New record-breaking £8.72m ride opens at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The day has finally arrived… the UK’s tallest ride is now open to the public.

After first being announced back in May 2025, thrill-seekers have been hotly anticipating the arrival of Blackpool Pleasure Beach‘s newest ride, Aviktas, for the past year – and now, the time has come, as passengers have travelled from across the country to be among the first to experience the adrenaline-pumping spectacle.

Not for the faint of heart, Aviktas launches its riders 138 feet into the air while reaching angles of up to 120 degrees.  

Now officially open at the iconic Lancashire seaside theme park, Aviktas has became the largest ride of its kind in the UK – almost doubling the size of the previous tallest, Maelstrom at Drayton Manor.

The jaw-dropping new ride features a unique design that’s been engineered to ‘maximise thrills’.

According to its creators, Aviktas’ restraints create a sense of freedom leaving its riders feeling weightless as they soar towards its 138 foot peak.

Pleasure Beach has invested £8.72m into the attraction, marking it as its biggest single investment in eight years.

“Pleasure Beach has always had a reputation for going big and pushing boundaries, and Aviktas is no exception,” commented Amanda Thompson OBE, who is the CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort.

“Its sheer size and presence speaks for itself, there is simply nothing like it in the UK. We wanted to build something that sets us apart from anywhere else and gives our guests a genuine must-visit reason to come to the park.

Read more:

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• Exclusive glimpse at new ‘tallest of its kind’ ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
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“This project is another reminder of our commitment to making Pleasure Beach one of the world’s greatest theme parks.”

Aviktas is now open at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Featured Image – Supplied