Hampshire, United Kingdom
Paultons Park, home to the world-famous Peppa Pig World, is widely regarded as the UK's best family theme park for younger children. With 41 rides and attractions spread across 8 themed areas including Tornado Springs, Lost Kingdom, and Critter Creek, Paultons offers unparalleled fun for families with children aged 1-12.
Why Paultons Park is Perfect for Young Families
- The UK's Best Park for Toddlers
- Paultons has more rides suitable for young children than ANY other UK theme park:
- 21 attractions with NO height restrictions — babies and toddlers welcome!
- Children under 1 meter FREE admission (worth £40!)
- FREE parking (saves £10-15 vs other parks)
- No overwhelming thrill rides — family-focused atmosphere
Height Restrictions Overview
Paultons operates a generous height system, with most rides accessible from 90cm with an accompanying adult.
No Height Restriction (21 Attractions)
All 8 Peppa Pig World rides (except George's Dinosaur Adventure), plus Rio Grande Train, Seal Falls, Ghostly Manor, Digger Ride, Boulder Dash, Muddy Puddles, Mr Potato's Adventure Playground, George's Spaceship Playzone, The Dinosaur Tour Co., The Victorian Carousel (under 120cm with adult), Prof. Blast's Expedition Express, and Viking Boats.
Under 90cm Minimum (4 Rides)
- Tea Cup Ride: 75cm minimum (under 8 with adult)
- Al's Auto Academy: 80cm minimum — driving school, ages 6–12 drive
- George's Dinosaur Adventure: 85cm minimum — under 110cm ride in front seat with adult; 110cm+ ride alone in rear seat
- Dino Chase: 85cm minimum — kids' coaster through Lost Kingdom (under 5 with adult)
90-95cm Minimum (8 Rides)
- Cat-O-Pillar Coaster: 90cm — perfect first coaster in Critter Creek (under 8 with adult)
- Buffalo Falls: 90cm — log flume (under 7 with adult)
- Windmill Towers: 90cm (under 7 with adult)
- Farmyard Flyer: 90cm (under 7 with adult)
- Splash Lagoon: 90cm water play area (under 8 with adult)
- Kontiki: 90cm swinging boat (under 7 with adult)
- Pirate Ship: 90cm (under 6 with adult)
- Vild Swing: 95cm with an adult — UK's first ART Engineering swing ride, opened May 2026
100cm Minimum (4 Rides)
- Flight of the Pterosaur: 100cm with adult / 120cm alone — suspended family coaster (max 204cm)
- Storm Chaser: 100cm with adult / 120cm alone — spinning coaster with backwards section
- Velociraptor: 100cm with adult / 120cm alone — multi-launch coaster, park's most intense
- Sky Swinger: 100cm with adult / 120cm alone — chair swing ride
110cm Minimum (1 Ride)
- Raven (formerly Cobra): 110cm with adult / 130cm alone — bobsled coaster, rethemed and reopened in May 2026 as part of Valgard
120cm+ Minimum (3 Rides)
- Cyclonator: 120cm with adult / 140cm alone — spinning pendulum ride in Tornado Springs
- Edge: 120cm with adult / 140cm alone — swinging ship, reopened in May 2026 as part of Valgard
- Drakon: 125cm with an adult / 140cm alone (maximum 195cm) — the park's first looping coaster (Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter), opened May 2026
What Makes Paultons Park Special
Peppa Pig World (9 Rides)
The world's first and ONLY Peppa Pig theme park features:
- 8 Rides with NO Height Restriction
- Peppa's Big Balloon Ride
- Daddy Pig's Car Ride
- Grandpa Pig's Little Train
- Grandpa Pig's Boat Trip
- Windy Castle
- Miss Rabbit's Helicopter Flight
- The Queen's Flying Coach Ride
- Grampy Rabbit's Sailing Club
