This week the UK Theme Park Awards 2026 were held at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort, drawing over 200 industry professionals for one of the most prestigious events on the UK attractions calendar, with the ceremony live streamed to thousands more watching online. Parks from across the country were up for the honours, and when the nominations and results were counted, Devon had a remarkable showing - with five different attractions recognised across the county, led by a standout day for Crealy Theme Park & Resort near Exeter.
Crealy Theme Park & Resort: Devon's most nominated park
Just outside Exeter, Crealy Theme Park & Resort had one of the busiest days of any park in the country, with nominations across eleven categories and medals in five of them.
The wins came thick and fast. The park's new Rotor ride helped it to Silver for Best New Attraction, while its family offering was recognised with Silver for Best Theme Park for Families. Its dedicated toddler zone, Sooty Land, went one better, taking Gold for Best Theme Park for Toddlers. Crealy's autumn event, Spook-Fest, picked up Silver for Best Halloween Event, and its SEND Days initiative was awarded Silver for Best New Accessibility Initiative, recognising the work Crealy has put into making the park welcoming for visitors of all needs. The individual recognition capped it all off, with Crealy's Josh Haywood named winner of the Outstanding Achievement award as part of the Industry Excellence Awards.
Beyond the medals, Crealy's name appeared right across the shortlists — proof of just how highly regarded the park is nationally. It was nominated for the day's biggest prize, Theme Park of the Year, alongside the likes of Alton Towers Resort and Thorpe Park, and its new pirate ship ride, Pirates' Plummet, earned nominations for both Best New Attraction and Best Marketing Campaign. Crealy was also shortlisted for Best Theme Park Holiday Village, Best Social Media Content, Best Customer Service and Best Value Theme Park, its K-Pop Party event was nominated for Best New Entertainment, and Josh Haywood picked up a nomination in the Theme Park Personality of the Year category.
Crealy Theme Park & Resort's wins:
- Best New Attraction, Small — SILVER (Rotor)
- Best Theme Park for Families, Small — SILVER
- Best Theme Park for Toddlers, Small — GOLD (Sooty Land)
- Best Halloween Event, Small — SILVER (Spook-Fest)
- Best New Accessibility Initiative — SILVER (SEND Days)
- Industry Excellence Awards, Outstanding Achievement — WINNER (Josh Haywood)
Crealy Theme Park & Resort's further nominations:
- Theme Park of the Year
- Best New Attraction (Pirates' Plummet)
- Best New Entertainment (K-Pop Party)
- Best Marketing Campaign (Pirates' Plummet)
- Best Theme Park Holiday Village (Crealy Resort)
- Best Social Media Content
- Best Customer Service
- Best Value Theme Park
- Theme Park Personality of the Year (Josh Haywood)
Woodlands Family Theme Park: Christmas magic recognised
Over on the South Devon coast near Dartmouth, Woodlands Family Theme Park picked up a well-earned medal of its own. Its festive offering, Magical Christmas Nights, was awarded Bronze for Best Christmas Event, recognition for a Christmas experience that's become a seasonal highlight for families across the South West. The park's grounds were also nominated for Best Landscaped Theme Park, and Woodlands Caravan & Camping picked up a nomination for Best Theme Park Holiday Village.
Woodlands Family Theme Park's wins:
- Best Christmas Event, Small — BRONZE (Magical Christmas Nights)
Woodlands Family Theme Park's further nominations:
- Best Theme Park Holiday Village (Woodlands Caravan & Camping)
- Best Landscaped Theme Park
More Devon nominees to shout about
Three more Devon favourites made the shortlists this year, each recognised for what makes them stand out. The Big Sheep near Bideford was nominated for Best Theme Park for Toddlers, celebrating its family-friendly farm and rides. Along the coast at Clovelly, The Milky Way Adventure Park was shortlisted for Best New Accessibility Initiative for its Cut Short Promise scheme. And in Paignton, Splashdown Quaywest earned a nomination for Waterpark of the Year, putting Devon's coastal water fun firmly on the national radar.
Devon's award-winning days out
From Crealy's rides, animals and toddler-friendly zones to Woodlands' toboggan runs and award-winning Christmas event, and from The Big Sheep's family farm fun to Splashdown Quaywest's seafront slides, the UK Theme Park Awards 2026 confirmed what Devon locals and visitors already know: some of the country's best family days out are found right here at home.