Alton Towers closes The World of David Walliams

Alton Towers has shut The World of David Walliams for good. The Staffordshire resort said the area would be permanently closed from Tuesday 3 November 2026, about five years after it opened in 2021 [2] [3].

What has closed

The area was built around the children's books of David Walliams, and its rides are now unavailable. Gangsta Granny: The Ride was the headline attraction. Based on the 2011 novel, it put guests in a Royal Carriage for what appears to be a tour of the Crown Jewels, then follows a boy named Ben and his grandmother on a heist [2].

Attractions Daily describes it as a 4D experience that mixed motion with 3D projection mapping, animation inspired by the illustrator Tony Ross and sensory effects [2]. Raj's Bouncy Bottom Burp, a junior drop tower, and The Royal Carousel closed with it [2] [3].

The shops and food outlets went too. Attractions Daily lists Raj's Corner Shop, which sold themed merchandise and books from the Walliams range [2]. AOL names Raj's Shop and The Burger Kitchen as part of the area [3].

The closure covers the whole themed area, not a single ride. The park described the closure as permanent for the area as a whole, and neither report mentions any part of it staying open [2] [3].

In short, three rides and at least one shop have gone. Gangsta Granny: The Ride follows Ben and his grandmother, who is a secret jewel thief, on a heist [2]. Raj's Bouncy Bottom Burp is a junior drop tower [2]. The Royal Carousel is the third ride on the list given by both Attractions Daily and AOL [2] [3]. Attractions Daily describes the owner as the Merlin-owned resort and quotes the park's update, which says the area "will be permanently closed from Tuesday 3 November 2026" [2].

What Alton Towers said

Merlin Entertainments said the decision followed the end of the 2026 peak season and a regular review of rides and attractions [3] [2].

AOL adds that it is understood the decision weighed a range of operational and guest experience factors [3].

Some coverage places the closure next to developments in Walliams's publishing career. HarperCollins, his publisher, dropped him in December 2025 after an investigation into allegations that he had "harassed" young women, according to AOL. The same report says Walliams strongly denies behaving inappropriately, says he was never told of the allegations or given a chance to respond, and is taking legal advice [3].

Attractions Daily reports that in September 2026 HarperCollins said it would stop publishing his back catalogue, following its December 2025 decision not to publish new titles. It adds that neither Alton Towers nor Merlin has linked the closure to these events [2].

How the area came to Alton Towers

The partnership was announced on 17 October 2019. The new area replaced Cloud Cuckoo Land and was developed by Merlin Magic Making with Walliams and HarperCollins Children's Books [2].

Gangsta Granny: The Ride was revealed in January 2020, and the opening was planned for spring 2020. That date passed without an opening, and the report gives no reason. The area opened in 2021 [2] [3].

Walliams began publishing children's books in 2008 [2]. AOL names The Boy in the Dress and Fing among his books and says he has sold more than 60 million books worldwide [3].

What comes next

Merlin's spokesperson framed the closure as part of a routine end-of-season review, and the park has said it will announce plans for the space once they are confirmed [3].

Alton Towers has not said what will take the place of the area, or whether anything is planned. AOL reports that plans for the space will be announced once they are confirmed [3], while Attractions Daily says the resort has not said when it will announce plans [2].

For readers searching whether the area is still there, the answer is no. The area was permanently closed from 3 November 2026, and the park has put out no date for a replacement or a reopening [2] [3].

Until then, the rides, shop and carousel are unavailable to visitors [2]. Neither Alton Towers nor Merlin has linked the closure to the publishing news, and the park has not said when it will announce what happens to the site [2] [3].