- 1 Ride with 85cm Minimum
- George's Dinosaur Adventure (under 110cm with adult in front seat)
- Plus
- Peppa's House, School Room, and massive outdoor play areas
Themed Worlds Beyond Peppa
Tornado Springs (Wild West theme)
- Storm Chaser (100cm with adult / 120cm alone — spinning coaster)
- Cyclonator (120cm with adult / 140cm alone — pendulum ride)
- Al's Auto Academy (80cm — driving school, ages 6–12)
- Buffalo Falls (90cm — log flume)
- Rio Grande Train Ride (no restriction)
- Plus more attractions
Lost Kingdom (Dinosaur theme)
- Flight of the Pterosaur (100cm with adult / 120cm alone — suspended coaster)
- Dino Chase (85cm — kids' family coaster)
- Velociraptor (100cm with adult / 120cm alone — multi-launch coaster)
- The Dinosaur Tour Co. (no restriction — 4x4 expedition ride)
- Boulder Dash (no restriction — bumper cars, under 120cm with adult)
- Splash Lagoon (90cm — water play area)
Critter Creek (Animal theme)
- Cat-O-Pillar Coaster (90cm family coaster)
- Farmyard Flyer (90cm)
- Digger Ride (no restriction)
- Trekking Tractors (no minimum height; under 110cm with an adult)
- Prof. Blast's Expedition Express (no restriction)
Valgard: Realm of the Vikings (opened May 2026) - NEW!
- Valgard: Realm of the Vikings, the park's Norse-themed land, opened in May 2026
- Multiple new attractions celebrating Viking heritage
- Details to be announced
Viking Village, Little Africa, Peppa Pig World, Tornado Springs and more!
Tips for Visiting with Different Heights
Under 75cm (FREE Entry) Focus on Peppa Pig World (8 of 9 rides have no restriction), Rio Grande Train, Seal Falls, Ghostly Manor, Boulder Dash, Digger Ride, The Dinosaur Tour Co., Prof. Blast's Expedition Express, Viking Boats, Victorian Carousel, and all the soft play zones.
75cm–84cm The Tea Cup Ride opens up at 75cm and Al's Auto Academy at 80cm. You'll have access to 23 of the park's 41 attractions.
85cm–89cm George's Dinosaur Adventure and Dino Chase both open up at 85cm. You'll now have access to 25 of the park's 41 attractions.
90cm–99cm Now over half the park is accessible. Cat-O-Pillar Coaster, Buffalo Falls, Windmill Towers, Farmyard Flyer, Kontiki, Pirate Ship and Splash Lagoon all open at this milestone, taking you to 32 of the park's 41 attractions. Vild Swing follows at 95cm.
100cm (FREE Entry No Longer, but big jump in access) Flight of the Pterosaur, Storm Chaser, Velociraptor, and Sky Swinger all become accessible with adult accompaniment — a big leap. Now 37 of 41 attractions are accessible.
120cm+ (Near Full Access) Storm Chaser, Flight of the Pterosaur, and Velociraptor can all now be ridden independently. Cyclonator opens up too (120cm minimum with adult).
125cm+ (Full Park Access) Drakon, the park's first looping coaster, opens at 125cm. Combined with Cyclonator and Edge (both 120cm with adult), the full park is accessible.
Height Comparison: Why Paultons Wins for Young Families
| Park | Rides with NO Restriction | Free Entry For | |------|---------------------------|----------------| | Paultons Park | 21 | Under 1m | | Alton Towers | 12 | Under 90cm | | LEGOLAND Windsor | 11 | Under 90cm | | Chessington | 12 | No free entry | | Thorpe Park | 3 | No free entry |
Paultons also has exceptional accessibility for the under-90cm range — 25 of 41 attractions are accessible to children under 90cm with an adult.
Money-Saving Tips
- Free admission under 1m: Huge saving of £40 per child!
