I took my kids to Peppa Pig World for the first time – and was surprised how much there was for both toddlers and babies

WHEN Boris Johnson gave a rambling speech to enterprise leaders hailing the wonders of Peppa Pig World in 2021, it was taken as proof that the then PM was dropping his marbles.

Having now visited the park, I feel it simply may need been the sanest speech he ever gave.

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For starters, it’s price noting that Peppa Pig World shouldn’t be — as is perhaps assumed — a full theme park in itself.

As a substitute, it’s considered one of a number of themed areas inside Paultons Park within the New Forest Nationwide Park.

There’s additionally Critter Creek, filled with fantastical beasties, in addition to the Americana/Wild West-themed Twister Springs and the Misplaced Kingdom, chockablock with dinosaurs.

And Paultons’ points of interest are so clustered that in contrast to some theme parks it’s not an enormous trek to get from one facet to the opposite, fortunately for toddler legs.

But there’s a great three-dozen rides.

After at some point there with my spouse, our toddler daughter and her child sister I felt like I’d solely skilled half of what was on provide — it’s arduous to think about anybody might really feel short-changed.

Its densely-packed nature can, nonetheless, make it a bit complicated to navigate — and that’s the place the Paultons Park app is invaluable.

Not solely does it give you instructions to particular person rides, it additionally reveals queue occasions and you’ll filter rides by top restrictions.

It’s simple to make use of even for technophobes.

The queue occasions throughout my go to in the summertime holidays final 12 months ranged from zero to 25 minutes.

The opposite false impression I had coming into Peppa Pig World was that it’s solely for toddlers.

Whereas PPW itself is tailor-made in direction of the little ones, the broader park has sufficient large rides for thrillseekers of all ages.

Being with the nippers meant that I couldn’t pattern about ten adrenaline-rush rides, such because the Storm Chaser and Velociraptor rollercoasters, however there’s nonetheless loads of thrills for kids.

To be truthful, even a few of the smaller rides I went on with my two-year-old packed a wallop — the Kontiki spinning pirate ship was a step too far for her, as we found 5 seconds after the experience began, however she cherished all the opposite rides and so did I.

There’s the log flume and dinghy slide, the Cat-O-Pillar roller-coaster, a Jurassic Park-inspired Jeep tour, the charming Rio Grande prepare experience and even a experience that permits you to climb atop George Pig’s favorite toy Mr Dinosaur as he trots round a observe.

Add in stay pirate reveals, splash parks, gentle play areas, zoo animals and probabilities to fulfill Peppa, George, and Mummy and Daddy Pig, and also you’re going to be left wishing there have been extra hours within the day.

Splash parks

We stayed on the Leonardo Royal in Southampton, which is a stunning high-end lodge a 25-minute bus experience from the theme park and a couple of five-minute stroll from the town centre.

Simply beware that the final direct bus leaves Paultons at 5.35pm, solely 5 minutes after the rides cease, which caught us out and left us with a 20-minute stroll to catch one other bus again to our lodge.

As we strolled away from Peppa Pig World with my fortunately exhausted little lady sitting on my shoulders, I felt her chin bobbing on my head.

At which level it dawned on me that my pricey little poppet was asleep — and drooling on me. 

I wager this didn’t occur to Boris. The place’s Daddy Pig after I want some parenting suggestions.

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