Alton Towers rides closing in 2026 comes down to one confirmed, headline-grabbing shutdown, plus a longer pattern of the park retiring old attractions to make room for new ones. Here’s what’s verified as of November 4, 2026.
Quick summary:
- Alton Towers permanently closed The World of David Walliams on November 3, 2026.
- Three rides went with it: Gangsta Granny: The Ride, Raj’s Bouncy Bottom Burp, and The Royal Carousel.
- The operator, Merlin Entertainments, calls it the result of a regular review of attractions.
- The resort hasn’t announced what replaces the land.
- Past retirements show the park often swaps rides out rather than leaving gaps.
Alton Towers Rides Closing in 2026: The Confirmed List
Only one permanent closure is confirmed for 2026. I searched for others and found none announced. If you see a “list of ten closing rides” circulating, treat it with suspicion.
| Attraction | Type | Status (Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Gangsta Granny: The Ride | 4D family ride | Permanently closed |
| Raj’s Bouncy Bottom Burp | Junior drop tower | Permanently closed |
| The Royal Carousel | Family carousel | Permanently closed |
| Raj’s Shop and The Burger Kitchen | Retail and food | Reported closed with the area |
| Replacement for the area | N/A | Not yet announced |
The land opened in 2021, a year later than planned, and lasted about five years. That’s a short run for a themed area with a ride that combined motion with projection mapping.
What the Resort Said
The park’s website notice said The World of David Walliams “will be permanently closed from Tuesday November 3 2026.” It added that, with the main season over, guests should check the resort’s website and app for opening information.
A Merlin spokesperson said the decision followed the regular review of rides and attractions across the resort as the 2026 peak season comes to an end. Press reports add that plans for the future use of the area will be announced once they have been confirmed.
That’s all anyone has on the record. No reason beyond the routine review has been given.
The Connection Readers Keep Asking About
Timing makes people suspicious. HarperCollins, Walliams’ publisher, stopped publishing his new books last December and, in September 2026, dropped his back catalogue. Walliams strongly denies any wrongdoing.
The park hasn’t connected those events to its decision. I’ve covered the full sequence, and where the facts stop and speculation starts, in our breakdown of the David Walliams Alton Towers attraction permanently closed misconduct allegations story. Read that before repeating any link between the two.
Why Alton Towers Rides Closing in 2026 Fits a Longer Pattern
Here’s the thing: closures at Alton Towers aren’t unusual. Parks this size treat their ride lineup like a wardrobe. Pieces get retired, and something newer takes the hanger.
Look at the recent history. Here is the table in a copy-paste-friendly format:
| Period | What changed | What happened next |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–2016 | After the Smiler incident, six attractions, including Nemesis Sub-Terra, were slated not to reopen the following season. | Sub-Terra was later dropped from the park’s website. |
| Sept 2022 | Duel closed. | Replaced by The Curse at Alton Manor. |
| Ahead of 2025 | The Blade (44 years old), Flavio’s Fabulous Fandango, and the Dungeon retired. | Park cited making room for new attractions. |
| Mar 2025 | Toxicator opened in Forbidden Valley. | New flat ride on a former flat-ride site. |
| Nov 2026 | World of David Walliams closed. | Future use not yet announced. |
Sources for these rows include Wikipedia’s ride histories and Blooloop’s report that The Blade was retired after 44 years to make room for a new attraction.
What the Pattern Tells You About 2027
I can’t see Merlin’s planning documents. What usually happens, though, is that a closure in the off-season comes before a teaser. Look at Duel: it closed in September 2022 and its replacement was announced the following January.
My read, and it’s opinion, is that the Walliams area will likely get a re-theme or a new ride rather than sit empty. The footprint is prime family space. Nobody has confirmed that, so watch for the park’s winter announcements.
Why This Matters If You Live in the USA
Alton Towers is in Staffordshire, England. No American park is touched by Alton Towers rides closing in 2026. But if you’re planning a UK trip, or you follow Merlin’s global brands, the closure reshapes the family-ride side of the park.
