Paultons Park to launch new spooky £3.5m ride this May half-term

The Hampshire theme park, in Ower, which is home to Peppa Pig World, will open Ghostly Manor on Saturday, May 17.

The £3.5 million indoor ride will be the park's first-ever dark ride.

It is set to be a spooky interactive experience for guests aged five and above.

Upon boarding the four-seater ride carriages, guests are armed with their own Phantom Phaser, a device to capture and contain mischievous ghosts and misbehaving spirits that have escaped into the Manor.

At the end of the adventure, each rider is presented with their ghost-catching score, revealing who has the best ghost-hunting skills.

James Mancey, deputy managing director at Paultons Park, said: "We are immensely excited to see guests immerse themselves in the world of Ghostly Manor this May half term.

"Dr Kinley’s haunted manor brings a fascinating ghost hunting story that will thrill children and parents alike, further adding to the park experience for the whole family."

The new ride will open just in time for the May half-term, which is expected to be one of the park's busiest weeks of the year.

Ghostly Manor (Image: Paultons Park) To celebrate, the park has launched a number of short break deals for families looking to make the most of the school holidays.

On select dates during the May holidays, a family of four can enjoy a stay at the Holiday Inn Express M27 J7 for £86 per person per night with one night of accommodation, and two days at Paultons Park.

Visitors who want to extend their stay can make the most of the two-night break packages at the Holiday Inn Express M27 J7 starting at £60 per person per night.

Alternatively, the Apollo Basingstoke has availability on a variety of dates in May.

Prices start at £80 per person per night for a family of four and include accommodation for one night and two park days.

Two-night break packages start at £48 per person per night on selected dates.

Normal day ticket prices for Paultons Park cost £45 for anyone over 1m in height.  

Mr Mancey said: "Our short break packages offer a value-for-money staycation allowing visitors to make the most of their time at Paultons Park.

"Our partner hotels are located a convenient distance from the park, with forest walks, outdoor activities, shopping centres, and restaurants also within easy reach."

Ghostly Manor joins five themed worlds and more than 70 other rides and attractions at Paultons Park for families to enjoy during the school holidays.

Alongside the hugely popular Peppa Pig World, Paultons is home to Midwestern Americana-themed Tornado Springs, famous for its free-spinning Cyclonator ride and Storm Chaser coaster.

Guests can immerse themselves in Wild Lands, home to a variety of animals including Fennec Fox and Slender-tailed meerkats, and discover the curious creatures of Critter Creek.

The park’s dinosaur-themed world, Lost Kingdom, welcomed the mini log flume Splash Lagoon in 2024, expanding the offering for younger visitors.

Visitors can find out more at paultonsbreaks.com/.