Drayton Manor unveils UK’s largest lake light show as park marks 75th anniversary

Drayton Manor, the UK’s best-value theme park, has unveiled what it calls the country’s biggest end-of-day light show, set to illuminate its lake beginning Oct. 25, 2025.

The display features a 30-meter water screen, more than 65 water jets, bursts of fire, vibrant lights and animated projections, with a "Monsters and Magic" theme tied to Halloween.

The production is led by CRYSTAL, the team behind the Paris Olympics opening ceremony and other large-scale water, light, sound and video projections, and is billed as the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom. The display will be included in the price of a day ticket, and smaller pre-shows will run throughout the day, with fountains shooting above the lake to a musical backdrop.

This year marks Drayton Manor’s 75th anniversary, and the park has described the new show as a once-in-a-generation milestone moment. Victoria Lynn, managing director, said: "This year marks our 75th anniversary, and we wanted to do something truly epic to mark the milestone. We have chosen to create something one-of-a-kind that will add a new emotional dimension to the Drayton Manor experience that we’re confident our visitors will love."

Drayton Manor has a long history of bringing families together over the last 75 years, and the new show will offer a fitting finale to every family day out, the park said. Michel Amann, CEO and creative director at CRYSTAL, said: "We’re incredibly excited to bring our world-class water show expertise to Drayton Manor, bringing the park’s iconic lake to life this autumn. After working closely with the operations team to develop an exciting, bespoke and never-before-seen creative concept, we’re thrilled to unveil a first look at the new end-of-day show and look forward to creating an epic experience for Drayton Manor’s visitors."

Drayton Manor is a family theme park, zoo and accommodation in the grounds of the former Drayton Manor, in Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, and it houses Europe’s only Thomas Land. The spectacle is part of the park’s broader effort to invest in new attractions and seasonal events aimed at attracting families through autumn.