Local-ish theme park worth visiting

[Bozza]

Having been lucky enough to visit Orlando quite regularly, I've always been a bit snobby about our local theme parks for no real good reason in all likelihood.

So, if I wanted to visit one this week, with 10 and 2.5 year olds, what would be best out of Legoland, Thorpe Park, Chessington and Paultons/Peppa Pig Planet?

Happy to make it a 2 day visit, and might consider some sort of premium queue-busting option where available.

Tell me NSC, what would be best?

 

[Horsham Gull]

Probably Chessington/Lego Land would be best

Think Thorpe park wouldn't have much for the young ones and i dont have a clue about Peppa Pig World

 

[SeagullSongs]

I went to Paulton's Park near Southampton and remember it being quite good for kids. Obviously it's not part of your list though. Chessington is good, but it just a tamer Thorpe Park (so more suitable for kids) and EVERY child should go to Legoland Windsor at least once. It's the LAW.

 

[El Sid]

Paultons will have much more for the younger one.

 

[Brovion]

Paultons will have much more for the younger one.

Yeah, I'd probably agree, although it's a LONG time since I've been there, maybe fifteen years! Legoloand would be the next choice for young 'uns, and I agree that Chessington and Thorpe Park are probably more for older kids / young adults

 

[Easy 10]

Paultons is excellent for the young-uns, not much queueing whenever I've been there either. And I don't remember it being a rip-off either, which cannot be said for the likes of Legoland, where you need to take out an overdraft if you intend buying the family lunch there.

Not much at Paultons for for teenagers, but at the ages you mention for your clan, its a Hoot Hoot.

 

[Drebin]

If your little ones like Peppa Pig then Paultons Park with Peppa Pig World is a good day out. We took the mini-drebins there last year and both loved it. I was fearing hours of queueing with impatient children but despite it seeming quite full we never really queued for over 20 minutes. It´s nicely laid out and there's plenty of things to do inside if it gets a bit rainy or cold.

We spent the whole day in the Peppa Pig bit and never got round to the rest of Paultons Park which was a shame because that looks good too, especially for children who are 10 or older. My brother went recently and booked a two day pass plus hotel package quite cheaply.

 

[Rowdey]

If your little ones like Peppa Pig then Paultons Park with Peppa Pig World is a good day out. We took the mini-drebins there last year and both loved it. I was fearing hours of queueing with impatient children but despite it seeming quite full we never really queued for over 20 minutes. It´s nicely laid out and there's plenty of things to do inside if it gets a bit rainy or cold.

We spent the whole day in the Peppa Pig bit and never got round to the rest of Paultons Park which was a shame because that looks good too, especially for children who are 10 or older. My brother went recently and booked a two day pass plus hotel package quite cheaply.

Agree, Paulton's Park is excellent. Free parking too, unlike Legoland.
My 4 and 6 year old's were happy doing the 'Peppa' section and then moving onto the 'bigger/older' bit, where there are still more rides for the younger ones.

Anyone else get air on the "Wave Runner' ?

 

[Lethargic]

Value for money definitely Paultons at 10 years old you should be ok but borderline.

 

[DanielT]

Paultons. I went last year and the peppa pig bit was really well done. But then you've got the rest of the park which is quite big. Few good adult rides (which will be fine for your 10 year old) and loads for kids of all ages

 

[Everest]

Croydon.
It's a sort of adventure park, themed on Pikeys.
Best of all it's free, even the stuff in the shops.

 

[skipper734]

Another vote for Paultons here. 10 to 12 is about max. Plenty of rides but not as scary as the bigger parks. If the kids get through everything, there's Marwell Zoo up the road.

 

[Norman Potting]

Lateral thinking - our girls love Woodlands Park near Dartmouth, nearer to you (relatively) and cheaper. Save the other parks mentioned until they are both old enough to fully enjoy them. Glorious Devon (even in October) or Surrey (where the Palace come from, you decide?

 

[skipper734]

Lateral thinking - our girls love Woodlands Park near Dartmouth, nearer to you (relatively) and cheaper. Save the other parks mentioned until they are both old enough to fully enjoy them. Glorious Devon (even in October) or Surrey (where the Palace come from, you decide?

Fairly big rides though Norman, specially that sledge thing, if it's still there. (The Devorn one.) For Boys there is the little known Pecorama at Seaton all the model trains you need and more.

 

[Tory Boy]

Nothing is a patch on what you can find in Orlando.

But out of those you list I would go to Thorpe Park first and Chessington second.

TB

 

[Hornblower]

Nothing is a patch on what you can find in Orlando.

But out of those you list I would go to Thorpe Park first and Chessington second.

TB

Nine of us (youngest 18, oldest, me, 55) spent nine hours at Chessington yesterday and had a totally brilliant time. Excellent value when you use your tesco vouchers, £10 a person!

 

[jevs]

Knockhatch at Hailsham ?

 

[Bold Seagull]

Paultons is excellent for the young-uns, not much queueing whenever I've been there either. And I don't remember it being a rip-off either, which cannot be said for the likes of Legoland, where you need to take out an overdraft if you intend buying the family lunch there.

Not much at Paultons for for teenagers, but at the ages you mention for your clan, its a Hoot Hoot.

If your little ones like Peppa Pig then Paultons Park with Peppa Pig World is a good day out. We took the mini-drebins there last year and both loved it. I was fearing hours of queueing with impatient children but despite it seeming quite full we never really queued for over 20 minutes. It´s nicely laid out and there's plenty of things to do inside if it gets a bit rainy or cold.

We spent the whole day in the Peppa Pig bit and never got round to the rest of Paultons Park which was a shame because that looks good too, especially for children who are 10 or older. My brother went recently and booked a two day pass plus hotel package quite cheaply.

Agree, Paulton's Park is excellent. Free parking too, unlike Legoland.
My 4 and 6 year old's were happy doing the 'Peppa' section and then moving onto the 'bigger/older' bit, where there are still more rides for the younger ones.

Anyone else get air on the "Wave Runner' ?

Paultons. I went last year and the peppa pig bit was really well done. But then you've got the rest of the park which is quite big. Few good adult rides (which will be fine for your 10 year old) and loads for kids of all ages

Another vote for Paultons! My 8, 6 and 2 year old love it. Their new Peppa Pig would is amazing, beautifully done and a real joy for the kids. Paultons is a really unpretentious theme park, plenty to do on a day out (Peppa Pig is only a small part of the park), not ridiculous queues, and not spread out too far either. We've had a couple of top days there. Ideal for a family with kids not yet in their teens, perfect for a 10 and 2.5 yr old

 

[Bozza]

Lateral thinking - our girls love Woodlands Park near Dartmouth, nearer to you (relatively) and cheaper. Save the other parks mentioned until they are both old enough to fully enjoy them. Glorious Devon (even in October) or Surrey (where the Palace come from, you decide?

It will be en route to the Amex for Friday night's game so probably slightly out the way, but thanks for the mention which has been duly recorded for the future.

Paulton's it is - thanks all!

 

[Giraffe]

Bit late I know, but given the age I concur on Paulton Park.

Small queues too and it's fun. Don't expect big rides but good enough for them and if you're lucky you can stay on the log flume over and over again!!!!

And for value for money it is definitely better than the rest at that age.