A century-old rollercoaster believed to be the oldest of its kind still operating in Britain has been permanently shut, marking the end of an era for one of the country’s most historic amusement rides. Dreamland Margate in Kent announced on Tuesday that its iconic Scenic Railway will no longer operate as a ride, saying the landmark attraction has reached the end of its working life after more than 100 years.
In a statement, the amusement park said the decision followed an extensive series of technical inspections, assessments and consultations, which ultimately concluded that the wooden rollercoaster could no longer continue to function safely in its current form. The park described the closure as the Scenic Railway taking “well-earned retirement from operation as a ride”.
The Scenic Railway, a Grade II* listed structure and one of Dreamland’s signature attractions, has been out of service since 2024 due to a fault. Since then, engineers and heritage experts have examined the viability of further repairs. However, Dreamland said it was determined that the historic ride had reached the end of its operational lifespan, despite previous efforts to preserve it.
The decision was taken in close consultation with key heritage and public bodies, including The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England and Thanet District Council. According to Dreamland, these discussions were crucial in reaching a consensus on how best to protect the structure while recognising the limitations imposed by its age and condition.
First opened to the public in 1920, the Scenic Railway has long been a defining feature of the Margate seafront and a symbol of traditional British seaside entertainment. Historic England records show that the wooden rollercoaster survived multiple fires over the decades, including major incidents in 1949 and 1957. The ride was forced to close in 2005 and suffered significant damage during an arson attack in 2008, raising serious concerns about its future at the time.
Following years of uncertainty, the Scenic Railway was restored and reopened in 2015 as part of an £18 million investment aimed at reviving Dreamland, which had remained closed to the public for nearly a decade. The restoration was widely seen as a major heritage success, allowing visitors to once again experience a rare example of early 20th-century amusement engineering.
While the ride will no longer carry passengers, Dreamland has stressed that the Scenic Railway will not disappear from public life altogether. The park said it is committed to developing a long-term plan to reimagine the historic structure so it can be enjoyed by future generations in a new and creative way. A spokesperson said the park intends to “reinvent” the attraction, ensuring its legacy continues beyond its days as a functioning rollercoaster.
As part of these efforts, Dreamland plans to host a pop-up exhibition later in 2026 showcasing the history of the Scenic Railway, its cultural significance and the memories associated with it. The park has also reached out to the public through social media, inviting people to share ideas on how the structure could be repurposed and to submit personal recollections of riding the rollercoaster.
Posting an open call for suggestions, Dreamland encouraged members of the public with creative yet practical ideas to come forward, saying it was keen to hear from both visionary thinkers and those with achievable proposals. The initiative reflects the park’s intention to keep the Scenic Railway at the heart of Dreamland’s identity, even as its role evolves.
The closure of the Scenic Railway as an operational ride marks a significant moment in British leisure history, bringing down the curtain on a century of thrills while opening the door to a new chapter for one of the nation’s most treasured seaside landmarks.
