The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure is now open at Chessington World of Adventures after a launch event that included a book signing with author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler.

The Gruffalo is one of the UK's best-loved children's book characters and the story has been magically brought to life through a series of impressive sets featuring animatronics, projections, screens and music with various added effects including lighting, smoke, smells, sounds and water fountains.

The developer of the long-awaited London Paramount Entertainment Resort in Kent has said that it expects to open the £3.2 billion attraction in 2022. 

LRCH are confident that the development scheme at the Swanscombe Peninsula will be approved when what's known as a development consent order (DCO) is submitted to the government in November.

WOW Weekends are back at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, with the park open every weekend from 11th February to 26th March and then every day from 1st April 2017.

For just £16.25 when you book online, experience all the thrills of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, from steel mega coaster the Big One, the twists and turns of inverted coaster Infusion and the aerial thrills of Red Arrows Skyforce, to the more sedate surroundings of the River Caves, there’s something for everyone. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is also home to the UK’s only Nickelodeon Land and the world’s first Wallace & Gromit ride, Thrill-O-Matic.

Experience an all new terrifying destination on board Derren Brown’s Ghost Train: Rise of the Demon.

Take your one way ticket on a horrifying journey along the unpredictable tracks as you venture deeper and darker into the chilling depths of the unknown.

Unleashed from the dark are unseen characters, thrilling physical effects and more intense live action.

Are you brave enough to come face to face with Derren’s deepest, darkest thoughts?

Thomas Land at Drayton Manor will welcome a new family ride for 2017 to mark further expansion to the thriving attraction.

James and the Red Balloon, set to delight visitors from Saturday 1st April 2017, is based on the beloved Thomas and Friends™ character James and his naughty antics with a red hot air balloon. James will be joining the 20 other rides and attractions based on the popular series. Families can experience the magic of Sodor like never before as they fly up, up and away in their very own balloon.

CBeebies Land at Alton Towers to be even bigger and better in 2017 with the arrival of two new attractions, the Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Ride and The Furchester Hotel Live Show.

The latest additions to the theme park open on the 25th March, and will be located between the existing Big Fun Show Time Arena and the Tree Fu Tom Training Camp.

LEGOLAND Windsor plans to open NINJAGO World with NINJAGO The Ride in 2017 and have submitted a planning application for the new land and attraction.

NINJAGO The Ride is manufactured by Triotech, a world leader in media based interactive attractions, and features cutting-edge technology that enables guests to control the outcome of their adventure through the power of their hand gestures. Through 3D imagery, high-tech sensors and the use of hand movements in a striking motion, up to four riders per car, representing the four main NINJAGO characters, can blast animated fireballs, lightning, shockwaves and ice as they travel through dojos to master their skills before heading into battle. Riders collect points for their training and battle efforts throughout the ride and scores are displayed when their quest is completed. 4D effects such as heat, smoke and wind are also incorporated throughout the adventure, giving guests the ultimate interactive experience.

Chessington World of Adventures has now confirmed that The Gruffalo will be joining the theme park in 2017, which follows months of speculation and recent clues.

The Gruffalo, who's known as one of the UK's best-loved children's book characters, has recently been spotted at Chessington World of Adventures. Standing at a whopping seven feet tall, with purple prickles all over his back and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose, The Gruffalo has made quite the entrance at the park.

With the Halloween season upon us and a huge choice of spooktacular events to choose from, we've rounded up this year's highlights at the UK's theme parks and beyond for The Ultimate Guide to Halloween in 2016.

All of the most popular theme parks are as usual offering a comprehensive array of frightful fun, including Scarefest at Alton Towers, Fright Nights at Thorpe Park, Howl'o'ween at Chessington World of Adventures, Drayton Manor's More Treat Than Trick and LEGOLAND's Brick or Treat.

The UK’s original pleasure park Dreamland Margate once again transforms into a world of nightmares with Screamland, Vampire Pleasure Beach will return to Blackpool Pleasure Beach as part of a week of Halloween activities, and Twinlakes is a Family Scream Park by day and an Xtreme Scream Park by night.

There's also a great lineup of family events at many other theme parks in the UK including Paultons Park, Lightwater Valley, Flamingo Land, Pleasurewood Hills and Oakwood.

Looking beyond the UK's theme parks, Tulley's Shocktober Fest is the largest of many dedicated scare attractions around the UK and Warwick Castle becomes The Haunted Castle for Halloween.

The multi-award winning Screamland is back and more terrifying than ever! We were invited to Dreamland for a special preview, as the UK's original pleasure park is once again transformed into a world of nightmares.

SPOILER WARNING: our review does contain spoilers, so if you want your experience to be a complete surprise don't read on...