Paultons Park facts for kids
| Location | Hampshire, SO51 6AL, England |
|---|---|
| Owner | Richard Mancey |
| Opened | 17 May 1983 |
| Previous names | Paulton's Park, Paulton's Park and Bird Garden |
| Operating season | February half term, Mid-March to October and selected dates in November and December |
| Area | 140 acres (0.57 km2) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | Over 70 rides and attractions |
| Roller coasters | 6 |
| Water rides | 6 |
| Website | Paultons Park |
Paultons Family Theme Park is an amusement park located in the New Forest National Park, near the village of Ower, in Hampshire, England, with over 70 rides and attractions. The Peppa Pig World themed area is based on the children's animated television series Peppa Pig. The Lost Kingdom themed area includes 27 animatronic dinosaurs. The park name is derived from the former Paultons Estate, on which the park is situated. The park covers 140 acres of land and features a collection of around 80 species of birds and animals, in addition to the rides. Most of the theme park rides are designed for children and families, which is why the park considers itself a family theme park. The nearest station is Totton which is 5.64 km away from the attraction.
Rides and attractions
The 140 acres of the park has been split into four themed worlds, Lost Kingdom, Peppa Pig World, Critter Creek and the main park.
Main park
Roller coasters
| Name | type | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobra | Bobsled | 2006 | Gerstlauer | Bobsled Coaster (car 2+2), reaches 29 mph (46 km) on a 1476 ft long track (450m) and a height of 54 ft (17m); To ride you must be 1.1m & 4 years old accompanied and 1.2m 8 years old to ride alone. Bobsled model 450/4. Max G force is 3. The ride was installed by Ride Entertainment Group, who handles all of Gerstlauer's operations in the Western Hemisphere. |
Flat rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edge | 2009 | Zamperla | A Mega Disk'O Coaster. |
| Magma | 2012 | SBF Visa | 25m Twisting Drop Tower, volcanic theme, height limit 1,1m. |
| Dragon | 2001 | Zierer | Roundabout ride; height limit 90 cm. |
| The Pirate Ship | 2001 | Metallbau Emmeln | Swinging pirate ship ride reaching up to 45 degrees each way. 90 cm minimum height to ride. |
| Kontiki | 2005 | Zierer | Similar to the Pirate Ship, however it runs on a track & rotates. 90 cm minimum height to ride. |
| The Sky Swinger | 2008 | Zierer | Zierer 'Wave Swinger' ride consisting of 8 pairs of double seats and 24 single seats on chains swinging out whilst the ride spins and lifts you high into the air. You must be 1m tall & 7–10 years old to ride, children under 1.2m or under 7 years old must sit in a double seat with an adult. |
| Viking Boats | 2001 | Zierer | Small rotating boat ride themed on the Viking longboats. |
| Tea Cup Ride | 1997 | Modern Products | Spinning tea cup ride decorated with fruit. |
Water rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raging River Ride | 1999 | Reverchon | 225 m log flume, two steep drops, the higher of which is 11m tall; height limit 95 cm. |
| Water Kingdom | 2009 | Paultons Park | Water splash play park with water jets, large tipping buckets, fountains and super soakers. |
| Seal Falls | 2002 | Zamperla | Younger version of the Raging River Ride, small drop and a mini igloo tunnel. |
Other rides and attractions
| Name | Opened | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 4D Cinema | 2013 | 4D cinema experience showing Deepo - A Fish Story. (Note that a different film is shown during Christmas at Paultons) |
| Go-Karts | 1998 | Petrol karts in a circuit. Located next to Magma. |
| Digger Ride | 2002 | Track ride themed around a building site. |
| Bouncer & Trampolines | Bouncy castle type attraction which is undercover. Trampolines are adjacent to this attraction. | |
| Summer Beach Party | 2017 | A stage show. |
Lost Kingdom
| Name | Type | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight of the Pterosaur | Family
Inverted Coaster |
2016 | Vekoma | Family Suspended Coaster; height limit 1.0M / age limit 4 years old, part of new land for 2016 – Lost Kingdom, train 2x10. |
| Velociraptor | Junior
Boomerang |
2016 | Vekoma | A custom version of Vekoma's Family Boomerang model, built as part of the new for 2016 Lost Kingdom; height limit 1m / age limit 4 years old. |
| Dino Chase | Junior Coaster | 2003 - Remodeled for 2016 | Zierer | Junior coaster; height limit none / age limit 1 years old, small Tivoli model, train 2x9. Formerly known as The Flying Frog. |
Rides
| Name | Type | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dinosaur Tour Co. | Tracked Ride | 2016 | Metallbau Emmeln | Drive through the Lost Kingdom on a Jurassic 4x4 expedition. |
| Boulder Dash | Demolition Derby | 2016 | Zamperla | Swirl and dodge between giant dinosaur eggs and boulders. |
| Temple Heights | Magic Carpet ride | 2005-Remodeled
for 2016 |
Zamperla | See far and wide over Lost Kingdom as you summit the temple. |
Other attractions
| Name | Type | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Explorers | Playground | 2016 | A dinosaur-themed outdoor adventure play park area for young children, featuring climbing frames, slides and dinosaur footprints also, uncover rare fossils in the sand pit! | |
