Review: Gullivers Kingdom – Matlock

We were given the opportunity recently to visit Gullivers Kingdom in Matlock to review the park and I have to be really honest I was so so excited.

We only live around 40 minutes away and we visit Matlock all the time however every time we leave we say we most go to Gullivers Kingdom next time but yet we still had not visited.

So The Oliver’s set off on mass on Saturday to visit the long awaited Gullivers Kingdom … On arriving I don’t think I had realised that it is in fact built on a hill and its built into the side of the hill with different levels housing the rides and attractions … well it is Matlock!

There are some steep hills nearer the top but if you don’t have a pushchair you can use the chairlift that will take you to the top from the bottom and back again. For us with a pushchair some double pushing was required although there was a travelator located at the steepest hill so you could get up there without breaking out in too much of a sweat, although it would be lovely to have had one on the hill before too.

I do have to say that the park was beautiful to walk round and was surrounded in some absolutely amazing views which really added to the experience.

With having 3 children in tow within such a broad age range: Bethany (age 12) Daniel (age 7) and Joshua (age 2) I did initially worry that one or more of them would get bored if they were not tall enough for the rides but right away it seems there has been some thought into this as at nearly all the ‘big’ rides there are rides for smaller/younger children right next to them. This did make it easier when had a melt down over not being able to go on a ride with the other 2, he was taken to ball pool only a few meters away and placated Joshua for the duration of the older children’s ride!

Talking of the rides I do have to say that I have been quite impressed at the range of rides available and even found my Father in Law insisting on going on the Merry Go Round! .. who knew!

The queues even on a Saturday were really great, there was practically no time spent queuing at all! which with excitable children and a hot sweaty toddler was fantastic!

For lunch there were a wide range of  offerings from Pizza and Pasta, Fish and Chips, Burger and Chips, Sandwiches, Salads, Plated Meals and mini snacks. We visited the all you could Pizza and Pasta places and for £7.50 per adult we were quite impressed. Normally at Theme Parks 1 burger and chips can be that price never mind all you can eat! there were 4 flavours of pizza, garlic bread, 2 different types of pasta and about half a dozen salad type items. Everything there was very fresh and in abundance … I highly recommend the meatballs they were amazing! The drinks we ordered were refillable too which at £2.50 we were able to drink plenty without feeling we had been stuffed on the price.

We all thoroughly enjoyed the park and we will in fact make sure that we come back. Especially with the new SpyZone we reviewed too!

What a fantastic day!

Disclaimer: We were given complimentary entry to the park for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions and thoughts regarding the park were independently formed by members of The Oliver’s Madhouse