Paultons Park has been our favourite UK theme park ever since we first visited in 2011 when it opened the country’s first Peppa Pig-themed land. Since then, we’ve made countless return trips, creating some fantastic family memories along the way. More than three years had passed since our last visit, so we were excited to return and see the park’s biggest addition yet, the £12 million Viking-themed land, Valgard: Realm of the Vikings.
It’s because of this continues expansion and investment its easy to see why Paultons Park continues to win awards and has been named the UK’s Best Theme Park for 2026.
Located in Hampshire on the edge of the beautiful New Forest National Park, Paultons Park covers 140 acres of landscaped grounds. While it’s best known as the home of the UK’s only Peppa Pig World, recent expansions have helped broaden its appeal, giving families with older children and teenagers plenty to enjoy too.
For this trip, we stayed at the voco Southampton, which I would happily recommend if you’re visiting the area. After a good night’s sleep, we arrived just before the park opened at 10am. Unlike many of the UK’s larger theme parks, parking here is free and the whole arrival process was smooth and well organised.
After stopping for the obligatory family photo by the iconic entrance sign, we headed straight inside. One thing that always stands out at Paultons Park is how beautiful it is. The gardens are immaculate, with colourful planting, mature trees and plenty of open space, it’s one of the most attractive and best maintained theme parks in the country.
We couldn’t wait to check out the new Valgard area. As we entered the new land, we were greeted by a fortified Viking settlement complete with timber buildings, defensive walls, carved details and towering statues guarding the entrance. It immediately feels different from anywhere else in the park.
Our daughters made a beeline for Vild Swing, a UK first attraction that lifts riders 12 metres into the air, although they quickly changed plans when Drakon, the land’s headline attraction suddenly opened for the day just after 10am.
While the girls rushed over to join the queue, I stayed behind to watch the opening ceremony. Viking warriors, fire effects, smoke and dramatic music combine to create a fun spectacle that really helps bring the land to life.
What impressed me most about Valgard wasn’t actually the rides. It was the attention to detail. Like the best themed areas at Paultons Park, every corner has been carefully thought through.
From the timber architecture and carved wooden features to the handcrafted Viking boat and animatronics dotted around the land, there’s always something to notice. It even reminded me a little of Isle of Berk at Epic Universe in Orlando.
When Drakon opened, the girls joined the queue straight away. Even the queue line has been well designed, with themed elements and storytelling as you make your way towards the station. It was an incredibly hot day, so the indoor sections were definitely appreciated, although a lot of the line was out in the elements.
While they waited, my husband and I escaped into the Nordic-themed food hall. The air conditioning alone was worth the visit, but the theming here is impressive too. It’s far more than just somewhere to grab a drink and cool down.
When we caught up with the girls afterwards, they were beaming. Drakon begins with a near-vertical lift hill powered by Valbaa the sheep, who runs inside a giant wooden wheel. It’s one of those quirky touches that gives the coaster some real personality. The ride then takes riders through a vertical drop and two inversions, both of which they absolutely loved.
They quickly headed back to Vild Swing afterwards, which they also enjoyed, although they agreed it was probably a little tame for older teenagers.
As we explored the rest of the land, we came across more handcrafted details, animated props and themed scenery. Raven, formerly known as Cobra, has been completely rethemed and now fits seamlessly into the Viking storyline. We also caught a glimpse of the park’s next major addition, which will become the UK’s first water coaster when it opens.
For younger visitors, there’s a fantastic Viking themed play area with lookout towers, slides and climbing structures. Edge remains in the area too, reaching heights of 15 metres on a giant spinning disc travelling along a 90-metre track.
After spending most of the morning in Valgard, we headed over to one of our favourite areas from previous visits, Tornado Springs. I absolutely love this land.
The Midwestern American theming is superb and the whole area feels like a small town USA. With eight rides and attractions, it’s one of the best themed areas you’ll find at any UK theme park.
Our first ride was Storm Chaser, still one of my favourites at Paultons Park. The freely spinning cars mean every ride is slightly different and it’s great fun without being too intense.
For lunch, we stopped at Route 83 Diner. The curly fries and chicken tenders were surprisingly good and much better than the average theme park lunch. We gave Cyclonator a miss this time. Towering above the skyline, it swings riders high into the air and has never really been my thing.
No visit to Paultons Park would be complete without spending some time in Peppa Pig World. This is the area that put the park on the map and it brought back so many memories from when our daughters were younger. As the world’s largest Peppa Pig World, it features nine rides, indoor and outdoor play areas, and opportunities to meet the characters.
It genuinely feels like stepping into the cartoon. Queue times were surprisingly short, so we took the opportunity to revisit a few old favourites including Peppa Pig Balloon Ride and The Queen’s Flying Coach Ride. My husband and I even managed to embarrass the teenagers by stopping for a photo with one of the characters.
Ghostly Manor, which opened since our last visit, was another highlight. This interactive dark ride had us armed with Phantom Phasers as we travelled through a series of themed scenes trying to score as many points as possible. It brought out everyone’s competitive side.
Next, we headed into the dinosaur themed, Lost Kingdom, another of my favourite lands here.
Flight of the Pterosaur is still my personal favourite ride at Paultons Park. The suspended coaster swoops over the landscape and strikes that perfect balance between family-friendly and thrilling. I just wish the park provide more shelter here in the queue lines, on hot summer days it did make the 25 minute wait difficult.
The girls also enjoyed riding Velociraptor again, a family boomerang coaster that races through tight turns at speeds of up to 40mph. I couldn’t resist taking everyone back on Dinosaur Tour Co. either. This leisurely 4×4 expedition through dinosaur territory remains just as enjoyable as ever, although I’d completely forgotten about the dinosaur in the cave that sprays water at you.
Before leaving, we returned to Valgard where queue times were much shorter than they had been earlier in the day, allowing the girls to squeeze in a few final rides before we headed home.
Away from the attractions, Paultons Park offers plenty of opportunities to slow down and enjoy the surroundings. The park is home to a variety of tropical birds, mammals and reptiles, including Humboldt penguins and a family of ring-tailed lemurs.
We also enjoyed wandering through the gardens and exploring areas such as the Snakes & Ladders Garden and Jungle Falls. With more than 80 rides and attractions spread across six themed worlds, Paultons Park continues to evolve while retaining everything that made us fall in love with it in the first place.
The new Valgard area is a fantastic addition and will become even better when it expands next year. While the park remains geared primarily towards families with younger children, the new attractions provide more thrills for older children and teenagers without losing the family-friendly atmosphere that makes Paultons Park so special.
Our teenagers found more than enough to keep them entertained throughout the day, and that’s probably the biggest compliment we can give the park. Paultons Park will always hold a special place in our hearts and it’s exciting to see the continued investment and ambition behind its future.
Valgard: Realm of the Vikings is now open at Paultons Park. For more information or to book tickets, visit paultonspark.co.uk