Alton Towers has announced that the World of David Walliams area of the theme park has closed with immediate effect.
The World of David Walliams opened in May 2021 and was aimed at younger children aged between 7 and 11.
A spokesperson for Alton Towers operator Merlin Entertainments said: “As the 2026 peak season at Alton Towers Resort comes to an end and following our regular review of rides and attractions across the resort, we have taken the decision to permanently close the World Of David Walliams.”
The long-delayed Project Horizon indoor rollercoaster was expected to be built adjacent to the World of David Walliams.
Last year, author Walliams, 55, was dropped by his book publisher HarperCollins and later from Waterstone’s Children’s Book Festival.
He was dropped by his publisher following an investigation by the Telegraph newspaper into inappropriate behaviour towards young women.
A successful comedian in the 2000s, Walliams career has been re-evaluated in recent years. The Little Britain TV series has been retrospectively criticised by campaigners.
Featuring characters in blackface and of transgender nature, the series has attracted considerable criticism from modern analysts.
In 2022, reports emerged that he had made sexually explicit and derogatory remarks about contestants on Britain’s Got Talent – a series which he served as a panellist.
Walliams reportedly performed two Nazi salutes during the recording of the BBC’s 2025 Christmas special episode of the TV series Would I Lie to You?, drawing criticism. The BBC said the footage would not be broadcast.