Theme parks will check your temperature before letting you enter

Other strict rules include reducing ticket capacity and leaving empty rows on rides.

Theme parks across the country are set to reopen next month – but will follow strict measures to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Rules include reducing ticket capacity, leaving empty rows on rides and carrying out temperature checks.

Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures and Legoland – all owned by company Merlin Entertainment – announced an intention to reopen on July 4.

But to ensure the parks can reopen safely, the entertainment giant said it will be introducing a number of additional hygiene and safety measures.

Karen Glassey, operations director at Legoland Windsor, said: ‘We can’t wait to welcome you back and we wanted to start to tell you about the new hygiene and safety measures that we have been working on since we closed in March.

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‘As you’d expect, a day out or overnight stay at Legoland Windsor will feel a little different to before but everything we are introducing is with your safety, and our team’s safety, as our top priority.

‘You’ll be used to a lot of the new measures, such as social distancing in queues and being encouraged to use cards rather than cash, as these have become the new normal when visiting supermarkets and other shops.

‘But in preparation for reopening we have reviewed how we operate every single part of the park and hotels to make sure that you have a brilliant, safe visit. Some things to expect include a pre-booked ticket system to manage visitor numbers and different seating arrangements on rides.

‘In line with current government guidance, we hope to be able to reopen on Saturday, July 4.

‘Keep looking out over the next few weeks for a definite reopening date and more information about how to pre-book your tickets.’

Visitors are being told to pre-book tickets online to guarantee entry, asked to make contactless payments wherever possible, and keep two metres apart from other guests. They will also have to park as directed to allow social distancing guidelines to be followed.

Employees will wear PPE and enhanced cleaning will be carried out across the parks. Hand sanitiser will be made widely available for guests to use.

Guests will also have their temperatures checked before entry and anyone who is displaying a temperature above 37.8 degrees Celsius will not be allowed to enter.

Anyone showing Covid-19 symptoms is requested not to visit the parks.

People are also encouraged to bring their own face masks or coverings, with some available to purchase at the theme parks if necessary.

It comes after Boris Johnson is to announce zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas can reopen in England from next week in the latest move to ease lockdown measures.

Chessington World of Adventures, in Kingston upon Thames, will open its zoo section on June 18 in line with this announcement. The historic Alton Towers Gardens in Staffordshire have already reopened.

The theme parks will confirm their official reopening dates for certain later in the month.

Theme parks across the world are beginning to reopen for the summer after they were shut due to the pandemic.

Universal Orlando in Florida opened this week, while Efteling in the Netherlands and Europa-Park in Germany opened last month.

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