Gulliver's Kingdom
Gulliver's Kingdom (also known as Gulliver's Matlock Bath) is a theme park aimed at children aged 3 to 13 in the Derbyshire town of Matlock Bath, England. Founded in 1978 by Ray Phillips, it is still owned by the Phillips family and now has sister theme parks; Gulliver's World in Warrington, Gulliver's Land in Milton Keynes and Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham, which opened in 1989, 1999 and 2020 respectively. The park was originally created by Ray Phillips as a model village for his young children to enjoy, and it is close to the site of the Victorian Switchback rollercoaster ride (after which the theme park's main rollercoaster was named). Following the launch of Gulliver’s Kingdom in 1978, Gulliver’s Woodland Lodge Hotel and Chalets opened in the early 1980’s. In 2017 the accommodation area was re-branded and re-launched as the Explorers Retreat.
 Gulliver's Kingdom | |
| Location | Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Giant Adventures for Families |
| Opened | 1978 |
| Operating season | Selected dates throughout the year |
| Website | https://www.gulliverskingdomresort.co.uk |
| Status | Operating |
History
As of 2018, the Theme Park has the following rides and attractions:
- Western World - The log Flume and Silver Mine, Western Play Town and Indian Play Area
- Safari Kingdom - Flying Raft, Tree Top Drop, Safari Dodgems and the Top Entrance for the chairlift
- The Lost World - Dino Falls Water Slide, Dino Cars a Dinosaur Play area and Fossil Dig
- The Party House - The Ladybirds, Fish Ride and Jumping Star
- JCB Zone - and interactive construction site with full JCB Diggers for the children to play with
- Lilliput Land - The Crazy Barrels and the Model Village
- Toyland - The Switchback Coaster, The Magic Bikes, The Monorail, Moon Buggies and Play Area
- Lilliput Woods - The Log Coaster, Crows Nest Quest and Climbing Wall
- Smugglers Wharf - The Double Decker Carousel, Percy Pigs Pirate Adventure and the Pirate Ship
- Bourbon Street - The Bottom Entrance for the Chairlift
Explorers Retreat Accommodation
Gulliver's revitalised their original accommodation offering to launch the Explorers Retreat in 2017. Accommodation units within the Explorers Retreat include themed Pirate Cabins, Princess Suites and Wizard Suites. The original hotel lounge area and its outdoor terraces were redesigned with a new outdoor play area installed.
Explorers Retreat is aimed towards families, large groups and to tourists exploring the Peak District and surrounding areas.
Gulliver's Kingdom Lost World
In 2018, the Lost Kingdom dinosaur area was refurbished into the "Lost World: Land of the Living Dinosaurs" and features animatronic dinosaurs that come alive with movement and sound and the chance to have a photo with its resident dinosaur, "Terence", who has been trained by the on-site team. It is a popular attraction and a firm favourite with children.
Pirate Training Camp
In 2017 Gulliver's Kingdom launched the Pirate Training Camp, featuring the Crows Nest Quest, a 17-metre (56 ft) high challenge course
Amenities
Gulliver's Kingdom features two entrances due to the car-parking being so spread out and on a hill side. There are two onsite shops at each entrance. Places to eat in Gulliver's Kingdom include The Happy Haddock, Tamu Feast, and the Canyon Grill. In 2018 Costa Coffee was introduced into the bottom entrance of the park.
The main park opens seasonally, from Easter and throughout summer, then on weekends in September and October - up to Halloween.
The park is home to the Gully Gang. The Gully Gang consists of Gully Mouse, Gilly Mouse, Percy Pig and Leonard Lion. In 2017 in partnership with Sony, saw the Smurfs visit Gulliver's Kingdom and in 2018 sees Johnny and Mavis from Hotel Transylvania 3 on a "Monster Vacation" at Gulliver's Kingdom. These characters can be seen daily and are available to meet children and pose for pictures.
In 2018 Gullivers Kingdom celebrated its 40th Anniversary and to celebrate holds a daily "Ruby Jubilee Street Party" in Bourbon Street where you can get High Tea, cakes and a visit from Gully Mouse.
