For as long as most UK theme park fans can remember, there has been one answer to a simple question.

What is the best theme park in the UK?

The answer was usually Alton Towers.

But in 2026, that conversation feels more open than it has in years.

Thanks to Hyperia, an increasingly impressive coaster collection and a clear focus on thrill seekers, Thorpe Park is making a serious case for the crown.

Hyperia at Thorpe Park
Hyperia has transformed the conversation around Thorpe Park's place in the UK theme park rankings.

Hyperia changed everything

Let's start with the obvious.

Hyperia is a phenomenal addition to Thorpe Park.

Not only is it the UK's tallest rollercoaster, but it also delivers an experience that many enthusiasts immediately placed among the very best rides in the country.

It gave Thorpe Park something it had arguably been missing for years - a genuine headline attraction capable of drawing visitors from across the UK.

More importantly, it shifted the conversation.

Suddenly people were no longer asking whether Thorpe Park could compete with Alton Towers.

They were asking whether it might actually be better.

THE BIG QUESTION:
If you were choosing one UK theme park to visit tomorrow, would you pick Thorpe Park or Alton Towers?
Nemesis Reborn remains one of the UK's most iconic rollercoasters.

Alton Towers still has incredible strengths

Before Thorpe fans start celebrating, it is important to remember what makes Alton Towers special.

Nemesis Reborn. Wicker Man. The Smiler. Oblivion. Galactica.

Few parks anywhere in Europe can match that variety.

Then there is the setting itself.

The gardens. The towers. The atmosphere. The sense of scale.

A day at Alton Towers often feels like an adventure before you even board a ride.

Thorpe Park may have incredible coasters, but Alton Towers still offers a broader experience.

Thorpe Park has built an unbelievable thrill line-up

At the same time, it is difficult to ignore what Thorpe Park now offers.

Hyperia.

Stealth.

The Swarm.

Saw - The Ride.

Nemesis Inferno.

Few UK parks can compete with that concentration of thrills.

If your priority is rollercoasters and adrenaline, Thorpe Park arguably has the strongest argument it has ever had.

Thorpe Park's coaster collection is stronger than ever in 2026.

But what does "best" actually mean?

This is where the debate gets interesting.

If "best" means the strongest thrill rides, many people will argue Thorpe Park now wins.

If "best" means overall experience, atmosphere, theming and variety, Alton Towers remains incredibly difficult to beat.

The truth is that both parks excel in different ways.

Thorpe Park feels sharper, faster and more focused.

Alton Towers feels broader, richer and more complete.

COMMENT DEBATE:
Has Thorpe Park finally overtaken Alton Towers, or is Alton still the UK's number one theme park?

Maybe there is no longer a clear answer

And perhaps that is the biggest compliment you can give Thorpe Park.

For years, this debate barely existed.

Today, it absolutely does.

Hyperia has elevated Thorpe Park into a new conversation and made the battle for the UK's top theme park more competitive than it has been in a very long time.

Whether Thorpe Park has actually overtaken Alton Towers is still up for debate.

The fact we are seriously asking the question at all tells you everything you need to know.