---
title: "South East England"
description: "South East England’s attraction history includes an example of a former industrial site taking on a new role.The story behind the day outA gravel pit becomes a leisure landscapeThorpe Park opened in 1979 on a former gravel-pit site in Surrey. Its official heritage account explains that partial flooding helped produce the distinctive water-based landscape around the park. The setting was therefore shaped by an earlier use of the land. The destination’s later ride developments sit within that inherited landscape, making the physical site part of the park’s historical identity.Sources & further readingThorpe Park · Official heritageHistorical sources checked 25 October 2026."
canonical_url: "https://thmprk.com/region/south-east-england/"
markdown_url: "https://thmprk.com/region/south-east-england/index.md"
language: "en-US"
content_type: "taxonomy_archive"
taxonomy: "job_listing_region"
term_id: 242
page: 1
---

# South East England

South East England’s attraction history includes an example of a former industrial site taking on a new role.

The story behind the day out

## A gravel pit becomes a leisure landscape

Thorpe Park opened in 1979 on a former gravel-pit site in Surrey. Its official heritage account explains that partial flooding helped produce the distinctive water-based landscape around the park. The setting was therefore shaped by an earlier use of the land. The destination’s later ride developments sit within that inherited landscape, making the physical site part of the park’s historical identity.

### Sources & further reading

- [Thorpe Park · Official heritage](<https://thorpepark.com/about-thorpe-park/heritage/>)

Historical sources checked 25 October 2026.

2 published places. Page 1 of 1.

- [LEGOLAND Windsor](<https://thmprk.com/visit/theme-parks/england/legoland-windsor-resort/legoland-windsor/>) · [Markdown](<https://thmprk.com/visit/theme-parks/england/legoland-windsor-resort/legoland-windsor/index.md>); location: Windsor, Berkshire, England.
- [Thorpe Park](<https://thmprk.com/visit/theme-parks/england/thorpe-park-resort/thorpe-park/>) · [Markdown](<https://thmprk.com/visit/theme-parks/england/thorpe-park-resort/thorpe-park/index.md>); location: Chertsey, Surrey, England.


Canonical source: https://thmprk.com/region/south-east-england/