Alton Towers permanently closes David Walliams-themed attractions

Planning an Alton Towers family trip? The theme park has confirmed the permanent closure of its World of David Walliams attraction.

Published: November 3, 2026 at 5:01 PM

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Families planning a trip to Alton Towers might be disappointed to discover that one of the theme park's popular children's areas has closed for good.

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The Staffordshire theme park has confirmed that The World of David Walliams has permanently closed, just five years after opening in 2021. The themed area, inspired by the bestselling children's author's books, was home to several family-friendly rides, including Gangsta Granny: The Ride.

The announcement, made on Tuesday 3 November, means families hoping to experience the attractions on their next visit will need to rethink their plans.

Which Alton Towers rides have closed?

The World of David Walliams was developed in collaboration with the author and HarperCollins Children's Books, bringing some of his best-known stories to life through themed rides and attractions.

The area featured four attractions:

The closure of the entire themed area means these attractions will no longer operate as part of The World of David Walliams.

Why has Alton Towers closed The World of David Walliams?

According to the BBC [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx8dznljndyzo], Alton Towers confirmed the permanent closure as part of its ongoing review of the attractions available to visitors.

The resort explained that it regularly considers "elements of our attraction offering".

It's understood that the decision took into account a range of operational factors and considerations around the visitor experience.

However, the theme park has not provided a more detailed public explanation for the closure.

In a statement on its website, Alton Towers said:

"As we are no longer in the main season, guests are encouraged to check the Alton Towers Resort website and app for the latest attraction opening information ahead of their visit."

What will replace The World of David Walliams at Alton Towers?

For parents wondering whether a new children's attraction could be on the way, there's no confirmed replacement just yet.

Alton Towers has said that plans for the future use of the area will be announced once they've been finalised.

That means it's currently unclear whether the space will be transformed into a completely new themed area, redeveloped for different rides or used for another purpose.

What does this mean for families visiting Alton Towers?

If your little ones are fans of Gangsta Granny or were hoping to visit the David Walliams-themed rides, it's worth being aware of the closure before booking your next family day out.

The World of David Walliams first opened in 2021, bringing the stories of one of Britain's bestselling children's authors into the theme park.

Walliams, who first became famous through the comedy series Little Britain, published his debut children's novel, The Boy in the Dress, in 2008.

He has since written more than 40 books, selling over 60 million copies worldwide, with stories including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy also adapted for television.

While the themed attractions have now closed permanently, Alton Towers has not yet revealed what families can expect to see in their place.

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For the latest information on which rides and attractions are operating, parents are advised to check the official Alton Towers website or resort app before travelling.

Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.

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