Latest news with #GhostlyManor
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
UK's best theme park for families named
As the school holidays approach and families look for ways to keep the kids entertained, one UK theme park has been named the best in the country for family fun, according to new research Research has revealed the UK's top theme park for families looking for excitement. The attraction is brimming with thrilling rides, gets rave reviews from guests and delivers more bang for your buck compared to its more well-known competitors. Experts looked into entry fees, ride counts, TripAdvisor endorsements and accommodation costs to identify which parks really come through with crowd-pleasing fun. As the school holiday draws near, this underrated gem retains its title for another year as the go-to spot for thrills suited for every family member without emptying wallets. Situated in Staffordshire, Drayton Manor bags the coveted first-place position, racking up an impressive 7.14 out of a possible 10 based on research from kids' play experts at Outdoor Toys. Boasting 45 attractions and a glowing four-star review on TripAdvisor, Drayton Manor has silently become a favourite for parents and their little ones. Lined with nine eateries and featuring everything from mellow rides perfect for the tiny tots to electrifying experiences for daring teens, Drayton Manor is a hit, reports the Express. Smart savers can snap up advance junior passes at prices that undercut several other theme parks, especially during packed-out summer Saturdays. Runner-up Paultons Park, the home of Peppa Pig World, takes silver again this year, scoring 6.75 out of 10. It hosts 36 rides, 12 dining spots, and receives reviews like "excellent" on TripAdvisor. However, its £45 junior entry fee is the highest in the study, and it has seen a slight dip in ride count compared to previous years. Still, anticipation is building ahead of the park's brand-new Ghostly Manor ride, set to open later this year. Meanwhile, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has surged into third place, overtaking Sundown Adventureland, thanks to its variety of rides and coastal location. Among other notable mentions, Playland Fun Park in Worcestershire stands out as the only UK theme park offering free entry for children, making it a budget-friendly choice for families. Woodlands Family Theme Park in Devon leads the list in terms of ride numbers, boasting an impressive 50 attractions. And for those looking to cool off this summer, Oasis Fun Pools in Newquay was named the UK's top-rated waterpark. With a wide range of attractions across the country, it's clear families are spoilt for choice - but for the best balance of value, fun, and nationwide appeal, Drayton Manor stands tall as the UK's ultimate family theme park for 2025. Top 10 family theme parks across the UK Drayton Manor, Tamworth Paultons Park (Peppa Pig World), Hampshire Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Lightwater Valley, Ripon Sundown Adventure, Nottinghamshire Fantasy Island, Skegness Alton Towers Resort, Stoke-on-Trent Woodlands Family Theme Park, Devon Camel Creek Family Adventure Park, Cornwall BeWILDerwood, Cheshire
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Paulton's Park announces new £12m Viking-themed world
A Hampshire theme park has announced plans for a £12m Viking-themed world due to open next Saturday, family-owned Paultons Park in Ower also opened new £3.5m indoor dark ride Ghostly Realm of the Vikings, is the attraction's largest investment to date and is aimed at families with older children and teenagers, said Paulton' will include two new rides - Drakon, the park's first inverting rollercoaster, and Vild Swing, which will swirl riders 39ft (12m) in the air. Paulton's Park first opened on 17 May 1983 and is owned and run by the Mancey family, who bought the site of the manor house, its gardens, parkland and lake, which was designed by Capability Brown, at auction in will also see the retheming of the Cobra ride into a bobsled adventure, which will be renamed Raven, and a themed high-capacity restaurant and new playground for younger park also confirmed another major thrill ride would be added to Valgard in 2027, saying only that it would be a "water-related experience". James Mancey, Paulton's deputy managing director, said: "We are thrilled to share our plans for our largest and boldest investment to date, and on the day that we welcomed guests into our brand-new Ghostly Manor."As an independent, family-owned theme park, we're incredibly proud of the investments we make to deliver the very best guest experience."He said the new rides would be "bigger and better than ever before".The park, which spans 140 acres (57 hectares) in the New Forest, is also home to Peppa Pig World, which opened in 2011. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I took my family to the perfect first UK theme park for little kids
