Alton Towers has confirmed that The World of David Walliams has permanently closed, bringing an end to the family-themed area just five years after it first welcomed guests.
The Staffordshire theme park announced that the land would close with immediate effect from Tuesday 3 November 2026. The decision follows months of speculation about the future of the area, which had already seen reduced operating days towards the end of the season.
With Gangsta Granny: The Ride among the attractions affected, attention now turns to what Alton Towers has planned for this part of the park.
Alton Towers confirms permanent closure
The closure was confirmed in a statement from Merlin Entertainments, the company behind Alton Towers Resort.
Merlin explained that the decision followed its regular review of rides and attractions as the 2026 peak season draws to a close.
The company indicated that operational requirements and the overall guest experience had been considered when reaching the decision.
Importantly, Alton Towers has not yet revealed what will replace The World of David Walliams, stating that future plans for the area will be announced once confirmed.
What attractions are affected?
The World of David Walliams opened on 17 May 2021, following a delayed launch caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Built around characters and stories from the children's author's books, the area transformed a section of the former Cloud Cuckoo Land into a colourful family destination.
The headline attraction was Gangsta Granny: The Ride, an indoor dark ride that took guests on an adventure to steal the Crown Jewels alongside Granny and Ben.
Featuring rotating ride vehicles, projections and special effects, the attraction was designed to offer an accessible experience for families rather than the high-speed thrills normally associated with Alton Towers.
Other attractions and facilities within the themed area included:
- Raj's Bouncy Bottom Burp - A small bouncing ride aimed at younger visitors.
- The Royal Carousel - A traditional family carousel given a royal makeover.
- Raj's Shop - Themed retail inspired by characters from the books.
- The Burger Kitchen - A food outlet located within the area.
Flavio's Fabulous Fandango was also part of the original land, although that attraction had already departed following the 2024 season.
The announcement confirms the permanent closure of the themed land, but it does not establish whether every existing ride will be physically removed or whether some could return under different branding.
The closure follows months of speculation
While the announcement has only just been made official, the future of The World of David Walliams had been questioned for some time.
During September, visitors reported that the area was operating on a reduced schedule, with several attractions unavailable during quieter weekdays.
At the time, Alton Towers explained that the land would continue operating on selected dates, including weekends and its autumn events.
That initially suggested the reduced opening schedule could simply be a seasonal operational decision. However, with the permanent closure now confirmed, those final weeks have effectively become the area's farewell period.
What role did the David Walliams controversy play?
The closure also comes amid wider developments surrounding David Walliams and his publishing career.
HarperCollins confirmed in December 2025 that it would no longer publish new books by the author following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female staff. Subsequent reporting indicated that the publisher would also stop reprinting his existing catalogue.
Walliams has strongly denied allegations of inappropriate conduct. His representative previously stated that he had not been informed of the allegations or given an opportunity to respond during the publisher's investigation.
Although the timing of the Alton Towers decision has attracted attention, Merlin has not publicly attributed the land's closure to the controversy. Its explanation instead refers to the resort's regular attraction review and operational and guest experience considerations.
What could replace The World of David Walliams?
Perhaps the biggest question is what Alton Towers intends to do with the space.
The former Cloud Cuckoo Land site sits within an established part of the park, and the existing attractions offer several possibilities for redevelopment.
One option could be to remove the David Walliams branding and give some of the existing rides a new identity. The Royal Carousel, for example, is a traditional ride format that could potentially operate within an entirely different themed area.
Gangsta Granny: The Ride presents a more interesting question. Its indoor ride system and purpose-built building could potentially provide the foundations for a replacement dark ride, although the extent of any required changes would depend on the new concept.
Alternatively, Alton Towers could use the closure as an opportunity for a wider redevelopment, introducing an entirely new family-focused land.
These possibilities are speculative, however. No replacement theme, new attraction or reopening date has been confirmed.
A short-lived chapter for Alton Towers
For a themed area that only opened in 2021, five years is a relatively short lifespan.
Its original launch was intended to bring a recognisable collection of children's stories to life, offering another family-friendly option alongside the park's larger roller coasters and CBeebies Land.
While the land itself may be disappearing, it does not necessarily mean every attraction within it has reached the end of its operational life.
For Alton Towers, this could become an opportunity to refresh an area that has seen relatively limited investment compared with some of the resort's more prominent developments.
With the 2026 season approaching its conclusion, there is now an opportunity for changes to take place before the park's next main season. Whether that results in a relatively straightforward retheme or something more ambitious remains to be seen.
What happens next?
For now, The World of David Walliams is officially closed, and guests should not expect its attractions to be operating as part of the former themed land.
Alton Towers has encouraged visitors to check the resort's website and official app for the latest attraction information, particularly as the park moves into its winter operating schedule.
We will be watching closely for further announcements about the site's future, including whether any of its existing rides could be retained.
Would you like to see Alton Towers transform the existing attractions into a new themed land, or should the park start again with something completely different?
