Alton Towers and Thorpe Park have confirmed their 2021 season commencement dates and have placed tickets on sale.
In a move widely seen as a drive to improve cash flow, operators Merlin Entertainments have confirmed operating calendars for the parks earlier than usual.
Entry tickets are now sale, with Alton Towers beginning its season on 20 March, with Thorpe Park following on 27 March.
Both theme parks’ calendars show continuous opening through to the end of September, with no closed dates in between.
The seasons are expected to run until early November as usual, although dates beyond the end of September are not currently shown on the parks’ websites.
Merlin’s other two UK theme parks – Chessington World of Adventures and Legoland Windsor – are yet to confirm their 2021 operating calendars, or place tickets on sale.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach had previously announced that it will open as normal next year, beginning with its usual early weekend-only operations on 13 February.
Other theme parks are yet to announce their 2021 plans; however, this is normal for this point in the current season.