The three theme parks an hour's drive from Manchester named among best in the world

Three theme parks around an hour's drive from Manchester have been named among the best in the world.

On Wednesday (June 21), Tripadvisor announced the winners of its 2023 Traveller's Choice Awards. Blackpool Pleasure Beach came out on top for the UK, in the best Amusement Parks & Water Parks category.

The Lancashire attraction was ranked the eighth best amusement park in the world, climbing six places from the previous year. The theme park boasts 125 rides and attractions, five water rides and the UK's only Nickelodeon Land.

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Meanwhile Alton Towers Resort, in Stoke-on-Trent, came in at number 12 on the global list, and Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire took the number 20 spot. Elsewhere in the UK, The Milky Way Adventure Park in Clovelly, Devon, made the list at number 10.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach earned a score of four out of five from Tripadvisor reviewers, while Alton Towers and Drayton Manor also scored four.

The best amusement park in the world was won by Siam Park in Tenerife. The Thai-themed water park, on the Spanish Canary Island, off the coast of West Africa, attracts almost 1.2 million visitors each year.

The Tripadvisor awards are based on the analysis of twelve months of Tripadvisor review data from May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, with input from millions of travellers across the globe. Kate Urquhart, General Manager, Experiences at Tripadvisor, said: “Experiences turn travellers into adventurers, connecting them with the local community and giving them unforgettable stories for years to come.

"With more than 300,000 bookable experiences in over 250,000 destinations worldwide, Tripadvisor helps people access the best