Think of the Walliams land as the park’s gentle shelf. With it gone, small kids have fewer rides built just for them. Parents of under-sevens should check height and age limits for the remaining family attractions before booking. I’d also confirm directly with the park, since I haven’t verified current ride restrictions.
Step-by-Step Action Plan: Planning Around Alton Towers Rides Closing in 2026
If you’re a beginner building a trip, here’s the sequence I’d follow.
- Check the live attractions page first. The resort tells guests to use its website and app, since off-season operations are limited.
- Note the date you plan to visit. Autumn events like Scarefest and fireworks nights run on specific dates. The park previously said the land would run on selected dates, including weekends and its Scarefest and fireworks events. That plan has now been overtaken.
- List your must-do rides. If your kids wanted Gangsta Granny, that’s off the table. Pick alternatives from the current lineup.
- Check official channels for replacement news. Announcements usually land on the park’s social accounts and press page before the trade press covers them.
- Book flexible tickets. If a refund or date change is possible, take it. Ride availability shifts between seasons.
- Re-check the week before. A ride that’s open today can close tomorrow for maintenance.
If I were planning for a family with young kids, I’d target the 2027 main season. That’s when the resort is fully open and any new announcement will have landed.
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
Mistake 1: Believing every “closing rides” listicle.
Fix: Confirm against the resort’s own notice. Only the Walliams land is confirmed for 2026.
Mistake 2: Confusing a temporary closure with a permanent one.
Fix: Look for the word “permanently.” Wicker Man, for instance, was evacuated and closed in July 2024 for maintenance “until further notice”, which isn’t the same as retirement.
Mistake 3: Mixing up parks.
Fix: Merlin operates several UK parks. News about a ride at one, like a river rapids closure at a sister park, doesn’t belong in the Alton Towers column. I almost made this slip myself while researching.
Mistake 4: Assuming a closure means a scandal.
Fix: Rides retire for age, cost, popularity, and space. A scandal is one possible factor, and nobody has confirmed it here.
Mistake 5: Booking a trip around one ride.
Fix: Parks reshuffle. Build the day around several attractions and treat any single ride as a bonus.
Spotting Reliable Coverage of Alton Towers Rides Closing in 2026
Ask three questions. Does the piece quote the park’s statement? Does it give a date? Does it separate fact from opinion? Trade outlets like Attractions Daily and entertainment-trade reporting such as Deadline tend to pass that test. Blooloop’s coverage of past retirements shows the pattern over time.
Key Takeaways
- The World of David Walliams closed permanently on November 3, 2026, with immediate effect.
- Gangsta Granny: The Ride, Raj’s Bouncy Bottom Burp, and The Royal Carousel are all gone.
- Merlin attributes the closure to a regular review of attractions.
- No other permanent Alton Towers closures for 2026 turned up in my research.
- The park has a history of retiring rides, then announcing replacements months later.
- The future of the old Walliams area hasn’t been announced.
- Always confirm ride availability on the park’s official website and app.
The Bottom Line
The honest summary of Alton Towers rides closing in 2026 is short: one land, three rides, no replacement announced yet. Everything beyond that is speculation, however loud.
Your next step: bookmark the resort’s official attractions page, and check it again in early 2027, when the park typically reveals its next season’s plans.
FAQs
Which rides are part of Alton Towers rides closing in 2026?
Gangsta Granny: The Ride, Raj’s Bouncy Bottom Burp, and The Royal Carousel, all in The World of David Walliams area. The shop and food outlet in the area were also reported closed.
Will Alton Towers replace the closed Walliams area?
No replacement has been announced. The resort says plans will be shared once confirmed, and past closures like Duel were followed by a replacement announcement within months.
Is the closure linked to the allegations against David Walliams?
The resort hasn’t said so and cites its regular review. For a careful timeline, see our guide to the David Walliams Alton Towers attraction permanently closed misconduct allegations story.
