Wednesday, 04 March 2026 13:00

First Look: Paultons Park Unveils New £12m Valgard: Realm of the Vikings

Paultons Park has released a first look at its most ambitious project to date, Valgard: Realm of the Vikings, a new £12 million themed land set to open on May 16, 2026.

Building on the success of the Lost Kingdom, Tornado Springs and Peppa Pig World, Valgard is a new six-acre Nordic-themed land designed specifically to bridge the gap for families with older children and teenagers. The new land will bring the park’s total attraction count to over 80, spread across six immersive worlds.

A New Breed of Thrill: Drakon

The centerpiece of Valgard is Drakon, a custom Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter, and Paultons Park’s first-ever inverting roller coaster. Designed to be the park's most exhilarating ride yet, Drakon features:

  • Vertical Lift Hill: A dramatic start that leads into high-speed twists and turns.
  • Inversions: For the first time at Paultons Park, riders will be taken upside down through two distinct maneuvers.

Vild Swing: A UK First

Joining Drakon is another thrilling new ride, Vild Swing, a 12-metre-high 'Wild Swing' from ART Engineering. It's the first attraction of its kind in the UK, offering a unique pendulum sensation that swirls riders into the air in a test of Viking bravery.

Reimagining a Classic: Raven

The expansion also breathes new life into a fan-favourite. The park’s popular Cobra roller coaster has undergone a complete transformation to become Raven.

  • The New Look: The ride features a fresh green and brown color palette and extensive Viking theming to integrate it perfectly into the Valgard wildlands.
  • The Story: Raven and Drakon are designed to appear as if they are in a "fierce battle" across the sky, with their tracks weaving around one another.

Feast Like a Warrior

Beyond the rides, Valgard offers a high level of immersion that has become the hallmark of Paultons Park:

  • The Nordic Dining Hall: A massive, high-capacity restaurant where guests can enjoy hearty meals in a grand Viking setting.
  • The Orchard: A Viking-inspired playground specifically designed to keep younger siblings entertained while the older "warriors" tackle the bigger thrills.
  • Immersive Theming: The land is populated with large-scale Viking statues, rune stones, and intricate wood carvings, many of which were showcased in the park’s recent "first look" teaser.

A Vision Realised

Despite the challenging weather conditions during construction, the project is rapidly nearing completion. Drakon and the Vild Swing have already begun testing in preparation for the May launch.

Lawrence Mancey, Marketing and Technology Director at Paultons Park, stated:

"We designed Valgard to offer an immersive, atmospheric, and action-packed experience for families, and it’s amazing to see the vision come together. We are so excited to open the gates in May and see Valgard conquered by our guests".

Award-Winning Park

The development of Valgard follows a historic year for the family-owned theme park. In 2025, Paultons Park was the eighth best-rated amusement park in the world on Tripadvisor and took home 10 trophies at the UK Theme Park Awards, including Theme Park of the Year.

Valgard: Realm of the Vikings opens on May 16, 2026. For more coverage of the UK's biggest new theme park projects, stay tuned to our UK Theme Park News section.

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