The history of theme parks and amusement parks in the UK
Theme parks have been a feature of UK seaside life for more than 100 years. Learn how it all got started.
Did you know that Southport Pleasureland is one of the oldest theme parks in Great Britain?
That's right – we opened way back in the early 1910s. At that point, George V was on the throne, the sinking of the Titanic dominated news headlines and our family adventure park consisted of little more than a helter-skelter and a single figure-of-eight rollercoaster.
Of course, much has changed since then. Pleasureland has grown to become one of the most fun-packed family attractions in the northwest – and theme parks in general are now woven into the fabric of British society.
But how did we get here? It's easy to feel like theme parks have been around forever – but they had to start somewhere, right?
Let's find out.
The ancient origins of UK theme parks
It might surprise you to learn that the earliest ancestors of modern theme parks probably emerged in ancient times.
But if you hopped in a time machine and paid them a visit, you might be disappointed. These early "amusement parks" had no rollercoasters or carnival games. They were more like semi-permanent circuses, which popped up around marketplaces, meeting spots and places of interest.
Take Dyrehavsbakken, the world's oldest operating theme park. That grew from a natural spring that was discovered in a forest north of Denmark. The spring became a meeting place for local residents – and soon, a trickle of traders and performers began turning up to provide food, fun and frivolity.
You can imagine a hodgepodge of tents and stalls, where magicians wowed crowds with parlour tricks and market traders called out to attract attention to their colourful wares. But, exciting as they might have been, these attractions were chaotic and temporary affairs.
It would take until Victorian times to see something resembling a modern, permanent amusement park.
The 1800s and the invention of free time
By the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing.
This period is often portrayed in a negative light. Work was hard. Hours were long. And days off were about as common as blue moons or pink elephants.
This was the reality for many in the early part of the century. But with time, things began to improve – and by the middle of the 1800s, a new class of workers had emerged with expendable income and enough free time to spend it.
Many of these workers flocked to pleasure gardens. These were a little like the leafy parks you find in towns and cities today – but they were far
grander affairs that offered much more than swings, roundabouts and afternoon strolls.
A typical pleasure garden – such as Vauxhall Gardens in London – would put on plays, firework displays, dances and cabaret shows, among other popular entertainments.
These gardens were the direct ancestors of our modern theme parks. But they weren't the family-friendly venues that we know and love today. You were far more likely to see drinking and debauchery than coconuts and candy floss.
That all began to change thanks to another Victorian innovation: electricity.
The first electric rides
Rides were nothing new by the time electricity came onto the scene.
Gravity-powered rollercoasters first emerged in Russia in the 17th century. And in 1863, a man called Thomas Bradshaw built a steam-powered merry-go-round in Bolton.
These early rides were unreliable, noisy and not particularly popular. Electric rides, however, were a revelation. They were faster, more thrilling and altogether safer than the clunky contraptions that preceded them.
With this new breed of rides, all of the ingredients existed to create the modern theme park. England's pleasure gardens had shown there was a market for permanent entertainment spaces. And electric rides were thrilling enough – and safe enough – to attract fun-seeking families in their droves.
Now we just needed a little help from our friends across the pond.
The all-American theme park comes to the UK
By the late 1800s, travelling fairgrounds were well-established in the UK – and several European pleasure gardens had begun to offer thrill rides alongside their usual calendar of cabaret and theatre shows.
But the first popular attractions that meet our modern definition of a theme park were probably the funfairs at Coney Island, New York.
These fairs – Steeplechase Park, Luna Park and Dreamland – set the blueprint for all theme parks to come. They were colourful spectacles, filled to the brim with stalls, amusements and the latest, most thrilling rides.
And they were hugely popular. Steeplechase alone attracted several million visitors per year between around 1880 and 1939.
Soon, our own entrepreneurs wanted a slice of the action. And so, in the early 20th century, the first seaside amusement parks were born in Britain.
The UK's early parks were closely modelled on their pioneering American counterparts – but they included some delightfully British additions. For instance, one seaside park boasted a tea room, along with the usual attractions like rollercoasters and sideshow attractions.
Southport Pleasureland was part of this early wave of British amusement parks. And while we may started small, by 1928 the park had grown to include two rollercoasters, a huge water slide and a "flying machine", among other things.
Others followed in our footsteps. Before long, amusement parks had become as much a feature of the British seaside experience as fish, chips and donkey rides.
Southport Pleasureland today
We'd be fibbing if we said that Pleasureland hasn't been through its ups and downs.
After operating for more than 90 years – and facing dwindling visitor numbers – the park closed down in 2006.
But thanks to the hard work and dedication of its new owners, Pleasureland reopened just a year later. And today, it's bigger and better than it's ever been.
Pleasureland is now home to more than 30 rides, four incredible themed lands and a host of carnival games and food and drink options.
To say we've bounced back is an understatement. We're proud of our history, sure – but we're even more pleased to have built the modern
family amusement park that Pleasureland is today.
Want to see the transformation for yourself? We offer fantastic online-only deals – so head on over to our booking page and get ready for a family day out like no other.
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