- FREE parking: Saves £8-15 vs other parks
- Book online: Save £15 per person vs gate prices
- Annual passes: From £155 - pays for itself in 2 visits
- Grandparent Pass: £98 for grandparents (age 60+)
- No premium FastTrack: All queues move quickly, saving you £15-30
- Unlimited re-rides: No separate charges or premium experiences
Best Times to Visit
- Quietest
- Term-time weekdays (except Wednesdays which can be busy with school groups)
- January-March
- September-October weekdays
- Busiest
- Summer holidays (July-August)
- Weekends in spring/summer
- Half-term weeks
- Special Events
- Easter Egg Hunt (March/April)
- Summer Holidays activities
- Hal low-Fest (October)
- LEGO Brick or Treat (October)
Facilities for Young Families
- Baby Care Rooms: 4 locations across park
- Height Measuring Points: At entrance and throughout park
- Pushchair-Friendly: Wide paths and ample parking at rides
- Rider Switch: Parent swap service at all major rides
- Lost Children Point: Guest Services
- Clean Facilities: Consistently rated as UK's cleanest theme park
- Accessibility: Excellent wheelchair access throughout
Food and Dining
Very reasonably priced compared to other parks:
- Kids meals: £5-7
- Adult meals: £8-11
- Snacks: £2-4
- Hot drinks: £2.50-3.50
- Dining Options
- The Orangery (largest restaurant)
- Peppa Pig World restaurant
- Various snack bars and cafes throughout park
- Picnic Areas
- Available - you can bring your own food!
What's New
Ghostly Manor (Opened May 2025) £3.5m interactive dark ride where families use Phantom Phasers to capture escaped ghosts from Dr. Kinley's haunted manor. 5-minute experience with pre-show, suitable for ages 5+. No height restriction!
Opened May 2026: Valgard — Realm of the Vikings Paultons' largest investment to date (£12m) featuring:
- Drakon (125cm) — Park's first inverting Euro-Fighter coaster with UK's first zero-g stall
- Vild Swing (95cm with an adult) — UK's first ART Engineering swing ride, 12m high
- Cobra → Raven (110cm with adult / 130cm alone) — rethemed bobsled coaster
- Edge (120cm with adult / 140cm alone) — swinging ship, relocated within park
- Themed restaurant and Viking village playground
Getting There
- By Car
- M27 Junction 2, follow signs to Paultons Park
- Free parking on-site (advance booking recommended in peak season)
- Sat Nav: SO51 6AL
- By Train
- Southampton Airport Parkway or Southampton Central
- Taxi approximately 15 minutes (£20-25)
- By Bus
- Limited public transport - car recommended
Opening Times
Open daily during school holidays:
- Peak season: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
- Mid season: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Low season: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Closed during January for annual maintenance.
Nearby Accommodations
- Lime Wood Hotel: Luxury 5-star, 15 minutes
- Premier Inn Southampton West: Budget-friendly, 20 minutes
- Holiday Inn Southampton: Family rooms, 20 minutes
- Forest Park B&B: Charming local B&B, 10 minutes
Final Thoughts
Paultons Park is, without question, the best UK theme park for families with young children. Here's why:
✅ 21 rides with NO height restriction — more than most UK parks ✅ 25 of 41 attractions accessible under 90cm with adult ✅ FREE admission for children under 1 meter (saves £40!) ✅ FREE parking (saves £10-15) ✅ Peppa Pig World (world's only Peppa Pig theme park) ✅ Clean, well-maintained, and never too crowded ✅ No overwhelming thrill rides — perfect family atmosphere
Who is it best for?
- Families with children aged 1-10
- Parents with toddlers (under 5)
- Anyone seeking a relaxed, family-friendly day out
- Peppa Pig fans (obviously!)
Who might prefer other parks?
- Teenagers seeking intense thrills (visit Thorpe Park or Alton Towers instead)
- Adults without children (not enough thrill rides)
Value for money? Absolutely exceptional. When you factor in:
- Free admission for under 1m children
- Free parking
- 21 no-restriction rides
- Generally lower food prices than competitors
Paultons offers the best value of any UK theme park for families with young children.
Annual Pass Worth It? At £155, the Essential Pass pays for itself in just 2 visits. If you live within 90 minutes, it's a no-brainer.
For the most up-to-date information on new attractions, opening times, and special events, visit the official Paultons Park website before your visit.