[1] The first playground equipment, manufactured by Wicksteed's company, had been installed in 1917 and an artificial lake fed by the Ise Brook was constructed in 1921, with the park officially opened that year.

During World War II the park remained partially open, with American troops billeted in the pavilion.

Improvement continued in the 1950s, with the opening of a cinema, a miniature car track, a pets corner and an ice cream factory.

In April 1980 the park played host to the It's a Knockout television programme and also added the iconic double pirate ship.

Two roller coasters, nautic jets, a cup and saucer ride and a pedal cycle monorail were added during the 1990s.

[8] In 2013 the BBC Children in Need event for BBC East was held here and had one of the choirs shown on the nationwide Children in Need Choir On The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off in 2019, comedian James Acaster made a baked replica of Wicksteed Park for his Showstopper challenge.

[2] At the end of the 2016 season, Wicksteed Park made the decision to close the double pirate ship due to high maintenance costs.

An appeal to save the amusement park raised £130,000 in donations from the public and £247,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.