Woodlands Family Theme Park

Woodlands Family Theme Park is a family-oriented amusement park in the Devon countryside, located on the A3122 road approximately five miles from Dartmouth in South Devon, England. The attraction combines outdoor rides, large indoor play facilities, animal exhibits, and a falconry display, positioning it as an all-weather day-out destination rather than a conventional thrill-ride park. Its facilities are spread across more than 90 acres, or approximately 36 hectares, and are designed primarily for families with children. The site has been associated with the Bendall family since 1971, when the family purchased a 200-acre dairy farm. The business later diversified from agriculture and developed a leisure operation. In 1989, part of the property was converted into a leisure park and caravan park, establishing the basis of the present Woodlands attraction. The park remains family owned through Bendalls Leisure Ltd, a company that also owns Twinlakes Theme Park and Wheelgate Park. Woodlands is structured around several themed or activity-focused play zones. These areas combine rides, play equipment, and other attractions, allowing visitors to move between indoor and outdoor activities. The park is reported to have around 16 rides and approximately 500 animals. Its indoor play centres include venture equipment, soft-play areas, and smaller rides, providing alternatives during poor weather and supporting the park's all-weather positioning. A notable part of the visitor offer is the falconry display, which features more than 50 birds of prey. This element gives the park an educational and wildlife-oriented dimension alongside its amusement facilities. Other visitor infrastructure includes a café, shop, landscaped areas, and purpose-built buildings and play equipment. The Bendall family has been involved in designing the park's layout, buildings, landscaping, café, shop, and play facilities. The park attracted approximately 60,000 visitors in its first year of operation. Reference material describes average annual leisure-park attendance as approximately 350,000 visitors, although no specific reporting period or independently verifiable financial disclosure is provided. Woodlands also runs seasonal programming, including Halloscream Week during the October half-term holiday. The event adds a Halloween theme to the park's normal family attractions. In July 2025, nine rides were closed following inspections by the UK's Health and Safety Executive. The rides were subsequently reopened. The episode represents a safety-related operational interruption, but the available reference material does not establish a lasting change in ownership, operating status, or the park's overall business model. Woodlands continues to be described as an active family theme park operated within the Bendalls Leisure group.

Woodlands Family Theme Park developed from a Bendall family agricultural property in South Devon. The family purchased the site in 1971 as a 200-acre dairy farm. For much of its early existence, the land was primarily agricultural, but the owners later diversified into leisure and tourism. In 1989, approximately 90 acres were developed as a leisure park and caravan park, creating the operating foundation for Woodlands Family Theme Park. The park was conceived and developed as a family attraction rather than as a large-scale thrill-ride resort. The Bendall family has been involved in the design of the site's layout, buildings, café, shop, landscaping, and play equipment. This family-led approach has remained a defining feature of the business, which continues to operate as part of the privately owned Bendalls Leisure Ltd group. The same group also owns Twinlakes Theme Park and Wheelgate Park. Woodlands recorded approximately 60,000 visitors in its first year. Reference material later describes average annual leisure-park attendance at around 350,000 visitors, although the period covered by that figure is not specified. Over time, the attraction expanded its combination of outdoor rides, play areas, indoor facilities, animals, and wildlife presentations. Its location in the Devon countryside and its indoor facilities support a broad, weather-resilient family day-out proposition. The park's attractions include around 16 rides and several play zones. The indoor centres contain venture equipment, soft play, and rides, while the outdoor estate provides additional play and amusement areas. Animal-related attractions form another part of the offer: the park is described as housing around 500 animals, with a falconry display featuring more than 50 birds of prey. This combination differentiates Woodlands from an amusement park focused only on mechanical rides. Seasonal programming has also become part of the attraction's calendar. During the October half-term holiday, Woodlands hosts Halloscream Week, introducing Halloween-themed entertainment and activities. The event complements the park's regular family programming while creating a distinct seasonal reason to visit. A notable operational event occurred in July 2025, when nine rides were closed following inspections by the UK's Health and Safety Executive. The rides were later reopened. The available account does not provide further detail on the inspection findings or indicate that the incident resulted in a permanent closure, ownership change, or change in the park's operating model. Woodlands remains an active family theme park within Bendalls Leisure Ltd.

• 2025

  Nine rides temporarily closed after safety inspections

  [1]Woodlands Family Theme Parken.wikipedia.org

  Nine rides were closed in July following inspections by the UK's Health and Safety Executive and were later reopened.

• 1989

  Farm site diversified into a leisure and caravan park

  [1]Woodlands Family Theme Parken.wikipedia.org

  Approximately 90 acres were developed for leisure use and a caravan park, marking the transition from an agricultural property to a visitor attraction.

• 1989

  First year of park operation

  [1]Woodlands Family Theme Parken.wikipedia.org

  The park's first year attracted approximately 60,000 visitors.

• 1971

  Bendall family purchases the agricultural site

  [1]Woodlands Family Theme Parken.wikipedia.org

  The Bendall family acquired the property as a 200-acre dairy farm, establishing the site from which the later leisure business developed.

An all-weather, family-focused countryside theme park combining rides, indoor play, animals, and falconry rather than concentrating solely on high-intensity thrill rides.

• Amusement rides

  Family amusement rides

  Woodlands offers approximately 16 rides within a broader family amusement setting. The ride portfolio is presented as part of a mixed attraction offer that also includes play areas, animals, and indoor facilities. The available reference does not identify each ride or provide technical specifications, capacity data, or individual launch dates.

• Indoor family entertainment

  Indoor play centres

  The park's indoor play centres contain venture equipment, soft-play structures, and rides. These facilities support the park's all-weather proposition and give families an alternative to the outdoor attractions when conditions are unsuitable. Specific facility names, capacities, and opening dates are not identified in the available material.

• Wildlife and educational attraction

  Falconry display

  The falconry display is a distinctive part of Woodlands' offer and features more than 50 birds of prey. It adds a wildlife and demonstration component to the park, broadening the experience beyond rides and play equipment. The available reference does not specify the individual species, performance schedule, or presentation format.

• Animals and wildlife

  Animal attractions

  Woodlands is described as having around 500 animals, making animal and wildlife content a substantial part of the visitor proposition. The source material does not provide a complete inventory or distinguish between permanent exhibits, working animals, and seasonal displays.

• Seasonal event

  Halloscream Week

  Halloscream Week is a Halloween-themed programme held during the October half-term holiday. It provides seasonal entertainment within the existing park environment. Details about the programme's individual activities, pricing, and annual variation are not available in the supplied reference.

• Halloscream Week

  United Kingdom

  A recurring Halloween-themed event staged during the October half-term period, using seasonal programming to complement Woodlands' regular rides, play facilities, and animal attractions.

  Source

• 2025

  Temporary closure of nine rides after regulatory inspectionsOther

  Background

  The UK's Health and Safety Executive inspected rides at the park in July 2025.

  Action taken

  Nine rides were closed following the inspections.

  Aftermath

  The rides were subsequently reopened. The available source does not state the findings or any long-term operational consequences.

  Source

• 1989

  Diversification from agriculture into leisureStrategy

  Background

  The Bendall family had acquired the site as a dairy farm in 1971 and later pursued a tourism and leisure use for part of the property.

  Action taken

  Approximately 90 acres were converted into a leisure park and caravan park, forming the basis of Woodlands Family Theme Park.

  Aftermath

  The site developed into a large family attraction with rides, indoor play, animals, and falconry, and remains part of the Bendalls Leisure business.

  Source

1. 1Woodlands Family Theme Parken.wikipedia.org
2. 2Woodlands Family Theme Park official websitewoodlandspark.com