| Prehistoric Dinosaurs | Animatronics | 2016 | Step inside Lost Kingdom, a Jurassic world where Dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes greet your every turn. Look out for the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Argentinosaurus, Triceratops and many more! | |
| ALIVE! Dinosaur Encounter | Show/Meet & Greet | 2016 | Paultons Park | Get up close and personal with Lost Kingdom's Jurassic inhabitants! |
| Discovery Trail | Walk Through | 2016 | Paultons Park | Take a stroll through our wooded trail as it weaves through trees and marshes. Our new Discovery Trail has been built to encourage all manner of species native to the New Forest to set up home. With interactive boards along the route and over 40 bird and bat boxes; what will you discover along the tranquil path? |
Peppa Pig World
Rides
| Name | Type | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windy Castle | Flat ride | 2011 | Metallbau Emmeln | A Big Wheel-type ride. |
| George's Dinosaur Adventure | Tracked ride | 2011 | Metallbau Emmeln | A themed monorail-type ride with rocking 'dinosaur' cars. Height limit 85 cm. |
| Daddy Pig's Car Ride | Tracked ride | 2011 | Metallbau Emmeln | A convoy/car ride that manoeuvres around a road track. |
| Grandpa Pig's Little Train | Flat ride | 2011 | Metallbau Emmeln | A train ride. |
| Grandpa Pig's Boat Trip | Flat ride | 2011 | Metallbau Emmeln | A circular-carousel-type ride. |
| Peppa's Big Balloon Ride | Flat ride | 2011 | Zierer | A balloon themed tower ride. |
| Miss Rabbit's Helicopter Flight | Flat ride | 2011 | Zierer | A Helicopter-themed Big Wheel ride. |
| The Queen's Flying Coach Ride | Monorail ride | 2018 | Metallbau Emmeln | An elevated Monorail type ride that takes you around Peppa Pig World. |
| Grampy Rabbit's Sailing Club | Water ride | 2018 | Mack Rides | A water tour ride in small boats. |
Other attractions
| Name | Opened | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Meet Peppa Pig and Friends | 2011 | A Meet-and-Greet attraction where attendees can meet Peppa Pig and George Pig, sometimes with other characters as well. |
| George's Spaceship Playzone | 2011 | An indoor play area. |
| Muddy Puddles | 2011 | A water play area. |
| Mr Potato's Playground | 2011 | An outdoor play area. |
Critter Creek
Roller coasters
| Name | Type | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cat-O-Pillar Coaster | Junior Coaster | 2000 - remodeled for 2015 | Zierer | Junior coaster, 20 mph (32 km); height limit 90 cm, medium Tivoli model, train 2x13. Formerly known as Stinger. |
Rides
| Name | Type | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prof. Blast's Expedition Express | Train ride | 2015 | Zamperla | Hop aboard the Expedition Express - a mini train trek ride through Professor Blast's world of critters and strange experiments. |
Other attractions
| Name | Type | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beastie Burrow | Reptile house | 2015 | Paultons Park | A real life bug emporium with fascinating and unusual insects, fish and lizards. Meet Eric our friendly Chameleon and see if you can spot the bright orange and white clown fish. |
| The Curious Critters | Models | 2015 | Paultons Park | See if you can spot Professor Blast's mixed up animal friends – the Curious Critters, located throughout Critter Creek including, The Fly-ger, The Horned-Swamp-Donkey, The Wood-Mouse and more. |
Tornado Springs
Originally planned for May 2020, due to the COVID-19 virus, Tornado Spring's opening has been postponed to Easter 2021.
Roller coasters
| Name | Type | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Chaser | Thrill
Spinning Coaster |
2021 | Mack Rides | Spinning Coaster - Sierra Sidewinder; Part of new land for 2021 – Tornado Springs, unique trains featuring a tornado catching theme. |
| unknown | Junior Coaster | 2022 | unknown | 2022 expansion for Tornado Springs. Roller coaster footers have been poured, showing the new ride to be a junior coaster. Will be heavily themed. |
Rides
| Name | Type | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al's Auto Academy | Driving School | 2021 | Garmendale | Test out Al's Cars in an exciting self controlled driving school attraction. |
| Cyclonator | Frisbee Ride | 2021 | Zamperla | Likely to be the most thrilling ride in the park. It is a Non-Inverting Discovery Revolution |
| Windmill Towers | Double Spinning Drop Towers | 2021 | Zierer | Uniquely themed, pair of family drop towers. |
| Buffalo Falls | Dingy Water Slides | 2003-Remodelled
for 2021 |
Metallbau Emmeln | Themed water slide, three drops; height limit 90 cm. Formerly the ‘Wave Runner’. |
| Trekking Tractors | Powered, circuit children's ride. | 2007-Remodelled
for 2021 |
Metallbau Emmeln | Tornado themed tractor ride which travels gently around Tornado Springs. |
| Rio Grande Train | Train Ride | 1987-Remodelled
for 2021 |
Severn Lamb | Whilst closed for the 2019 season, the Rio Grande Train will reopen for 2021, taking you directly through Tornado Springs. |
Other attractions
| Name | Type | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junkyard Junction | Playground | 2021 | Unknown | A western-themed outdoor adventure play park area for young children, featuring climbing frames and slides. |
| Parking Lot Tots | Playground | 2021 | Unknown | A garage-themed outdoor adventure play park area for younger children, featuring climbing frames and slides. |
Animals
- Little Africa- home to African birds including turacos, Cape teal, white-faced whistling ducks and guineafowl.
