Butlin’s opens huge new £2.5m attraction – with six play zones, the UK’s longest swingline and light-up slides
BUTLIN’S has launched a brand new attraction right in time for the school summer holidays.
The new £2.5million attraction opened today at Butlin’s Minehead in Somerset.
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Similar to the one already open at Skegness, the Skypark playground has six play zones as well as the UK’s longest swingline, measuring 137ft.
Each of the play zones have been themed around positive play emotions and provide a dedicated area where younger guests to play.
There are plenty of other features too like a wheelchair-friendly seesaw, trampolines and two intertwining slides that light-up.
The entire playground also lights up at night, for families who are after an amazing after-dark experience.
Minehead will also be the first Butlin’s resort to open a Changing Places Toilet facility.
Located next to the new playground, the new Changing Places Toilet has been designed to be fully inclusive with a height-adjustable changing bench, a ceiling hoist and tracking, and a toilet with transfer space either side.
Guests on family breaks, and any holidaymakers on a day pass, can visit the Skypark playground for free.
Over the last year, Butlin’s has invested £23million into redeveloping its Minehead Resort after the site was heavily impacted by flooding last September.
The multi-million investment project has seen 400 units of accommodation being completely renovated.
Craig Goodwin, Resort Director at Minehead said: “We’re delighted to have opened our incredible new truly inclusive SKYPARK playground.
“As the Home of Entertainment, nowhere else offers fun like Butlin’s, so with SKYPARK and all our other new openings we’re confident guests staying with us in Minehead will have the best holiday experience.
“We’ve come a long way since the devastating floods last year and I am proud of all these new openings and what our resort has to offer our guests.
“We want all our guests to enjoy their holiday and use our facilities in safety and comfort, which is why we’re pleased to have partnered with Changing Places Toilet.”
BIG WEEKENDER HEADLINERS 2025
Meanwhile, the Butlin’s Big Weekenders are already set to make a return next year.
Next year, Butlin’s will host 15 different Big Weekender themed breaks, featuring a choice of musical eras from the 80s, 90s and 00s.
Pop legends like Matt Goss and Busted‘s Charlie Simpson will be performing on set weekends in 2025.
Platinum-selling artist Matt Goss will be headlining an “Ultimate 80s” break, while Charlie Simpson will perform a DJ set straight from the 00s.
Other artists are also slated to perform throughout the year, including Peter Andre, Blue and Boyzlife.
NEW ADDITIONS AT BUTLIN’S
Meanwhile, there are lots of exciting upcoming additions at the holiday parks.
The new £12million Maple Walk lodges are opening at the Skegness holiday park, with 128 premium accommodation options a short walk from the main park.
And the new indoor activity centre PLAYXPERIENCE is to open at Bognor Regis after summer.
The £15million attraction will have two floors of games and activities, including escape rooms and VR experiences.
How has Butlin's changed over the years?
TRAVEL writer Catherine Lofthouse has been visiting the Butlin’s parks for 40 years – here’s her verdict:
“When I was little, my family would head to Butlin’s every July for a week by the sea, and I even worked at the Minehead resort as a lifeguard in my teens.
“One thing that’s always set Butlin’s apart from its rivals are the photo opportunities that you have during your break, including Teletubbies and TV star Stephen Mulhern.
“There’s also lots of sports and activities to choose from, like football, archery, crafts and soft play.
“One of the things I miss from holidays gone by are the monorails that ran at Skegness and Minehead from the 1960s for forty years.
“I think Butlin’s lost its way a bit in the 2000s when it seemed to become a mecca for stag and hen dos, but in the last decade, there’s been a bit of a turnaround in terms of rebranding and investment.
“I would say that anyone who hasn’t been for a while or who has written Butlin’s off as not for them might be wise to give it another go.”
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