I haven't blogged about this before because 1) it has nothing to do with SFF, and 2) I couldn't believe it's actually true. But I've seen enough links now to finally convince me; if this is a hoax, it's too big and all-encompassing for me to fight it anymore.

A Charles Dickens theme park, Dickens World, is set to open in Kent at the end of May. The big ride is a log flume based on Great Expectations. The whole thing cost about 62 million UK pounds, and the park was designed and built by the company behind Sweden's Santa World. Oh, and there's room for expansion -- no attractions based on Barnaby Rudge or Bleak House are included.

If this succeeds, it's only a matter of time before we see Austenland or Tolkien-a-rama, right?