Oakwood Theme Park is no more. 

After nearly four decades of entertaining families in Pembrokeshire, it shut its gates for good on 4 March 2025. The owners, Aspro Parks, blamed “unrelenting economic challenges.” No surprise there. The cost of keeping a theme park running isn’t what it used to be. Despite investing over £25 million since 2008, they couldn’t keep up with rising expenses, dwindling visitor numbers, and changing entertainment habits. Once a summer holiday staple, Oakwood is now just another casualty of the UK’s struggling theme park industry.

​In light of these closures, it’s evident that the entertainment landscape is shifting, with consumers seeking more flexible and accessible options. One area experiencing growth is online sports betting platforms, particularly those that prioritise user privacy. For instance, betting sites, which have been reviewed and tested by PokerScout, offer a no-verification betting experience, allowing users to engage without the traditional KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures. This trend towards anonymity and ease of access reflects a broader move in the leisure industry towards accommodating changing consumer preferences.

This shift in consumer behaviour raises questions about how traditional attractions can compete in an era where convenience and digital experiences are taking centre stage.

Running a theme park today is a financial tightrope act. Energy bills have soared. Ride maintenance is expensive. Staffing costs have climbed. And visitors? Fewer than ever. Families are feeling the pinch, and when budgets get tight, an expensive day out at a theme park isn’t at the top of the list.  

A recent example of these challenges can be seen in Brighton, where the i360 attraction narrowly avoided closure through a major seafront deal. This highlights both the financial pressures faced by traditional attractions and the innovative solutions required to keep them afloat.

Even those who still want the thrill of a ride are looking elsewhere—Europe’s bigger, flashier parks are pulling UK visitors abroad, while immersive VR experiences are making traditional rides seem outdated.

Oakwood Theme Park’s closure isn’t an isolated case. Flambards in Cornwall closed down at the end of 2024. Camelot Theme Park in Lancashire disappeared over a decade ago. The grand vision of the London Resort—hailed as Britain’s answer to Disneyland—never made it past the drawing board. Financial headaches, legal disputes, and a tangle of environmental regulations brought the ambitious project to its knees before a single ride was built.

Meanwhile, across the UK, theme parks are fighting to stay relevant in a world where convenience wins out over spectacle. Why stand in long queues when a few taps on a screen can deliver instant entertainment? Streaming services, immersive gaming, and virtual reality offer the kind of thrills that don’t require overpriced tickets, travel expenses, or hours of waiting in line. The question is, can traditional parks keep up? Or are they slowly becoming relics of the past?

This decline isn’t limited to theme parks; high street businesses are also feeling the strain, with major chains like Argos and Costa among those shutting their doors in 2024, further highlighting the widespread economic downturn affecting local communities. 

Is there hope for the industry? Maybe. The parks that survive are the ones that evolve. Some are integrating cutting-edge tech, blending physical rides with virtual reality. Others are focusing on immersive storytelling, creating experiences that feel more like stepping into a movie than simply riding a rollercoaster. 

The golden era of UK theme parks? That’s long gone. The question now is whether what comes next can ever replace what’s been lost.