Travel News February 2018
TWK: NEW FOREST 11 TEAM THOMPSON’S BIG ADVENTURE: FINAL LEG
In the last issue, Ally recounted the second phase of her family trip to the South of England last July as they experienced the delights on offer on the Isle of Wight. As their summer adventure draws to a close, TEAM THOMPSON head to the New Forest and Paultons Family Theme Park...
ITH two days at LEGOLAND Windsor and trips to both the Isle of Wight’s Blackgang Chine and Robin Hill under our belts, it was almost time to bring this year’s Summer Adventure to a close. Keen to finish on a high, we had saved our trip to Paultons and the much anticipated (remember, Molly is only five-years-old!) Peppa Pig World to last.
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After a hearty breakfast, everyone bundled back into the hire car for the 40minute drive from Southsea up to New Forest and Paultons. Tomorrow we would be flying back to Belfast but today was going to be “amazing!” declared all three kids in unison from the backseat.
It was only 9.50am when we pulled into the carpark but already the car temperature gauge read 26 degrees outside. Yes, it would be amazing but it was also going to be hot, hot, hot… The gates opened at 10am and the hordes were gathering. It was early July and the English school holidays were yet to begin but there were coachloads of school children and parents with pre- school kids in tow. Armed with our tickets, sun cream, hats, snacks, water and a park map, we were good to go as the turnstiles kicked into action. Our tactical plan of attack, thanks to a little online research the night before, was to leave Peppa Pig World for the latter part of the day and to head to the Lost Kingdom first. With our youngest team member being Peppa mad, we thought this would help to revive her after lunch if she was showing signs of flagging… as the park had just opened, we made our way to the popular Velociraptor first, a boomerang style roller coaster, before the queues got too big. Two goes later and I was starting to regret the ‘hearty breakfast’! We spent a good two hours in the Lost Kingdom, exploring all things dinosaur. The Flight of the Pterosaur saw all five of us suspended above the park, swooping high and low at speeds of up to 55kph with cries of terror soon being replaced with squeals of delight! The more sedate Dinosaur Tour Co. allowed us to sit back and relax as we took a Jurassic Jeep expedition through the undergrowth in search of lesser spotted dinosaurs. Just on the edge of the Lost Kingdom sits the Raging River Log Flume complete with its 11
metre drop. Unfortunately kids have to be over 8yrs for this one so Molly had to sit it out in the shade while we took it in turns to get drenched… some welcome relief from the searing heat. Molly didn’t mind though as her visit to Peppa Pig World was inching ever closer. We declared a thirty minute break for lunch (not much time to stop as there really is so much to see before the rides close at 5.30pm!). There were a range of eateries on offer throughout the park but Daddy Pig’s Big Tummy Café won hands down. With bellies full and batteries recharged, it was time to meet Peppa at long last.
On entering the Peppa Pig World section of the park, kids are met with a host of larger than life and instantly recognisable Peppa artefacts and characters.
From Mrs Rabbit’s
helicopter to George’s toy dinosaur, they have all been cleverly turned into Peppa themed rides. Although nine- year-old Libby and seven-year-old Isaac had expressed reservations that they might be too old for Peppa Pig World, they couldn’t help but be swept up in five-year-old Molly’s excitement. Every ride was experienced at least twice and when Peppa and George appeared for a Meet & Greet, they were hugged enthusiastically by all, regardless of age! Although more shady spots would have helped on such a hot summer’s day, there were free water refill stations in the park. They weren’t clearly signposted but do ask and the staff will point you in the right direction (I’d read this tip on a parent blog before our visit so came prepared with the kids’ bottles). All too soon the announcement that the park would soon be closing boomed from the tannoy system and we found ourselves back at the car with one more stop before tomorrow morning’s flight. Suitably exhausted, we drove the 10minute journey to the idyllic Bartley Lodge Hotel (near Lyndhurst) for a quick pre-dinner dip in the hotel pool. After checking into our charming family room, complete with Super King bed, bunk beds and a Z-bed, we headed to the pool for half an hour of splashing around to help revive the troops before sitting down in the Crystal Restaurant for our last supper. The food was fantastic and the staff incredibly friendly, accommodating every little request from the pint-sized diners and
Team Thompson couldn’t help but get swept up in five-year-old Molly’s excitement at Peppa Pig World
spoiling us all rotten. With our family holiday nearly at an end, we finished with a stroll through the gardens and a cheeky nightcap (hot chocolate for the kids!) in the hotel bar before settling down for a blissful night’s sleep and dreams of our Summer Adventures… Summer 2017 will be a hard one to beat!
Ally Thompson Travel Info
Paultons Family Theme Park – for opening times, tickets prices and info on attractions, visit
paultonspark.co.uk Accommodation – Bartley Lodge Hotel, near Lyndhurst. Check out
newforesthotels.co.uk/bartley-lodge- hotel for Family Room rates, dining options and special offers.
Team Thompson visited the Lost Kingdom
The kids enjoyed seeing all the characters at Peppa Pig World
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