Parkcast - The UK’s Original Theme Park Podcast

We were all a little bit worried last year that we were about to lose another theme park for good. So we were delighted to hear Lightwater Valley had been saved and bought by the Mellors Group - highly regarded showmen and owners of Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells. In this episode I'm joined by James Mellors to talk about his route to owning parks, and his big plans for the future.

If there's one thing every theme park enthusiast has, it's opinions.... This week I'm joined again by Glenn and Alex, as we discuss some of your unpopular ones, and they share some of their own. So, do all rollercoasters have a shelf life? Is Swarm really the best coaster at Thorpe Park? And are Mad Houses actually pointless? We'll cover these and a lot more! Let me know if you agree or not....

Blackgang Chine is the UK's oldest theme park - but how does a park on an island just off the south coast of England stay relevant and still delight guests over 180 years after opening? Laura Baxter - Head of Marketing and Dan White - General Manager join us on Parkcast this week to share some of their secrets!

Last week I got sent an anonymous message containing details of plans for a new rollercoaster at Alton Towers. Project Horizon has been on the minds of enthusiasts for years, with rumours constantly swirling about what it was going to involve and if it would even happen at all. One thing I've been told is that the planned attraction I was sent the info on is definitely on the cutting room floor. I...

Most theme park fans think they could run a theme park. Josh Heywood does exactly that at Crealy Theme Park in Devon. In this episode he talks us through how he got there, some regrets and his big plans for the future. It's incredibly eye opening and Josh is an infectious breath of fresh air - so full of passion for the park and the industry as a whole.

The UK's newest, and in my opinion best, flat ride opened at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on May 21st. Aviktas - the huge Intamin gyroswing - has been eagerly anticipated since the ride was announced early last year.  I was lucky enough to be invited to the media launch and in this episode I'm joined by my two companions at the event - Glenn Robertson aka The Notable Stranger who did the ride soundtra...

The last time Mark Rosenzweig was on Parkcast he caused uproar when he said he thought Nemesis at Alton Towers was overrated and that Inferno at Thorpe Park was the best inverted coaster in the UK. So this week we've got him back to talk us through his top rated inverted coasters and its a subject he knows a lot about, as he's ridden every single inverted coaster in the USA. I think his No.1 might...

It might be a pipe dream for most theme park enthusiasts, but Matt Conridge has just bought his own park - Trago Family Fun Park in Devon. In this episode we find out why he decided now was the right time to take the leap into the attractions world, how he's finding it and what his plans for the future are. You'll find Trago Family Fun Park near Newton Abbot in Devon and as Matt tells us, it's fre...

May 2026 is a huge month for UK theme parks. With Valgard at Paultons, Aviktas at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and World of Paw Patrol at Chessington all opening, we're looking at the positive things happening in our parks, and why they're so important....

We've spoken about Alton Towers a lot on Parkcast. And through all of it Kev has always remained a loyal fan, willing to forgive any minor inconveniences because of his love of his home park, his happy place, and the park that made him love theme parks. But in 2026 something has changed for him. With staggered openings, closures and questionable decisions, have Alton Towers finally pushed him too...

It's no secret that theme park enthusiasts LOVE Europa Park. We love the slick operations, the ride line up, the iood, the innovation....it's a park that really cares about guest experience. But do regular guests feel the same as we do? I sent my non-enthusiast best mate Glenn, who happens to have Europa Park as his local park, to see what he makes of it and if it lives up to my expectations. Whil...

Our friend from the US Mark Rosenzweig is back on Parkcast this week. After his mini series on achievable US Theme Park road trips in our last series, we were asked by a listener "how does Mark think UK parks compare?". In this episode we set about answering that as Mark talks us through his experiences of visiting large UK attractions like Alton Towers and Blackpool Pleasure Beach, as well as sma...

This week we're joined by Robbie Jones, Insight Director at Katapult who are themed attraction designers based in Derby. We all know theme park fans are full of opinions and ideas, and sometimes it feels like nobody is listening! Last year Katapult commissioned a survey of Theme Park super fans, to find out what we really think, and what theme parks and attractions might be able to take away from...

We've just come back from another family trip to Efteling and honestly I feel like it deserved its own epiosde. Efteling is a beautifully themed park in the Netherlands and it really has something for everyone. In this episode we cover how we got there, our thoughts on our stay in the NEW Efteling Grand Hotel and how it compares to our other experiences, food, attractions and just the overall vibe...

The Merlin Ride Access Pass system has been under the microscope this year. After a shock announcement about eligibility and a swift backtrack, we've all been left wondering where the parks take it from here. Ride Access isn't just an issue that affects Merlin parks but it is an issue that crops up again and again. This week I'm joined by Hayley Field, mum to a little boy with autism who loves the...

This week we're discussing something which is always going to divide opinion - are Merlin annual passes too cheap? Hear me out, there have been ongoing complaints about long queues and lack of investment, is this because too many guests rely on using super cheap Merlin Essential Passes? Have a listen and let me know your thoughts!

The UK theme park season hasn't even begun and we've already had drama! In this episode I'm joined by Chris Milne aka Coaster Dad. We talk about his half term experiences at Alton Towers and Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and why he's on a mission in 2026 to support and visit as many UK parks as possible. You can follow Chris on YT  ⁨@coaster_dad⁩ and you'll also find him on all the social platforms.

If you're into theme parks you're bound to know Adam Hattan - he's spent years vlogging his Disney trips and sharing his life. This week he joins me on Parkcast to talk about how he went from regular guest to full-time content creator, and how he's now using that knowledge to work with parks to improve guest experiences for everyone. The good news is, you can be part of it too! He's working with E...

I've talked about Six Flags Qiddiya City quite a lot - mainly because as a recent Saudi resident, I've been so excited to see this park develop and open. This week I'm joined by my husband on the podcast for the first time ever, and we're sharing our honest takes of how we found the reality of visiting the park, and of course, riding those headline attractions.

Parkcast is back for 2026! And we’re kicking things off chatting to our friend Lawrence from Universally Bedford. A lot has happened since we last spoke - so what have we missed and what can we expect?

And just like that we’ve landed at our final episode of 2025! What a year it’s been, and we are celebrating in the only way we know how, a comedy quiz! Join us for Parkmaster where our two teams, each comprised of one theme park nerd and one novice, compete in a series of rounds to be crowned Parkmaster champions 2025. You can play along at home too!

A special edition of Parkcast this week which we were honoured to be asked to record on location at Europa Park! There’s a reason this park is consistently voted the world’s best - with a stellar line up of rides and shows, unbelievable operations and fantastic theming. I’m joined by Marcus Earnst - a Creative Project Manager for Mack One who tells me about the tech innovations at the resort, what...

At some point in most enthusiast’s lives we’ve thought it would be fun to be a ride op for the day. In 2020, Brad Corben did exactly that when Covid 19 shut down his work in theatres and on stage. In this episode he tells us what it’s really like, shares some great enthusiast experiences and tells us why in his current role as Skate Coach for Starlight Express, his first question is always “do you...

The IAAPA expo in Orlando is over for another year, and there’s a LOT to take in. In this episode we’re joined by expo veteran Mark Rosenzweig to take us through everything you need to know from this year’s show….

Enjoying historical attractions is a huge part of being a theme park enthusiast. But does there come a point where we should lose rides we love that are getting too costly to run for the greater good? Or are they too important to go? What about when enthusiasts start taking things into their own hands (and too far?!). Andy Hine, Chairman of the Rollercoaster Club of Great Britain joins us to discu...