Is there anything quite as exciting as a day trip to the theme park? Voted the Travellers’ Choice No.1 Theme Park in the UK every year from 2016 to 2020, this popular theme park makes for a great day out with children big and small.
Built from the former Paultons Estate, Paultons Park first opened its doors on 17 May 1983, as a theme park complete with its very own bird garden. These days, the park now has an impressive number of rides and attractions to choose from (over 70, to be exact!), from adrenaline inducing rollercoasters to more relaxing rides perfect for the whole family. Read on to find out more about this epic theme park, including how to get here and where to stay.
Where is Paultons Park?
Paultons Park is located near the village of Ower, in Hampshire, England, just 8.2 miles from Southampton. The theme park stretches across 140 acres of land in the New Forest National Park, so there’s plenty more to explore while you’re in the area.
How do I get to Paultons Park?
Travelling by train
The main way to get to Paultons Park by public transport is to take a train to Southampton Central. There are regular, direct trains to Southampton Central from London Waterloo and Clapham Junction, taking around an hour and a half. There are also direct trains from a variety of other stations across the south including Portsmouth Harbour, Brighton, Bournemouth, Woking and Salisbury, as well as further afield such as from Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester.
From Southampton Central station, take bus route X7 / X7R (towards Salisbury) from bus stop SB on Wyndham Place (exit via platform 1 and cross the road). The bus stop is approximately 100m from the station exit, via step-free footways with a slight upward gradient.
Buses operate approximately hourly on Monday-Saturday (please be aware there is no service on Sundays), and take around 20 minutes to reach Paultons Park. Some buses operate into the theme park grounds and take you right to the entrance, while others stop at the driveway end from where it is a short walk into the park.
If you don’t wish to catch the bus, you can also take a taxi from Southampton Central. The taxi ride takes around 25 minutes, and there are taxi ranks available outside both station exits. For more information, click here.
As well as taking the bus or a taxi from Southampton Central, there are several other convenient ways to reach Paultons Park from SWR stations:
Take a taxi from Southampton Airport Parkway station. The taxi ride takes around 20 minutes, and there is a taxi rank outside the platform 1 exit from the station
To travel to Paultons Park by train and bus, you will need to buy your train and bus tickets separately.
For your train journey, simply buy a ticket to Southampton Central (or an alternative interchange station) using our journey planner, or from a station ticket office or ticket machine. We offer a flexible range of ticket types for your journey, including cheap train tickets when you travel off-peak, book in advance, or use a Railcard. If you’re travelling in a group, you could also benefit from GroupSave.
To prepare for your journey, check train times and book your tickets in advance.
For your bus journey, you can buy your ticket on-board the bus from the driver, using cash or card, or alternatively use the bus operator’s app or website. For more information about bus services and ticket products, follow the links in the sections above.
You can book park entry tickets by visiting Paultons Park’s website, and be sure to check park opening times before you visit.
Things to do at Paultons Park
From thrilling rides and play areas to water splash parks and even a zoo, Paultons Park has the perfect recipe for a fun family day out. To make it easy to find each ride, the park is split into different theme worlds, each more exciting than the last!
Themed lands
From the minute you step through the theme park doors, you’ll be swept into a magical world of fun and excitement, with six thrilling themed worlds to explore. Begin your day at Lost Kingdom, a Jurassic world with dinosaurs at every twist and turn. Next, head to Peppa Pig World, where you can meet Peppa herself—a special moment that is sure to be a hit with the little ones.
Afterwards, it’s time to giddy up and head on vacation to Tornado Springs, a 1950s midwestern desert town featuring some awesome rides. After that, pay a visit to Critter Creek and enter the world of creepy crawlies—if you dare! Finally, finish off your day of exploring at Little Africa, a miniature zoo which is home to a collection of around 80 species of birds and animals native to the continent.
Rides
If you’re on the hunt for some of the UK’s best rollercoasters, then you’ve come to the right place. The daredevils of the family will love the park’s thrill rides, which include Storm Chaser, The Flight of the Pterosaur, Velociraptor, and the newly reimagined Raven bobsled coaster in the Norse-themed world of Valgard.
Confident riders can brave the vertical lift hill and dramatic inversions of Drakon - the park's most intense coaster yet - or test their nerves on The Edge, a spinning ride that gives the sensation of floating. To top off the adrenaline rush, thrill-seekers can experience the mighty Cyclonator pendulum gyro swing in Tornado Springs, which spins and swings to an impressive height of 25 metres.
Attractions
Rides aren’t the only way to fill your day at Paultons Park, and with its very own miniature zoo, exciting shows and entertainment on offer, and even the opportunity for some penguin feeding, there’s plenty to keep the whole family busy. The attractions at Paultons Park are perfect for all ages, whether you have toddlers in tow or a family full of tweens. For kids who love splashing about, Peppa Pig style, check out the Muddy Puddles and Water Kingdom attractions. Don’t forget a change of clothes!
If your kids would rather stay dry (or you’d prefer them to, at least), then head to one of six playgrounds in the theme park: Junkyard Junction, Parking Lot Tots, Mr Potato’s Playground, Little Explorers, The Curious Critters and Percy’s Playpark and Playhouse.
Paultons Park is home to some beautiful gardens which are perfect for those who want some downtime during their day. Have a picnic lunch at either Victoria Garden or the Japanese Garden before checking out The Water Mill, which is over 150 years old.
There’s also The Floating Globe - a sphere made of solid granite, which floats on jets of water and can be turned easily with just one finger!
Grampy Rabbit's Sailing Club
Shows and entertainment
How often can the kids say they’ve got to meet some real-life TV celebrities? At Paultons Park, both Peppa and George alongside Mummy and Daddy Pig will be waiting to greet your kids over in Peppa Pig World. You can also say hello to Roary and Chewie, two baby dinosaurs from the Lost Kingdom. They’re very cute, though a bit nippy!
Shows are a great opportunity to rest your legs in between rides, and you can choose from a great selection at Paultons Park, from A Magical Pirate Adventure to ALIVE! Dinosaur Encounter. Finish off the day with some truly adorable penguin feeding before you head home. Paultons Park also offers extra-special themed events for Easter, Halloween and Christmas, so make sure you free up your diary!
Food and drink
All that excitement can soon work up an appetite, and with a range of dining options available at Paultons Park, including vegetarian, vegan and nut-free options, you won’t be stuck for choices.
For a sit-down meal, head to Route 83 Diner, a classic American Diner offering mouth-watering mains and scrumptious desserts. Or head over to the Wild Forest Family Restaurant for all your family favourites, Base Camp for tasty chicken delights, The Hay Barn for all things Mexican, The Railroad Diner for classic fish and chips or Station Restaurant for delicious snacks.
There are also lots of options for grabbing food and drinks on the go, including the Peppa Pig World Refreshments, Cascades, and plenty of takeaway kiosks located throughout the park.
Family-friendly places to stay near Paultons Park
No matter your budget, there are many places you can stay if you’re looking to make your trip a weekend activity.
Those on a budget can choose between Holiday Inn Southampton, Ibis Southampton and Jurys Inn Southampton, while for a touch of luxury you can head to either Woodlands Lodge Hotel or Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour.
Boutique hotels include White Rabbit Hotel by Greene King Inns, Lime Wood Hotel and The Crown Manor House Hotel.
Paultons Park accessibility
Paultons Park is committed to doing everything possible to ensure a safe and pleasurable visit for people with disabilities. The majority of rides and attractions are fully accessible, and nearly all paths are flat and tarmac surfaced, making it easy for those in wheelchairs to get around.
