The World of David Walliams attraction to close at Alton Towers

Alton Towers has confirmed the permanent closure of its World of David Walliams themed area, bringing an end to the attraction which opened at the popular Staffordshire theme park in 2021.

The section was developed over several years through a collaboration between the resort’s creative team, comedian and children’s author David Walliams, and HarperCollins Children’s Books.

However, the attraction has now closed for good, with the park confirming the news in a statement on its website. No explanation has been provided for the decision, although Alton Towers has been approached for further details.

In its statement, the resort said: “As we are no longer in the main season, guests are encouraged to check the Alton Towers Resort website and app for the latest attraction opening information ahead of their visit.”

The World of David Walliams brought several characters and stories from the author’s hugely popular children’s books to life, offering younger visitors a themed area packed with rides and attractions.

Among its best-known offerings was Gangsta Granny: The Ride, a 360° special effects experience inspired by one of Walliams’s most successful books.

Visitors could also enjoy Raj’s Bouncy Bottom Burp and the Royal Carousel, making the area a distinctive part of the resort’s family-friendly attractions.

Its closure marks the end of a relatively short chapter in Alton Towers’ history, with the themed land having welcomed visitors for around five years.

Walliams first became a household name through the hugely successful comedy sketch show Little Britain, which he created and starred in alongside Matt Lucas during the early 2000s.

He subsequently established an equally successful career as a children’s author, publishing his debut novel, The Boy in the Dress, through HarperCollins in 2008.

Since then, he has become one of Britain’s most commercially successful children’s writers, with his books selling more than 60 million copies worldwide and being translated into 55 languages.

Titles including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy have also made the transition from page to screen, with television adaptations remaining available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

However, Walliams’s publishing career has faced significant changes. Earlier this year, HarperCollins confirmed it would no longer publish his back catalogue, following the publisher’s decision to part ways with the author in 2025.

The closure of the Alton Towers attraction is another development involving the author’s association with major entertainment brands, although the theme park has not suggested that the decision is connected to the publishing changes.

For visitors who enjoyed exploring the fictional world of Walliams’s characters, the announcement will come as a disappointment, particularly for families who remember experiencing the rides since the area’s launch.

Alton Towers has yet to reveal what, if anything, will replace the attraction or whether the space will be redeveloped as part of future plans for the resort.

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