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NEWS
Banksy’s dystopian Dismaland generates £20m for Weston-super-Mare
POSTED 25 Sep 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
150,000 people have visited the art installation-cum-theme park
Banksy’s twisted spin on Disneyland has generated more than £20m (US$30.5m, €27.3m) for the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare since it opened five weeks ago.

Satirising the theme park and tourism industries, particularly Disneyland, Dismaland has somewhat ironically given a great boost to the industry it has poked fun at, with the town’s tourism businesses – such as hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and seaside attractions – reporting significant boosts in revenue, according to tourism body Visit Somerset.

The Hoteliers Association also reports that an additional 50,000 nights have been sold in Weston-super-Mare’s hotels, with each guest spending an average of £150 per night including dinner and drinks. In addition, local shop owners have received boosts in sales, restaurants have often been fully booked and Great Western Railways say that numbers on the Paddington to Weston line have more than doubled.

Set to close its doors on Sunday (27 September), more than 150,000 people have visited the art installation-cum-theme park based in a derelict lido, with more than 4,000 tickets being sold every day online and a further 500 queuing up daily for a chance to enter the pop-up, which sold out its entire ticket allocation.

Dismaland attractions include “Mini Gulf”, “Guerilla Island” and “Cinderella’s Castle”. Live comedy and music events have also taken place, with the band Massive Attack (from nearby Bristol) and Russian feminist punk act Pussy Riot among those who have performed at the attraction.

RELATED STORIES
  Damien Hirst and Massive Attack revealed as collaborators for Banksy's twisted theme park


Rumours that urban artist Banksy is behind a pop-up visitor attraction in Weston-super- Mare, England, were given further credence today (20 August) as Dismaland’s website went live.
  Banksy secretly creates twisted version of Disney theme park


Banksy has reportedly created a twisted version of a Disney theme park, which the anonymous street artist is planning to open this weekend as a pop-up visitor attraction in Weston-super-Mare, England.
  Banksy has say over disputed Bristol artwork attraction


A disputed artwork by renowned street artist Banksy looks set to be returned to the boy’s club which claimed it, after the artist expressed willing to help keep the club afloat.
  New Banksy piece becomes paid attraction hours after being discovered


A new graffito by renowned street artist Banksy has been removed within hours of being found and put on paid display by an ailing community centre.
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The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor, creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
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Toverland unveils €98m expansion plan as park prepares to launch resort development
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NEWS
Banksy’s dystopian Dismaland generates £20m for Weston-super-Mare
POSTED 25 Sep 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
150,000 people have visited the art installation-cum-theme park
Banksy’s twisted spin on Disneyland has generated more than £20m (US$30.5m, €27.3m) for the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare since it opened five weeks ago.

Satirising the theme park and tourism industries, particularly Disneyland, Dismaland has somewhat ironically given a great boost to the industry it has poked fun at, with the town’s tourism businesses – such as hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and seaside attractions – reporting significant boosts in revenue, according to tourism body Visit Somerset.

The Hoteliers Association also reports that an additional 50,000 nights have been sold in Weston-super-Mare’s hotels, with each guest spending an average of £150 per night including dinner and drinks. In addition, local shop owners have received boosts in sales, restaurants have often been fully booked and Great Western Railways say that numbers on the Paddington to Weston line have more than doubled.

Set to close its doors on Sunday (27 September), more than 150,000 people have visited the art installation-cum-theme park based in a derelict lido, with more than 4,000 tickets being sold every day online and a further 500 queuing up daily for a chance to enter the pop-up, which sold out its entire ticket allocation.

Dismaland attractions include “Mini Gulf”, “Guerilla Island” and “Cinderella’s Castle”. Live comedy and music events have also taken place, with the band Massive Attack (from nearby Bristol) and Russian feminist punk act Pussy Riot among those who have performed at the attraction.

RELATED STORIES
Damien Hirst and Massive Attack revealed as collaborators for Banksy's twisted theme park


Rumours that urban artist Banksy is behind a pop-up visitor attraction in Weston-super- Mare, England, were given further credence today (20 August) as Dismaland’s website went live.
Banksy secretly creates twisted version of Disney theme park


Banksy has reportedly created a twisted version of a Disney theme park, which the anonymous street artist is planning to open this weekend as a pop-up visitor attraction in Weston-super-Mare, England.
Banksy has say over disputed Bristol artwork attraction


A disputed artwork by renowned street artist Banksy looks set to be returned to the boy’s club which claimed it, after the artist expressed willing to help keep the club afloat.
New Banksy piece becomes paid attraction hours after being discovered


A new graffito by renowned street artist Banksy has been removed within hours of being found and put on paid display by an ailing community centre.
MORE NEWS
Expo 2030 Riyadh will create a permanent global destination
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
Australian waterpark acquisition creates new leisure attractions group
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor, creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
The London Museum’s new site will open in Smithfield, East London, on 28 November 2026.
Toverland unveils €98m expansion plan as park prepares to launch resort development
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi- day destination.
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
Warner Bros Discovery collaborates on upcoming Pompeii attraction
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
instantprint

We’re a Yorkshire-based online printer, founded in 2009 by Adam Carnell and James Kinsella. [more...]
Taylor Made Designs

Founded in 1993, Taylor Made Designs supply corporate clothing and brand-enhancing merchandise to [more...]
IDEATTACK

IDEATTACK is a full-service planning and design company with headquarters in Los Angeles. [more...]
DJW

David & Lynn Willrich started the Company over thirty years ago, from the Audio Visual Department [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026

Synergy - The Retreat Show

Pical Resort, Valamar Collection, Porec, Croatia
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

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