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Paultons Family Theme Park
Previously known as Paulton's Park, Paulton's Park and Bird Garden
Location Hampshire, SO51 6AL, England
Coordinates 50°56′56″N 1°33′08″W / 50.94887°N 1.552355°W / 50.94887; -1.552355
Opened 17 May 1983
Owner Richard Mancey
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.



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