Disclaimer: this post is part of a press trip, so out entrance fee was covered in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.
Day two of our trip to Southampton this past week, with Visit Southampton and Go!Southampton was to Paultons Park; the family theme park that is home of Peppa Pig World. With it just being a twenty minute drive from where we were staying in the city centre of Southampton, it is a must if you are in the area. To say it isn’t actually that far from where we live, I’m surprised that we hadn’t been before. My five and seven year olds loved it though, so I am sure we will visit again.
For starters, I was so impressed by the range of rides and attractions that are on offer at the park. I think that the park is definitely aimed at families, because of the Peppa Pig World, the Critter Creek, and Little Africa. But the Lost Kingdom area (a dinosaur / prehistoric theme) have some rides that are more suited for the older children or teenagers. So there are plenty of different things for different people and their needs.
I was also really impressed by the amount of green space that there is in the park, with gardens and nature walks. When you are out for the whole day as a family, it can definitely mean that you need to take some time out (for little ones to nap etc), so being able to relax out on the grass, chill in the shade, or take a nap, is great. It is unlike other parks that I have visited, where it can feel crammed in a little. I didn’t feel like that was the case at all with Paultons Park. It is a bonus that they can double up as picnic areas too, so you don’t need to buy lunch (though there are a few places selling food, with a a variety of different options).
I would definitely recommend getting to the park for when it opens, as it means you can get straight onto some of the rides. We went straight to the Lost Kingdom first of all, to get the big rides done, as we knew they would have longer queues later in the day. In fact, all of the queues were never that crazy, and all moved along pretty quickly. We also went on a day that was forecast to be pretty overcast, so I think that helped too. But planning ahead and checking the weather is a must; perhaps on a day forecast to be pure sunshine, the lines may be a little longer.
If you are thinking of planning a trip to Paultons Park, then here are some tips that I picked up from the day, to help you to make the most of your trip.
Planning Ahead – get the app
The good news is that you can download a map from the Paultons Park website, so you can plan out your day and the rides that are ‘a must,’ in advance. There is also an app that you can download so that you can create a plan for the day, as well as being able to easily see things like show times or queue lengths times, as they happen. So handy just having all of that that right there on your phone.
Measure Little Ones in Advance
As with most theme parks, a lot of the rides have some kind of height restriction on them. Because the park, especially the Peppa Pig World rides, cater for little ones, there are many that they can ride. But knowing what they can and can’t go on ahead of time can help you plan your day. It can also be good so that little ones don’t get their heart set on a particular ride, only to find out that they aren’t tall enough on the day.
Pack a Towel and Socks
If you are visiting in summer, then there you can make the most of the splash pads that they have on offer. There are a few different play areas, but I spotted a couple of splash pads for the children. Of course, on a sunny day they will dry quite quickly anyway. But having a towel with you means that they can have a splash without being uncomfortable for the rest of the day.
As for the socks, there is a large soft play area near to Peppa Pig World. If your children are wearing socks already, then they’ll be good to go. If you’re all in sandals, then having socks handy is a good idea so you can have some indoor time and chill a little.
Consider a Short Break
It does depend on how much energy you’ve got, but we were there for right at the opening, and stayed right until the end, and pretty much packed everything in. If you want to take your time more and enjoy more time on things like the soft play centre, then you’re unlike you do it all in one day. So it could be worth looking at the short break options that Paultons Park offers. Gives you some more time to explore a bit more of Southampton too!
The details: Paultons Park, Ower, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 6AL
The price: starting from £30.50 for those over 1m tall, when booked in advance. Children under 1m are free, and there are discounts for 60+ tickets and family tickets.
We have such a great day out, and I would definitely go back again, so I think that says it all. The staff that we encountered were great, especially with our nervous children on some rides, and the atmosphere was amazing. The whole place has been done to a high level; I was really impressed. And one thing I always note about places like this, is how clean they are. You never see littler at Disneyland do you? Well, the same happened here. it was clean and well cared for – it was a thumbs up from us.
Have you ever been to Paultons Park before? It would be great to hear what you think, and if you have any other tips to add.