Rides and attractions
Rides
Under 120cm
| Name | Opened | Type | Status | Manufacturer | Height
restriction | Park Location | Notes | Images | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chair Lift | 1992 | Chair Lift | Operational | Montaz Industries | Ride Alone:
Over 140cm Ride with Adult: Under 140cm | Bourbon Street/
Adventure Land | Under 1.4m can go on but need to be accompanied by an adult. |  | ||
| Pirate Ship | 1992 | Pirate Ship | Operational | Zamperla | Ride Alone:
Over 120cm Ride with Adult: 90-120cm Can't ride: Under 90cm | Smugglers Wharf | Small pirate ship located by Bourbon Street
90cm is the minimum height to go on. |  | ||
| Percy's Pirate Adventure | 1994 | Water ride | Operational | Gulliver's
(In house built) | Ride Alone:
Over 120cm Ride with Adult: Under 120cm | Smugglers Wharf | Under 1.2m can go on but need to be accompanied by an adult. It's also known as the 'Lazy River'. |  | ||
| Double Decker Carousel | 1993 | Carousel | Operational | Gulliver's
(In house built) | Ride Alone:
Over 120cm Ride with Adult: Under 120cm | Smugglers Wharf | Two floors for adults and children to go on. Under 09's can go on the horses but only on the second floor. Built by Gulliver's Kingdom, the horse are supplied by I.E. Park. |  | ||
| Log Coaster | 1986 | Steel
Roller coaster | Operational | Cavazza Diego | Ride Alone:
Over 120cm Ride with Adult: 90-120cm Can't ride: Under 90cm | Lilliput Woods | Small roller coaster suitable for first time riders between 0.9m (90cm) and 1.2m. Smaller children need to be sat on the right-hand side. |  | ||
| Crows Nest Quest | 2017 | Rope course | Operational | Rope Course, Inc | Ride Alone:
Over 130cm Ride with Adult: 130cm Can't ride: Under 130cm (Awaiting rules to be finalized) | Lilliput Woods | New attraction for the 2017 season. Replacing the Climbing Wall and the Balloon Ferris Wheel. The model is a Sky Trail® Explorer. |  | ||
| Cycle Monorail | 1993 | Self-driven | Operational | Gulliver's
(In house built) | Ride Alone:
Over 140cm Ride with Adult: 90-140cm Can't ride: Under 90cm | Toyland | You need to be 1.4m and over to go on this attraction otherwise you can't reach the pedals. |  | ||
| Gully's Magic Bikes | 2013 | Spinning ride | Operational | Zamperla | Ride Alone:
Over 120cm Ride with Adult: 90-120cm Can't ride: Under 90cm | Toyland | The faster you pedal then the higher the ride will rise. It's a self-controlled ride. Riders between 90cm and 119cm must be accompanied by an adult. |  | ||
| Dino Explorer Cars | 1997 | Slow ride | Operational | SBF Visa | Ride Alone:
Over 120cm Ride with Adult: Under 120cm | Lost Kingdom | Under 1.2m can go on including babies/toddlers but must be accompanied by an adult. |  | ||
| Dino Falls | 2014 | Dingy slide | Operational | Whitewater Leisure Ltd. | Slide 1 (Tunnel):
Slide 2 (Open):
| Lost Kingdom | New for the 2014 season from Camelot Theme park, this ride has two tracks that you can choose from.
Only one person over 1.4m per boat. |  | ||
| Crazy Barrel Ride | 1996 | Spinning ride | Operational | Gulliver's
(In house built) | Ride Alone:
Over 120cm Ride with Adult: Under 120cm | Lilliput Land | Spinning ride themed as barrels. Under 1.2m must be accompanied by an adult. |  | ||
| Jumping Star | 2003 | Tower ride | Operational | Zamperla | Ride Alone:
Under 150cm Can't ride: Under 90cm | Party House | Small drop tower, suitable for children under 1.5m but over 0.9m. |  | ||
| Ladybird ride | Unknown | Flat ride | Operational | Modern Products | Ride Alone:
Over 90cm Can't ride: Under 90cm | Party House | Moved from underneath the Cycle monorail station (where the puppet show is). |  | ||
| Fish ride | 2011 | Flat ride | Operational | Unknown | Ride Alone:
Under 150cm Can't ride: Under 90cm | Party House | Only for children between 1.5m and 0.9cm. |  | ||
| The Flying Raft | 1998 | Magic carpet
(Ali Baba) | Operational | Zamperla | Ride Alone:
Over 120cm Ride with Adult: 90-120cm Can't ride: Under 90cm | Safari Kingdom | Renamed from 'Flying Carpet' to 'Flying Raft' in the 2018 season. Under 1.2m must be accompanied by an adult. 90cm is the minimum height. |  | ||
| Tree Top Drop | 2007 | Tower ride | Operational | Moser Rides | Ride Alone:
Over 140cm Ride with Adult: 110-140cm Can't ride: Under 110cm | Safari Kingdom | 12mt drop tower for guests above 1.1m while accompanied by an adult, and 1.4m to ride with an adult. |  | ||
| Safari Dodgems | 2014 | Dodgems | Operational | C&Q Amusement | Ride Alone:
Over 140cm Ride with Adult: 110-140cm Can't ride: Under 110cm | Safari Kingdom | Under 1.4m must be accompanied by an adult and seated in a passenger side. 0.9cm is the minimum height. |  | ||
| Log Flume | 1988 | Log Flume | Operational | Big Country Motioneering/In-House built (Gulliver's) | Ride Alone:
Over 120cm Ride with Adult: 90-120cm Can't ride: Under 90cm | Western World | Under 1.2m must be accompanied by an adult. Under 0.9m are not allowed on this ride. |  | ||
| Silver Mine Ride | 2010 | Dark ride | Operational | Gulliver's
(In house built) I.E. Park - Cars | Ride Alone:
Over 120cm Ride with Adult: Under 120cm | Western World | Under 1.2m must be accompanied by an adult. |  |