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Original poster

Why doesn't Scotland have an Alton Towers equivalent?

97 replies

JMSA · 02/04/2023 22:05

I have just taken my 13 year old thrill loving daughter to her favourite place, Alton Towers. We travelled by coach and although a fun weekend was had, it was a brutal amount of travel.
It made me wonder why Scotland doesn't have its own theme park. M&Ds in Glasgow doesn't really compare. Is it our weather? It's just a shame really, as it would bring employment and money to Scotland.
Or is there some glaringly obvious reason that we don't have one?

OP posts:
UndercoverCop · 02/04/2023 22:07

Definitely the weather, theme parks in the south east close November to late March, you'd be looking at much longer in Scotland. Also when was the last time a new theme park was built in the UK? The one they've been talking about in Kent for the last decade, has just gone into administration before they'd built a single roller coaster.

Cosycover · 02/04/2023 22:07

I don't know the reason but it actually really pisses me off that we don't.

There should be a Harry Potter world in the Highlands. Missed a trick there.

swapcicles · 02/04/2023 22:11

I'd guess it's the weather and geography.
Alton towers is in the midlands so fairly central in the UK and well populated.
Thorpe park and chessington are near London so get the tourists in and half decent public transport links.
Maybe next time stay over? Even if you stay off resort it makes it less knackering not doing all the travel in one day as well as the theme park.

pictoosh · 02/04/2023 22:14

Cosycover · 02/04/2023 22:07

I don't know the reason but it actually really pisses me off that we don't.

There should be a Harry Potter world in the Highlands. Missed a trick there.

Why the fuck would you plonk Harry Potter World in the Highlands, an area of outstanding beauty? Seriously.

OP - we don't need one. We have mountains and beaches and forests and rivers.

No thanks to theme parks.

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/04/2023 22:16

Population I think?

Alton Towers is pretty central, people travel from all over England. There aren’t many others.

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/04/2023 22:17

pictoosh · 02/04/2023 22:14

Why the fuck would you plonk Harry Potter World in the Highlands, an area of outstanding beauty? Seriously.

OP - we don't need one. We have mountains and beaches and forests and rivers.

No thanks to theme parks.

Show quote history

I don’t think the PP was being serious about HP..

gawditswindy · 02/04/2023 22:18

*Why the fuck would you plonk Harry Potter World in the Highlands, an area of outstanding beauty? Seriously.

OP - we don't need one. We have mountains and beaches and forests and rivers.

No thanks to theme parks.*

This, maybe? There are significant objections to anything like that.

StopFeckingFaffing · 02/04/2023 22:18

I imagine that population density is the main factor which means a theme park in Scotland would struggle to attract adequate numbers of visitors to make it financially viable

If you think about how many million people live within a 2 hour drive from Alton Towers there probably isn't anywhere in Scotland with a similar number of potential customers

pictoosh · 02/04/2023 22:18

@Luredbyapomegranate hope so. I was clutching my pearls and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

ilovepixie · 02/04/2023 22:19

Northern Ireland doesn't have one either.

Rollercoastertycoon · 02/04/2023 22:20

pictoosh · 02/04/2023 22:14

Why the fuck would you plonk Harry Potter World in the Highlands, an area of outstanding beauty? Seriously.

OP - we don't need one. We have mountains and beaches and forests and rivers.

No thanks to theme parks.

Show quote history

Not a Harry Potter fan then? In the books Hogwarts is in the Highlands.

soundsystem · 02/04/2023 22:20

There used to be Loudoun Castle. and M&D's wasn't always so shit... but I guess just not economically viable? As a PP said, Alton Towers is reachable for a much greater number of people. I do agree it's a shame though!

anon90210 · 02/04/2023 22:22

Louden castle was class.

I was gutted it shut down. Still am all these years later.

Exl · 02/04/2023 22:25

Rain. And population density.

Cece92 · 02/04/2023 22:30

I remember there was Loudon castle think it's shut but I went twice and kinda scared me lol! M&Ds also scared me cause I'd be waiting for the roller coaster to start and I'd look at it and be like is this safe 🙈 I'd still go on repeatedly lol! It is a shame we don't have anything xx

WGACA · 02/04/2023 22:30

anon90210 · 02/04/2023 22:22

Louden castle was class.

I was gutted it shut down. Still am all these years later.

Same!

oldwhyno · 02/04/2023 22:35

Climate and economics.

pictoosh · 02/04/2023 22:36

England are welcome to their theme parks. They can stay there. We'll come to you.

WeAreFromThePlanetDuplo · 02/04/2023 22:40

ilovepixie · 02/04/2023 22:19

Northern Ireland doesn't have one either.

That’s because nobody lives here, we’d all have to go once a week to make it viable.

Poshjock · 02/04/2023 22:48

I think the failure of Louden Castle is indicative of the problems any theme park venture in Scotland would face.

AT only survived because it was backed by major investment groups, latterly Merlin Group who own many other tourist attractions in the UK.

Scotland does have a great tradition of street and travelling fairs... April 19th sees the annual return of the longest street fair in Europe, the 700 year old Kirkcaldy Links Market.

https://www.facebook.com/Kirkcaldylinksmarketofficial/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Kirkcaldylinksmarketofficial

Northernsouloldies · 02/04/2023 22:52

We have codonas in Aberdeen it's like Disney land 😎

Northernsouloldies · 02/04/2023 22:54

Note the Disney land bit was sarcasm. 😁

Original poster
JMSA · 02/04/2023 22:59

Northernsouloldies · 02/04/2023 22:54

Note the Disney land bit was sarcasm. 😁

So I gathered Grin

OP posts:
Holihobbies · 02/04/2023 22:59

Ireland has tayto park (now renamed can't remember what) which is close to the border.

Wish we had a centre parcs that was a bit handier to Belfast though !!

Bornlazy · 02/04/2023 23:02

Is there not talk of Flamingo Land building a theme park at Loch Lomond and everyone is up in arms about it?