Paultons Park has released the first detailed look at Valgard: Realm of the Vikings, a £12 million expansion that opens on 16 May 2026 and marks the park’s largest single investment to date. Designed as a step change in thrill offering, Valgard: Realm of the Vikings introduces Paultons Park’s first inverting coaster and a suite of high‑energy attractions aimed at older children, teens and adults, while still delivering family‑friendly experiences. The park positions Valgard: Realm of the Vikings as a key pillar in its strategy to balance its Peppa Pig World reputation with a stronger teen and thrill segment.
Headline ride Drakon is a custom Gerstlauer coaster billed as Paultons Park’s most intense experience so far, featuring a vertical lift hill, beyond‑vertical drop and two inversions woven through the new land. Classic coaster Cobra is being re‑imagined as Raven, a bobsled‑style adventure that threads around Drakon’s structure to create a dense, intertwined skyline. Valgard: Realm of the Vikings also debuts Vild Swing, a 12‑metre‑high ART Engineering “wild swing” installation, promoted as the first of its kind in the UK and designed to deliver strong airtime while maintaining a broad height profile.
Beyond the ride hardware, Valgard: Realm of the Vikings rounds out its offer with a heavily themed Feasting Hall restaurant and a new Viking playground for younger guests, supporting full‑family dwell time within the zone. Leisure Expert Group has led masterplanning and design, with early visuals showing rockwork, longhouses, ship prows and character statues that push Paultons Park’s scenic standards to a new level. The new world increases the park’s line‑up to more than 80 rides and attractions across six themed areas, joining Tornado Springs, Lost Kingdom and Peppa Pig World as part of a diversified portfolio. For industry professionals, Valgard: Realm of the Vikings illustrates how a regional family park can use a land‑led, story‑driven investment like Valgard: Realm of the Vikings to grow up with its audience and compete more directly in the thrill market.
Image: Paulton Park