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AS I wind my way through a spooky mansion in the darkness, a ghostly figure appears. So I point my gun at it and begin zapping away. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Shooting ghouls on the Ghostly Manor ride at the park Credit: Paultons Park 4 A Peppa Pig meet and greet for Tara and one of the twins Credit: Supplied I'm one of the first people to try the new Ghostly Manor ride, which opened this weekend, at Paultons Park, home to Peppa Pig World. The new £3.5million attraction transforms riders into ghostbusters aboard a four-seater carriage and armed with a 'Phantom Phaser' to shoot down as many mischievous ghouls as they can manage. At the end, each person gets a score and those with the highest make it on to the leaderboard. This spooky experience is for guests aged five and above, with a parent, while anyone over eight can ride solo — and it's unlike any other ride at the Hampshire park. I was visiting with my dad, partner Joe and our two-year-old twins Jack and Sienna. When we weren't hunting down ghosts in the haunted mansion, we were checking out the other toddler-friendly rides or posing next to Peppa Pig and her little brother George. They offer meet and greet sessions outside the schoolhouse twice a day, at 10.30am and 3pm. Paultons Park is the perfect first theme park for little kids. Everything from the food to the baby changing facilities has been designed with children in mind, and the toilets were spacious and spotless. Better still, every loo has a mini seat for little bums, which, coming from a mum about to embark on potty training, is ingenious. Inside Peppa Pig World There's plenty to keep little ones entertained, including several playgrounds and a Peppa Pig-themed soft play area. When it came to the rides, we didn't queue more than 15 minutes for anything. Peppa Pig World may be the main draw for many, but there's so much to do elsewhere in the park, too. We loved the dinosaur-themed area, Lost Kingdom, where kids can ride a jeep and travel back in time with The Dinosaur Tour Co Jurassic Expedition, getting up close with prehistoric giants. Jack and Sienna also loved seeing flamingos and rare birds in real life at one of a number of animal enclosures on site. There are penguins too. If you're visiting with older kids, aside from the new Ghostly Manor ride, you should be sure to check out the Flight Of The Pterosaur, a dino-themed suspended rollercoaster. 4 Enter the spooky Ghostly Manor, if you dare 4 Watch meerkats in the animal area Credit: Paultons Park My dad and Joe also sneaked off while the little ones were napping to try out the Storm Chaser rollercoaster, a 16-person thrill ride that spins riders around in circles as well as up and down a winding track. Make sure you download the mobile app before you go as it has an easy-to-use interactive map, which is great for getting your bearings. It also has information about how long wait times are. Plus, it lists where the nearest food stalls are and what they sell. If you're looking for a place to crash nearby, hotel Voco Fareham Solent has excellent interconnecting rooms that are great for families. It is a 30-minute drive from the theme park and anyone booking a short break at the hotel directly through the Paultons Park website will bag a second day in the park for free. And while I won't ever forget the huge smiles on my kids' faces and the excitement in their eyes, the downside now is they won't stop asking when we're going back to visit their mate Peppa.
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I took my family to the perfect first UK theme park for little kids
AS I wind my way through a spooky mansion in the darkness, a ghostly figure appears. So I point my gun at it and begin zapping away. Advertisement 4 Shooting ghouls on the Ghostly Manor ride at the park Credit: Paultons Park 4 A Peppa Pig meet and greet for Tara and one of the twins Credit: Supplied I'm one of the first people to try the new Ghostly Manor ride, which opened this weekend, at The new £3.5million attraction transforms riders into ghostbusters aboard a four-seater carriage and armed with a 'Phantom Phaser' to shoot down as many mischievous ghouls as they can manage. At the end, each person gets a score and those with the highest make it on to the leaderboard. This spooky experience is for guests aged five and above, with a parent, while anyone over eight can ride solo — and it's unlike any other ride at the Hampshire park. Advertisement Read More on Travel I was visiting with my dad, partner Joe and our two-year-old twins Jack and Sienna. When we weren't hunting down ghosts in the haunted mansion, we were checking out the other toddler-friendly rides or posing next to Peppa Pig and her little brother George. They offer meet and greet sessions outside the schoolhouse twice a day, at 10.30am and 3pm. Advertisement Most read in Family Everything from the food to the baby changing facilities has been designed with children in mind, and the toilets were spacious and spotless. Better still, every loo has a mini seat for little bums, which, coming from a mum about to embark on potty training, is ingenious. Inside Peppa Pig World There's plenty to keep little ones entertained, including several playgrounds and a Peppa Pig-themed soft play area. When it came to the rides, we didn't queue more than 15 minutes for anything. Advertisement Peppa Pig World may be the main draw for many, but there's so much to do elsewhere in the park, too. We