- Meerkat Manor- an enclosure including indoor and outdoor areas for meerkats.
- Penguin Pool- Humboldt penguins in a pool with underwater viewing areas, housed in the former bumper boat pool. There are feeding sessions with keepers daily.
- Birds of Prey- including the great grey owl.
- Hornbills- a large hornbill collection including silver-cheeked, black-casqued wattled, trumpeter, Von der Deckens and red-billed hornbills.
- Tropical Birds- including laughing thrush, Spreo and starlings.
- Flamingos and Pelicans in enclosures.
- Tortoises- including Aldabra tortoises that arrived at the park in 1995.
Gardens
- The Main Garden located on the site of Paultons House, which no longer remains.
- Lake & Weir – horseshoe-shaped lake fed by a tributary of the River Test.
- Tropical Plants including a Wollemi pine which was thought to be extinct until discovered in Australia in 1994.
- Rockery – parts of the old cellars of the original Paultons house that have been retained.
- Spring Garden with snowdrops and drifts of yellow daffodils in the spring.
- Rhododendrons and Azaleas blooming in late spring.
- Trekking Tractor Garden – a farm garden created in the middle of a ride with a vegetable plot.
- Donoughmore Cross monument situated on the far side of the lake marks the site of what was once a pets' cemetery.
- Jungle Falls – African-themed Jungle Falls Garden, with a topiary elephant, giraffe and crocodile.
- Snakes and Ladders Garden with a large cobra made from 5000 Sedums.
- Anne and John's Garden – opened in 2008 as part of the entrance plaza, enhanced in 2015 with the addition of a glass fountain 7 history of Paultons digital screens.
- The Floating Globe – a kugel ball which is also part of the entrance plaza developed for the 2008 season, it is the largest of its type in the UK, weighing over 6 tonnes and 1.5 metres in diameter.
- Water Wheel – a genuine Victorian Brestshot waterwheel which drives a sawmill and was part of the original Paultons Estate (the land on which the park is now situated).
Planning permission issues
In 2009, Paultons Park were told they may have to move two of their biggest rides (The Cobra and Edge) after an application to grant them retrospective planning permission was turned down by the national park planning committee by seven votes to five. The area where these rides were situated is designated 'Country Park' and not 'Amusement Park' in planning terms, whereas all other areas of the park are now recognised as an amusement park and therefore have permitted development rights.
After a separate application (for the Cobra only) was made it was announced on 22 December 2009 that The Cobra (The park's biggest ride) had now been granted retrospective permission and could remain in its current location.
Another planning application was lodged with the New Forest National Park Planning Authority to retain the Edge ride. The application received public support and Paultons were granted permission by the New Forest NPA to retain the Edge ride in its current location on 16 March 2010.
Awards
- Visit England Gold Accolade 2015
- TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award - No.1 Theme Park in the UK, No.8 in Europe and No.24 in the World
- TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award – No. 1 Theme Park in the UK and No.11 in Europe 2017
- TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award – No. 1 Theme Park in the UK and No.6 in Europe 2016
- TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award – No. 2 Theme Park in the UK and No.6 in Europe 2015
- TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award – No. 1 Theme Park in the UK 2014
- TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2015
- TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2013
- Netmums Best UK Theme Park for Family Fun 2013
- Netmums Best UK Theme Park for Pre-Schoolers 2013
- Netmums Best UK Theme Park Kids Favourite Category 2013
Future of the park
In September 2018, Paultons Park began releasing details about a new area coming to the theme park in May 2020, called Tornado Springs. Many of the details are unknown however construction has started and the area will be located east of the car park on the former site of Gold Rush Falls and an empty field, with fences around the site including concept art for the rides coming with the area. To help advertise the new area, various Twitter accounts have been set up to hint to what we could expect to see in the area, with these accounts linking to the Tornado Springs website (https://www.visittornadosprings.com) which has a link to Paultons Park at the bottom of the site, labelled "Privacy", taking you to https://paultonspark.co.uk/terms-and-conditions. Due to the COVID-19 virus, the decision was made to postpone Tornado Spring's opening to Easter 2021.
Images for kids
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The Lost Kingdom area.
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Grandpa Pig's Little Train Ride at Peppa Pig World.
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Peppa Pig and George in Peppa Pig World.
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The Water Kingdom Splash park.
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The Edge.
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Magma, a spinning drop tower ride.
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The Double Decker Victorian Carousel.
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Cobra rollercoaster.
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Cat-o-Pillar rollercoaster.
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A Humboldt Penguin
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The Main Gardens
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Park Entrance
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