Reviewed by Sarah Bryan
What better way to spend a day than whizzing around on rides, splashing in puddles and living the Peppa Pig dream come true at Paultons Park.
Anyone with preschool age children will be well aware of Peppa Pig and will no doubt have Paultons Park – home of Peppa Pig World on their summer to do list for family days out.
But what this little gem of an attraction have managed to successfully create, is a day out that can suit not just the under 5’s but school age children too as Paultons Park is full of delights to suit all tastes. Amazed by animals? There’s plenty to see! Delirious about dinosaurs? You will not be disappointed! Wild about water play? There’s not just one but several splashtastic areas to cool down in! Whether you want to scream your heart out on a rollercoaster or be carried along on a gentle carousel, if you don’t try Paultons Park at least once then you are seriously missing out.
Located in the south of England on the edge of the New Forest; Paultons Park is easy to get to and if you are travelling far or want to make a stay of it, there are lots of choices for accommodation nearby as well as the option of a 2 day ticket.
Upon entering the grounds we were given clear organised directions by stewards to ensure prompt parking and we found all staff across the entire park to be welcoming, friendly and professional. The facilities were kept clean and the little extra touches such as built in kid sized toilet seats remind you that everything is created with children in mind.
There are several things to consider before your day out here at Paultons Park – top priority is choosing the quietest time to visit. We went on a hot sunny Friday in June and out of school holiday time yet we were still greeted with queues in Peppa Pig World ranging from 15 minutes to 45 minutes as the day neared late morning before quietening down during the lunchtime rush and again at the end of the day. So plan your top rides and attractions and dash there early and last thing. The queues are something you accept as being just a part of this type of day out and the only comment I have for speeding up the queues would be to have more than one ride attendant assisting during the busier times with things such as unlocking each balloon on Peppa’s Big Balloon Ride as this seemed to be quite time consuming.
After spending the first hour and half in Peppa Pig World, we then decided to take an early lunch under the shade of a tree in the gardens – what a treat this was! Not only did this provide some much needed rest and recharge time in comfort and peace, it was blissful to breathe in the incredible vast green space as you explore the different themed gardens and marvel at the beautiful borders and perfectly kept grounds that are maintained at a consistently neat and tidy high standard throughout the entire park. You can feel the air of times gone by as you stroll around gardens once designed by Capability Brown and there is some fascinating history to learn about how the land developed into the successful family attraction it is today.
Another popular area of Paultons Park and one we spent a fair amount of time in was Water Kingdom, roll up those trousers, pack the kids swimwear and enjoy the squeals of delight as you immerse yourselves into a watery realm of jets, sprays and squirts. Don’t forget your towel! A smaller splash area can also be found amongst Mr Potatoes Playground and Muddy Puddles.
Of course, Peppa Pig World is much busier than the rest of Paultons Park but if I can offer you one tip to get the most from your day out, then it’s to explore the entire park! Make sure you do some research before you go and have a look at the website which tells you what’s there and the suitable age as well as any closures. There are some fantastic rides and things to do for little ones as well as big ones in the Lost Kingdom and Critter Creek and the queues are very small! Our kiddies aged 2 and 5 particularly liked Seal Falls and Digger Ride and The Dinosaur Tour Company was such a success we had to go on it twice.
We spent the last part of the day back in Peppa Pig World where it had quietened down and the kids enjoyed every single ride they went on; it really is like a dream world for fans of Peppa Pig and we loved going on the tractor ride through the amazing allotment garden; it was a shame the photo booth wasn’t open as several families posed for the photo only to be told upon asking that they couldn’t purchase it.
We took advantage of the Paultons Park Photo Pass which gives you 4 ride photos of your choice presented in a keepsake booklet for £25 (including free digital download) which is a wonderful memento of a day full of treasured memories.
We did a full day at Paultons Park ending with prising the kids away from George’s Spaceship PlayZone as the staff prepared for closing at 5:30 and we experienced over 20 rides / attractions during our time there. We felt we had tried lots but it’s always nice to have some things left to look forward to trying next time…
As you leave the park to the sweet sounds of children longing for more fun you will no doubt be planning your return as this is more than a day out and a guarantee that you’ve created some fantastic memories for your family.
A 5 star attraction and a must visit place this summer!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £35.75 (book online in advance for discount).
For more information or to book tickets online visit paultonspark.co.uk.
Paultons Park. Ower, Romsey, The New Forest, Hampshire, SO51 6AL
