A seaside park in Lancashire has beaten out Europe's biggest names to be crowned the world's best. Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool took the "best of the best" title at the Park World Excellence Awards 2026, becoming the first UK park ever to win the overall accolade. The last park to hold it was Germany's Europa-Park, home to more than 100 attractions, so the competition was hardly soft.
The judges praised the resort for its sustained success and long-term contribution to the industry - no small feat for a park that first opened its gates in 1896 and is still run by the founding family, with CEO Amanda Thompson OBE calling the win a huge achievement after 130 years.
There was a second trophy too: Aviktas, the park's new swing ride, was named best ride of the year. Opened in May 2026 after an £8.7m investment, it hurls riders 138 feet into the air on a rotating pendulum - the kind of ride you queue for with equal parts excitement and regret.
Aviktas is the shiny new addition, but the park's older credentials still hold up. It's home to the UK's only Nickelodeon Land, a draw for families with younger kids, and The Big One, the hypercoaster that once held the title of tallest and steepest in the world. Between those extremes, the resort manages to serve both adrenaline hunters and families on a classic British seaside break.
For travellers, the practical news is that entry won't break the bank: standard online tickets start from £30, and the park stays open until late November. Combined with Blackpool's tower, illuminations and seafront, it makes the case that a traditional seaside resort can still compete with the big-budget continental parks.
If you've written off Blackpool as a relic of a previous era, this award - and a world-best ride to try for yourself - is a decent reason to reconsider.
