Paultons Park a top contender for Theme Park of the Year

NEW Forest theme park Paultons Park is among 10 major attractions competing to be the nation’s best.

A crowd-puller for more than 40 years and now attracting more than a million visitors annually, the 140-acre park at Ower with over 70 rides is rated Britain’s most popular on Tripadvisor and Google.

Now it is looking to the public vote in the fifth annual UK Theme Park Awards.

In advance of the public vote, a shortlist has been compiled using nearly 30,000 nominations for 38 theme parks, with a panel of judges including Paul Kelly of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions, and Andy Hine of Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain.

Paultons Park’s major rivals for the main awards include Alton Towers and Drayton Manor in Staffordshire, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey, and Legoland Windsor.

Organised by themeparks-uk.com, an independent consumer guide, there are 22 categories this year.

In addition to being put up for the main Theme Park of the Year title, Paultons is nominated for best new attraction with Splash Lagoon, best theme park for families, best theme park for toddlers with Peppa Pig World, best theme park with animals, best sustainability initiative with Paultons Promise, and best new entertainment with Blast Off – A Space Rocket Adventure.

Voting runs until 1st September with results announced on 19th September. Visit ukthemeparkawards.com