loved the dinosaur-themed area, Lost Kingdom, where kids can ride a jeep and travel back in time with The Dinosaur Tour Co Jurassic Expedition, getting up close with prehistoric giants. Jack and Sienna also loved seeing flamingos and rare birds in real life at one of a number of animal enclosures on site. There are penguins too. If you're visiting with older kids, aside from the new Ghostly Manor ride, you should be sure to check out the Flight Of The Pterosaur, a dino-themed suspended rollercoaster. Advertisement 4 Enter the spooky Ghostly Manor, if you dare 4 Watch meerkats in the animal area Credit: Paultons Park My dad and Joe also sneaked off while the little ones were napping to try out the Storm Chaser rollercoaster, a 16-person thrill ride that spins riders around in circles as well as up and down a winding track. Make sure you download the mobile app before you go as it has an easy-to-use interactive map, which is great for getting your bearings. Advertisement It also has information about how long wait times are. Plus, it lists where the nearest food stalls are and what they sell. If you're looking for a place to crash nearby, hotel Voco Fareham Solent has excellent interconnecting rooms that are great for families. It is a 30-minute drive from the theme park and anyone booking a short break at the hotel directly through the Paultons Park website will bag a second day in the park for free. Advertisement And while I won't ever forget the huge smiles on my kids' faces and the excitement in their eyes, the downside now is they won't stop asking when we're going back to visit their mate Peppa. GO: PAULTONS PARK ENTRY: Tickets to Paultons Park costs from £45pp, while anyone under one metre in height goes free. STAYING THERE: Interconnecting rooms at the Voco Fareham Solent hotel cost from £492 for two adults and two children, on a B&B basis and including a second day at the park for free. See
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I took my family to the perfect first UK theme park for little kids
AS I wind my way through a spooky mansion in the darkness, a ghostly figure appears. So I point my gun at it and begin zapping away. 4 4 I'm one of the first people to try the new Ghostly Manor ride, which opened this weekend, at Paultons Park, home to Peppa Pig World. The new £3.5million attraction transforms riders into ghostbusters aboard a four-seater carriage and armed with a 'Phantom Phaser' to shoot down as many mischievous ghouls as they can manage. At the end, each person gets a score and those with the highest make it on to the leaderboard. This spooky experience is for guests aged five and above, with a parent, while anyone over eight can ride solo — and it's unlike any other ride at the Hampshire park. I was visiting with my dad, partner Joe and our two-year-old twins Jack and Sienna. When we weren't hunting down ghosts in the haunted mansion, we were checking out the other toddler-friendly rides or posing next to Peppa Pig and her little brother George. They offer meet and greet sessions outside the schoolhouse twice a day, at 10.30am and 3pm. Paultons Park is the perfect first theme park for little kids. Everything from the food to the baby changing facilities has been designed with children in mind, and the toilets were spacious and spotless. Better still, every loo has a mini seat for little bums, which, coming from a mum about to embark on potty training, is ingenious. Inside Peppa Pig World There's plenty to keep little ones entertained, including several playgrounds and a Peppa Pig-themed soft play area. When it came to the rides, we didn't queue more than 15 minutes for anything. Peppa Pig World may be the main draw for many, but there's so much to do elsewhere in the park, too. We loved the dinosaur -themed area, Lost Kingdom, where kids can ride a jeep and travel back in time with The Dinosaur Tour Co Jurassic Expedition, getting up close with prehistoric giants. Jack and Sienna also loved seeing flamingos and rare birds in real life at one of a number of animal enclosures on site. There are penguins too. If you're visiting with older kids, aside from the new Ghostly Manor ride, you should be sure to check out the Flight Of The Pterosaur, a dino-themed suspended rollercoaster. 4 4 My dad and Joe also sneaked off while the little ones were napping to try out the Storm Chaser rollercoaster, a 16-person thrill ride that spins riders around in circles as well as up and down a winding track. Make sure you download the mobile app before you go as it has an easy-to-use interactive map, which is great for getting your bearings. It also has information about how long wait times are. Plus, it lists where the nearest food stalls are and what they sell. If you're looking for a place to crash nearby, hotel Voco Fareham Solent has excellent interconnecting rooms that are great for families. It is a 30-minute drive from the theme park and anyone booking a short break at the hotel directly through the Paultons Park website will bag a second day in the park for free. And while I won't ever forget the huge smiles on my kids' faces and the excitement in their eyes, the downside now is they won't stop asking when we're going back to visit their mate Peppa.
