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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:
Original poster
JMSA · 02/04/2023 23:03

@pictoosh

One can still enjoy the natural beauty/amenities Scotland has to offer, AND a theme park.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I can see that weather and lack of frequenters might make it a no-go. My daughter and many others would still love and welcome it though!

OP posts:
piedbeauty · 02/04/2023 23:06

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.

There's not enough people or ther infrastructure to make it a success.

Whoiscomingtosaveyou · 02/04/2023 23:09

There’s water slides and lots more at Landmark in the Highlands…it’s actually a really good day out
https://www.landmarkpark.co.uk/

Home

Landmark Adventure Park is a family friendly, all-inclusive venue with attractions indoors, outdoors & lots of amazing experiences to be had!

https://www.landmarkpark.co.uk/

Margarita45 · 02/04/2023 23:10

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?

Exactly this. Cause residents don’t want their green spaces ruined. The Trossach’s are incensed.

KnittingNeedles · 03/04/2023 00:03

There is M&Ds. It's dreadful.

As others have said - if Scottish people are prepared to travel to Alton Towers or other English parks, or fly to Paris/Florida, why would they invest in one here? There aren't enough paying customers to keep it going over winter.

ThisIsWednesday · 03/04/2023 00:06

anon90210 · 02/04/2023 22:22

Louden castle was class.

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

Same. Loved it when we went. We don't live that far away from there and I'm actually gutted that we only went a couple of times. Seems silly to ignore something on our doorstep simply because it's on our doorstep. Took it for granted.

ErrolTheDragon · 03/04/2023 00:27

Scotland has real stuff, it doesn't need fake thrills.

MelsMoneyTree · 03/04/2023 00:37

The Flamingo Land application received the most objections ever - over 65,000. We'd rather have our green spaces, natural beauty and genuine outdoor activities than some corporate chain peddling homogenised tat. I'm really proud of everyone who has objected.

garlictwist · 03/04/2023 05:22

It's not the weather as there are theme parks in places that have worse weather than Scotland. In any case, The weathers not any different from England really esp in the central belt. It's probably just population numbers wouldn't support it.

Morph22010 · 03/04/2023 05:25

ilovepixie · 02/04/2023 22:19

Northern Ireland doesn't have one either.

Aah but there is tayto park not far over the border 😁

GretaGood · 03/04/2023 05:37

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

Yes this is why - also a short holiday season

Sugarfree23 · 03/04/2023 06:09

Weather, population density.
M&Ds is more like a fare ground than a theme park. Louden Castle probably failed because it was in the wrong place and it struggled to compete with Alton Towers.

Logically you'd need to build somewhere in the Central belt, Lanarkshire, Falkirk or Stirling, or maybe further south to attact people from north of England too.

Finding a piece of land big enough some sort of old country estate. And Finding the money to build somewhere that will attract many people.

aweegc · 03/04/2023 06:22

Just a note: Alton Towers is centrally located in England. Pretty much in the precise centre. It's most definitely not central in Great Britain or the United Kingdom.

It's obviously placed due to population density as with virtually all the other major amusement parks we have. That makes financial sense. But let's not forget that our country extends a wee bit further than the English border...

rosegoldivy · 03/04/2023 06:35

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!

Loved the brave heart ride

Sugarfree23 · 03/04/2023 06:51

Alton Towers is in the Midlands, 10.8m of a population. I think that has to be the answer.
Would be nice to have somewhere further north but population wise it probably makes more sense to build somewhere around lanarkshire then you have a chance of attracting people from the north of England too.

StopFeckingFaffing · 03/04/2023 07:44

Lightwater Valley is a bit further North than Alton Towers but still 2 hours from the Scottish border (Gretna Green)

Its a lot smaller and rubbisher than Alton Towers but still a good day out for teenagers and has a few decent rides!

BringItOnxxx · 03/04/2023 07:52

I go to Blackpool pleasure beach from Scotland, by train. Needs an overnight stay though, generally.

KnittingNeedles · 03/04/2023 08:09

Yes if you drew a circle of 2 hours drive to Alton Towers it'd take in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham.

There just aren't enough people living within 2 hours drive to make a Scottish theme park viable.

MorrisZapp · 03/04/2023 08:13

From the crowds and behaviour drawn to the annual Christmas fair in Edinburgh I'm happy to do without any permanent funfair attraction up here. It would be an almighty hell hole regardless of where they put it. See also soft play centres and country parks.

NurseCranesRolodex · 03/04/2023 08:17

MelsMoneyTree · 03/04/2023 00:37

The Flamingo Land application received the most objections ever - over 65,000. We'd rather have our green spaces, natural beauty and genuine outdoor activities than some corporate chain peddling homogenised tat. I'm really proud of everyone who has objected.

Agree. The thought of a cheapo, commercial shitfest like FL setting up shop in the national park is not welcome.

Mrsjayy · 03/04/2023 08:18

There used to be Louden Castle theme park in Ayr was better than M&Ds it closed down I think the company went bankrupt . I'm not sure why we don't have anything. Harry Potter "something " would be fantastic definitely missed a trick.

DomesticShortHair · 03/04/2023 08:20

This reply has been deleted

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KnittingNeedles · 03/04/2023 08:21

You do know you are posting your bitchy comments in Scotsnet @DomesticShortHair ?

DomesticShortHair · 03/04/2023 08:22

KnittingNeedles · 03/04/2023 08:21

You do know you are posting your bitchy comments in Scotsnet @DomesticShortHair ?

I most certainly do, thanks. Turns out, it’s a lot of fun. Your comment being the highlight so far.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/04/2023 08:23

Footfall/population density
Planning
Weather

Because Scotland is awesome with one

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