This week saw plans revealed for the new ‘Disneyland London’ theme park set to begin construction in 2021. The park is known as the London Resort and will be located in Swanscombe, near Dartford, with the first section opening in 2024.
While the UK getting its own Disneyland will be long overdue for some, there’s a plethora of more unusual theme parks to explore once travel recommences, from an underground salt mine to a nuclear power plant.
Your weird and wonderful (virtual) tour starts here…
BonBon-Land, Denmark
Safe to say the kids will love the exploration of all the bodily functions at this bizarre Danish theme park just outside of Copenhagen.
BonBon was originally a brand of sweets with delightful names such as ‘Seagull Droppings’ and ‘Dog Farts’. The owner went on to open a theme park in the early 1990s, and took his vision to the next level with large-scale rides based on similar scatological ideas. So there’s the Skid Mark rollercoaster, animal statues that look like they belong on a seaside postcard, and the park’s mascot, Henry the Farting Dog.
Mickey Mouse, eat your heart out.
Salina Turda, Romania
The site of a former salt mine in Romania’s Transylvania region, this breathtaking theme park is built entirely underground. First opened in 1992, it features a boating lake, miniature golf and a ferris wheel amongst other activities. Great for cooling down on a hot day, although you might want to wait for the lift on leaving, rather than take the stairs – it’s a 400-foot climb back up!
The Holyland Experience, Florida
This Christian-themed museum and ‘experience’ is certainly not the most visited theme park in Orlando, Florida, but still makes for a family day out with a difference. The park veers dangerously close to distasteful, with its mock Jerusalem stone and biblical characters in Middle Eastern dress performing musical numbers. However, the Scriptorium contains genuine treasures such as manuscripts, tablets and religious artefacts dating back thousands of years.
The HE’s future looks uncertain as of February 2020 so it may be a case of watching this space if you plan to visit.
Kingdom of the Little People, China
The Kingdom of the Little People, aka ‘World Eco Garden of Butterflies and the Dwarf Empire’ in Yunnan Province has been the subject of much controversy over the years.
Some view it as exploitative or no better than a zoo, with a workforce all under 4ft 3in, performing songs, plays and dances for the entertainment of the masses. Others see it differently, with employees stating they have found a sense of community and a lack of the kind of discrimination they would face elsewhere in the country.
Wunderland Kalkar, Germany
Ever fancied a trip to a nuclear power station?
Wunderland Kalkar was never operational as a power plant due to concerns from the local community, and some might say it’s been put to better use, as you can now enjoy a spin around the former cooling tower on the swings, amongst various other rides.
More fairground than theme park, Dutch investor Hennie van der Most transformed what would have been an abandoned site into a tourist attraction and hotel complex that sees 30,000 people a year come through its gates.
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