence Awards
HERE are the top winners:
- Best Roller Coaster of the year: Falcons Flight at Six Flags Qiddiya City
- Best rollercoaster (limited budget of the year): Fireline Redwood, Fraispertuis City at Jeanménil, France
- Best Ride(s) of the Year: Skywatch at Six Flags Widdya City and Aviktas at Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort
- Best Ride(s) (limited budget of the year): Seesaw Swing at Bellewaerde and Rush Water Canyon and Gold Rush at O’Fun Park
- Best Dark Ride or Media-Based Experience of the Year: Rally Flaklypa at Hunderfossen Eventypark
- Best Water Park Experience: Aquaticar at Legend of the Glowing Gaurdians, Aquarabia Qiddiya City
- Best Large Park of the Year: Europa Park
- Best Regional Park of the Year: Bellewaerde and Nigloland
- Best Waterpark of the Year: Aquarabia Qiddiya City
- Best of the Best: Blackpool Pleasure Beach