Muddy Puddles & Magic: Our Day at Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World

A blog post written by West Berkshire Family Life

With our eldest starting school this September, we are trying to squeeze in as many day trips and holidays as we possibly can before we are locked into term times and eye-watering peak season prices. Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park has been on our list for awhile, and the boys are the perfect ages and in their Peppa Pig phases of life, so figured now was as good as time as any to give it a go.

We drove down from Newbury, which made for an easy and straightforward journey of just over an hour. Paultons Park sits just off the M27 near Romsey in Hampshire, right on the edge of the New Forest, so the drive itself is a lovely one as you get closer. We arrived right at opening time at 10am, something I'd really recommend if you can manage it, as shorter queues are generally found in the mornings and late afternoons. We stayed until 4pm, which gave us a brilliant full day without feeling rushed.

We couldn't have picked a better day. The sun was out, amazing blue sky, and it was genuinely hot, which meant we got to make full use of the splash parks too. Top tip from us: pack swimming costumes and a change of clothes!

Our two boys, aged 2 and 4, had the absolute best time. One thing worth knowing if you are heading with a toddler, is that there are height restrictions on the some rides, but the good news is that children under a metre get into Paultons for free! Every penny helps when you are looking at the overall cost of the day, which came to around £140 for our family. It's not a cheap day out, but honestly its totally worth it. There is so much to do. (Booking online in advance is a must, as on-the-day tickets are significantly more expensive).

Peppa Pig world was perfect for our younger son that is absolutely obsessed with Peppa, and he even got to have a picture taken with Peppa and George. Much to our surprise, our 4 year old discovered he loved rollercoasters. He was nervous at first, but once he got a feel for it, he was absolutely hooked and wanted to go again and again.

The park itself is beautifully maintained. It is definitely one of the cleanest and most well-run attractions we have visited. What also really impressed us was the mix of excitement and calm on offer. If you ever need to step away from the buzz and let everyone decompress a little, there are quieter areas dotted around where you can sit, breathe, and recharge. This is great for families with little ones (and the adults too!) who can get a bit overstimulated and need some time out.

Something else worth knowing which we didn't fully appreciate before we went, is that Peppa Pig World is actually just one part of the wider Paultons Park. The park is split into several themed worlds, including Tornado Springs, the Lost Kingdom, and Critter Creek, which means there's plenty to explore beyond Peppa's corner of the park and covers all ages.

We also loved that it wasn't just rides. There are animals to visit too. Penguins, flamingos, lemurs, and meerkats, which the boys absolutely loved. The playgrounds and splash parks were great fun too. And one of the highlights of the whole day(for the 2 year old) was riding the train that winds its way around the park, through a lovely woodland area and around the back past a lake.

As we went during the week, and out of school holidays, the park was quite quiet. We didnt need to queue for any of the rides in the morning, but it did get a bit busier in the afternoon with school groups, but the longest we had to wait was 15 mins.

On the food front, the park has plenty of options, though as with most theme parks the prices are on the higher side. We packed a picnic, but needed to stop for numerous ice creams and iced coffees. There are water fountains dotted around which was also handy to fill up our water bottles. Also worth knowing: the park is completely cashless, so make sure you bring a debit or credit card.

By the time we got back to the car, both boys were worn out in the best possible way and before we'd even hit the motorway, they were asleep. (which didn't make for the easiest of bedtimes!)

Our Top Tips Before You Go

🎟️ Book online in advance. Its significantly cheaper than paying on the day

🩱 Pack swimming costumes and a spare change of clothes. The splash parks are great fun.

📱 Download the Paultons Park app. It shows live queue times for all the rides and has an interactive map so you won't get lost.

⏰ Arrive at opening time. Queues are at their shortest first thing in the morning

🥪 Bring a picnic. There are plenty of spots to eat your own food and it'll save you a small fortune

💳 Card only. The park is cashless, so leave the cash at home

🌦️ Pack for all weathers. Sun cream, sun hats, and a waterproof layer.

🚗 Parking is free and very close to the entrance, which is a bonus with tired little legs

👶 Under 1 metre? Free entry! Children under the height restriction get in for nothing, so check before you book

We will definitely visit again, and the boys are already asking when we can go again!